Ever since the announcement of NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports collaborating to construct a custom-built Cup Series car for the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race, anticipation has been at a fever pitch. However, the project was met with mixed emotions from the outset. NASCAR’s decision to single out one team, bypassing all others, raised eyebrows across the sport.
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Now, just hours from the commencement of the race, the buzz surrounding the Garage 56 car is palpable, with many impressed by the progress made so far. With good reason, people had remained skeptical of the car’s performance against the regular Le Mans competitors. But in a surprising turn of events, the Hendrick Motorsports machine outpaced the competition in the opening qualifying session, shutting down the doubters and leaving even the team surprised by the results.
Hendrick Motorsports Garage 56 car qualifies faster than expected
Despite pre-race predictions of a middle-of-the-pack finish, their vehicle was a full 4 seconds faster than the already fastest GTE Am class entry. This promising performance adds further intrigue and excitement as we eagerly await the start of this monumental race.
It was the 2010 Le Mans champion, Mike Rockenfeller, who managed an impressive lap time of 3:47:976 during qualifications. Interestingly, they lagged behind the last-placed LMP2s by 8.5s. Although 8.5 seconds might seem like a lot, one has to consider the significant amount of specifically built aero bodywork on an LMP 2 car.
Meanwhile, a word of caution has been shared by Jenson Button. He suggested that leading the pack of GTE Am contenders might not be as straightforward during the actual race. Button cited several variables, including potential rainfall during the race weekend, that could tighten the competition.
He also highlighted the disparity in brake change durations during the race, stating, “We’ll have to change brakes during the race, which takes us five minutes – for the other guys it’s one minute – so that’s over a lap,” emphasizing the competitive challenges that lay ahead.
NASCAR is making a documentary on the Garage 56 project at Le Mans
The G56 car has been a special project for NASCAR and HMS. This venture was launched as a part of NASCAR’s grand celebration of 75 years of thrilling racing history. Moreover, the timing couldn’t be better, as this year also marks the centenary of the Le Mans race. Naturally, such an amazing feat of engineering had to be captured in film and shared with the world.
As per Bob Pockrass, they have been working towards just that. Through a tweet, Pockrass announced, “NASCAR is making a documentary of the Garage 56 effort for the 24 Hrs of Le Mans and has sold it to Amazon to stream.”
NASCAR is making a documentary of the Garage 56 effort for the 24 Hrs of Le Mans and has sold it to Amazon to stream.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 7, 2023
Undeniably, this promises to be a spectacle of a lifetime and represents a golden opportunity for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet. Why? Because it gets to bask in the limelight of global advertising exposure courtesy of the upcoming documentary. The overall hype around the event helps with the exposure too.
However, the crux of the documentary’s success hinges on Hendrick Motorsports’ performance at the event. They must navigate through the grueling, unyielding 24-hour test of endurance that awaits them at the legendary 8.4-mile Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans.
