KARUN CHANDHOK FINISHES IN 5TH POSITION AT LE MANS 24HRS 

June 14, 2015: Indian racing star Karun Chandhok and his Murphy Prototypes Endurance Racing Team finished the 2015 24–Hours of Le Mans 5th in the LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype Class 2) category and 13th place overall out of 55 starters. The team was running as high as 3^rd place and on course for their first podium finish before they suffered problems but still managed to finish in a strong 5^th position.

The historic Circuit de la Sarthe, which was bustling with excitement for the entire week ahead of the race, saw over 260,000 spectators present for the 83rd running of the world’s most famous endurance race. The President of France Francois Hollande was present to flag off the race, which saw the complete grid of cars being pushed onto the grid, before playing the national anthems for each of the teams’ and drivers taking part, including the Indian national anthem.

Chandhok, who is supported by JK Tyre, AVT Premium, Sidvin and Tag Heuer, was happy to finish the race but did not feel the team was fast enough for a podium finish. He commented, “It’s a hard race to finish and I’m pleased for the whole team to have achieved it. Although we had a few problems, I think we may have only gained one place if we hadn’t. This would have still not seen us on the podium and that’s what we were aiming for of course. I think that as a team, we are getting the best out of the car and therefore, this weekend represented a great effort all round. I would like to give a special mention to my sponsors who continue to help me in achieving my dream. I would also like to thank all the fans, media and friends who have given me unbelievable support this entire week.”

Once the grid had been cleared, the race got underway at exactly 3.00pm in hot and sunny conditions. Nathanaël Berthon was the first of the three Murphy Prototypes’ drivers to get behind the wheel of the team’s Nissan–powered Oreca 03R prototype and a clear getaway by the whole field saw Nathanaël holding–station to his grid position: 8th in class and 18th overall.

After a treble–stint lasting two–and–a–half hours by Nathanaël, Karun Chandhok followed with a series of impressively consistent laps, and when Mark Patterson took over the controls after five–hours, the team was lying in an impressive 3rd in the LMP2 class and holding an overall position of 13th.

By the time Mark finished his double–stint it was dark and, as planned, Nathanaël and Karun guided the car through the darkness hours. Now 5th in class and 14th overall, the team knew that there was lot of work to be done overnight if the team was to realize its goal of a podium position. At the halfway point at 3.00am, the time sheets showed the team had moved up to 4th in class and 12th overall – a position that was improved further when an LMP2 car ahead went off the road at the end of the Mulsanne straight.

An hour later, another LMP2 category competitor retired with a mechanical problem. This meant the team was now back to 3rd in class and suddenly the target of the LMP2 podium was becoming a distinct possibility.

Karun was in the car for the sunrise shift and was delayed while the team removed some debris from the air intakes. It was then Mark’s turn again and, after nearly two hours of inspired driving, he was clipped from behind as a car went to overtake. After a brief visit to the pits to fix the damage, a spin and contact from another car saw the Murphy Oreca back in the pits for further bodywork repairs, but this time the work was to take over 20–minutes.

When Nathanaël exited the pits he was 6th in class: six laps down on the fifth–placed car and five laps ahead of the seventh. Therefore, unless anyone in front had a problem, it was unlikely that the position would change.

However, with just over an hour to go, that’s exactly what happened.  When Karun jumped in to take the car to the end of the race, the Murphy team had moved up a place to 5th in class and 13th overall.  The position was held until the end of the race, with the whole team delighted to get to the end of the one event that all race teams want to finish.

Team owner Greg Murphy was happy with the result but still expected more from the grueling race. He said “Yes, we came here to win, but we have also just finished the greatest motor race in the world. I am extremely proud of the ‘Murphy’s men”. They have dealt with everything that’s been thrown at them, not just during the past 24–hours, but over the past week too. This just goes to prove our reputation of being one of the best teams on the grid”