Griffin ready for #LeMans 24 hour after Silverstone podium

Irish race driver Matt Griffin is set to compete in the ever-iconic Le Mans 24 hour race in France this coming weekend after a positive British GT race at Silverstone, UK last weekend.Irish race driver Matt Griffin is set to compete in the ever-iconic Le Mans 24 hour race in France this coming weekend after a positive British GT race at Silverstone, UK last weekend. Griffin and teammate Duncan Cameron enjoyed an overall 3rd place podium in their Spirit of Race, Ferrari 488 GT3 and are now lying 3rd in the 2017 British GT Championship points. This weekend sees the Irishman rejoin his World Endurance Championship team; Singapore based Clearwater Racing in the 94th 24h of Le Mans.  This will be the 6th consecutive year that Griffin has raced in the Le Mans 24 hours however it is the first time he takes part in the major event with Clearwater Racing in their #61 Clearwater Racing Ferrari 488 with teammates Mok Weng Sung and Kieta Sawa.  Clearwater Racing have one Le Mans 24h under their belts in which they finished 4th. Le Mans 24 hours is part of the World Endurance Championship in which the trio are currently lying 2nd in the GTam class after winning the opening round at Silverstone and finishing third at the 2nd round in Spa, Belgium.  Double points are up for grabs in this race so the trio are fully focused. “It’s always a privilege to compete at Le Mans and I’m proud for it to be my 6th consecutive appearance.  The event is so big it feels like the rest of the world stops when get here for Le Mans week” Matt continues “while Le Mans is a huge race in its own right it also forms part of the WEC so this year I will have one eye on getting a result in the race and the other on the championship points at stake.  So far we have been very strong in the WEC and with Weng (Mok Weng Sun) and Kieta (Kieta Sawa) we make a great team.” Le Mans 24 hours is the biggest motor race in the world with over half a million spectators expected and 85 million television viewers.  Griffin will be the only Irish driver in the race. “Every year that I have done Le Mans it’s been behind the wheel of a Ferrari which is great for continuity.  This year will be slightly different, as I will race the new Ferrari 488 and so far this season the car has been great so I’m confident it will be rapid around Le Mans.  In 2013 I finished 3rd and for sure the aim is to fight again for the podium but it’s a tough race and we need to take it hour by hour.” Free practice session and qualifying session 1 will be held on Wednesday evening, qualifying sessions 2 and 3 will be on Thursday 15th June starting at 19.00.  Friday sees the drivers’ parade in the Le Mans town.  The 24-hour race begins at 15.00 on Saturday 17th June. Eurosport 1 will cover all events live and RadioLemans will full also have coverage of qualifying and the race.

About Matt Griffin:
The 34-year-old, 2013 European Le Mans Series Champion, has made quite an impact on international GT racing in the last couple of years, competing successfully in championships ranging from the FIA World Endurance Championship to International GT Open as well as racing closer to home in the British GT Championship. In the last five years he’s never competed in less than 24 races, all in a Ferrari, and in 2012 raced in 8 different series.
He has also broadened his experience in the last two years, taking part successfully in endurance races in Australia, Malaysia and Dubai.
In all of these he has been behind the wheel of a Ferrari, and has worked closely in testing and developments with the Italian marque’s GT development partner and constructor, Michelotto Automobili.