The only Thai racer in the world’s oldest active sports car endurance race beats the odds to finish 10th
"Every second on the racetrack is an intense challenge that can only be overcome with dedication from the heart" – Vutthikon Intraphuvasak, driver
Le Mans, France. The latest legendary "24 Hours of Le Mans 2020" race once again demonstrated how every factor can be decisive.
Held most years since 1923, the 88th edition of the race showed how the performance of the car, the driver, the team, the weather and the other competitors must all come into alignment for success to be achieved. Not to mention the unexpected or predicted. And success comes in many guises, including the 10th place finish in the Le Mans GTE Am Class achieved by the Vutthikon Intraphuvasak-driven Porsche 911 RSR that was Thailand’s only stake in the game.
Bearing the number 99, with fierce determination the Porsche crossed the finishing line despite almost being knocked off course due to no fault of its own, causing it to slip back from the no. 5 spot.
Besides the 10th place finish in the LM GTE Am Class, Vutthikon’s Porsche secured 8th position in the qualifying round, 36th in the Overall Class.
"I have no regrets passing the chequered flag in 10th place because all the racers and teams are going hell for leather to try to win,” reflected Vutthikon. “Even 10th place in a 24 Hours of Le Mans race doesn’t come easy.”
“With less than an hour of the race to go, we were actually in 5th place but we got pushed into a wall by an LMP race car. That could have been the end of that but this fantastic team was somehow able to keep the car running through to the end.”
“You face challenges every second of the race and you have to be completely determined to overcome them whatever they are. You just push through the pressure, take it to the limit and go beyond. Then again, that’s all part of the charm of this iconic competition.”
The 24 Hours of Le Mans (French: 24 Heures du Mans) automobile endurance race was held at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France. The event was organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, and was the penultimate round of the 2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship. Originally scheduled between 13 and 14 June 2020, the event was postponed to 19 and 20 September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was truncated due to the pandemic, and fans were not allowed in attendance for the first time in the history of the event.
Nothing in the race car world tests the durability of cars and racers like it. Driving at high speed continuously for 24 hours calls for meticulous management of fuel, tyres, and braking systems which must endure repeated abrupt deceleration from top speeds of around 200 mph (322 km/h) to slowest speeds of still some 65 mph (105 km/h).
More information at: https://www.24h-lemans.com/en