LM24 Hancock in @ Le Mans

JWT · 7 Jun 2004, 16:17 (Ref:996346)

06.06.04

Hancock lands top factory drive for Le Mans 24 Hours

24 year old Briton, Sam Hancock has been confirmed for the Le Mans 24 Hour race next weekend as a 'factory' driver for the famous Courage Competition team. He will be partnered by established star and former team mate, Jean-Marc Gounon, and Swiss driver Alexander Frei in the Courage C65 prototype that competes in the LMP2 category.

This will be Hancock's 2nd run in the gruelling endureance event having made his debut in 2002 for JMB Ferrari in a 360 Modena - in the process he became the youngest ever driver to represent the legendary marque.

The deal is fabulous news for Sam, who has spent some challenging weeks on the sidelines lately since funding problems halted his intended F3000 programme only 3 days before the first race, despite very strong winter testing performances in the category.

Sam Hancock: "This is incredible news. I can't wait to get back to Le Mans - I'm in love with the place! To be asked to drive for a works team as high profile as Courage after the frustations I've had this year, is just wonderful - and just goes to show that you should NEVER give up. Hopefully it also gives all those sponsors, investors and supporters who have stood by me this year something to smile about too - I am so grateful for their support and I hope that a big deal like this will get us back on track."

Taken from www.samhancock.com.

rdjones · 7 Jun 2004, 16:20 (Ref:996350)

That is good news and yet another Brit on the grid. I think he might be in with a chance of doing quite well.

JWT · 7 Jun 2004, 16:22 (Ref:996351)

Class win perhaps if the car lasts? J.M Gounon is certainly not slow and Sam matched him when they were racing at Kremer together!

**Aysedasi** · 7 Jun 2004, 16:54 (Ref:996393)

Sounds a useful pairing. What do we know about Alexander's "pedigree"?

bernard b · 7 Jun 2004, 17:01 (Ref:996404)

weren't new drivers at LM supposed to do at least 10 laps during the test day?
ok, he brings money, but the rules are again largely broken

Joe Twyman · 7 Jun 2004, 17:03 (Ref:996408)

Who is Frei? I thought Cochet was meant to be in the car?! Hancock Gounon and Cochet WOULD have been something special! As it is things should be looking good!

**Aysedasi** · 7 Jun 2004, 17:11 (Ref:996423)

Cochet or Tinseau. Still, I giuess its the best of both worlds, some decent cash and a pretty strong driver line up.

mcurtis26 · 7 Jun 2004, 18:22 (Ref:996496)

Frei was originally down to be in the 33 car with Goosens and Belloc, with Cochet, Gounon and Tinseau in the 31 courage. Info on Frei seems a little thin on the ground, although he did a few FIA GT rounds in 2001 and 2002 in a Diablo.

Kicking-back · 7 Jun 2004, 19:45 (Ref:996580)

Quote:

Originally posted by bernard b
weren't new drivers at LM supposed to do at least 10 laps during the test day?
ok, he brings money, but the rules are again largely broken

He's not new - he raced in 2002

**Aysedasi** · 7 Jun 2004, 19:56 (Ref:996589)

Where? Not at Le Mans.

Not according to my Liste des Engages, anyway........

bernard b · 8 Jun 2004, 06:56 (Ref:996917)

Quote:

Originally posted by Kicking-back
He's not new - he raced in 2002

you're right ! sorry, I missed that bit

he was on #70 JMB Modena, with Martin Short and Cort Wagner
he even crashed the car in his first lap ...

KA · 8 Jun 2004, 07:06 (Ref:996926)

Who- Hancock or Frei?
Hancock drove a JMB Ferrari in 2002- shared with Martin Short and an American- can't recall who without looking it up-, but went out early in the race.
It's Frei's first time at LM, but he was part of the Courage squad at the test weekend (originally listed for the car they've withdrawn), so will presumably have done his required 10 laps. Don't know much about him though- mcurtis mentioned FIA GT experience in a Lambo- think that amounts to couple of Spa 24-hour appearances in a Diablo

bernard b · 8 Jun 2004, 07:12 (Ref:996930)

I was speaking about Hancock
Frei attended the test day on another Courage

KA · 8 Jun 2004, 07:36 (Ref:996947)

think we were posting about Hancock in the JMB 360 at the same time- I was replying to Ayse's comment about the list des engages, but had to answer the door in mid-post- my internet connection has been painfully slow this morning anyway.....

Fieldgate · 8 Jun 2004, 12:09 (Ref:997196)

Sam "stuff it in the wall on my out lap" Hancock was indeed in the JMB360 in '02.

Martin never got the chance to step in the car at the race because the "superstars" wouldn't listen to putting more wing on to take the Porsche Curves better.

Result - twisted chassis after collision with wall at exit of PC's.

...and Sam's career went nowhere thereafter.

bernard b · 8 Jun 2004, 12:19 (Ref:997210)

... nowhere but at Courage's...

JohnMiller · 8 Jun 2004, 12:20 (Ref:997216)

F3000?

mcurtis26 · 8 Jun 2004, 12:27 (Ref:997227)

Hancock was after a F3000 or Dallara Nissan drive, and was strongly linked with the Arden seat which went to Doornbos for a bit. I think he tried to qualify for a few early rounds and had some link up with Eddie Jordan. His bigest publicity so far this year was when he was photographed several times with Tara Palmer-Tomkinson. I asked him at Autosport International whether he was interested in a return to sports cars, but he said not for a few years, so I guess budget problems limited his single seater chances. Frei has also raced in the Lambo SuperTrophy

JWT · 8 Jun 2004, 15:47 (Ref:997433)

Sam is a bloody good driver, just challenged by funds as is often the case these days! With regards to the Le Mans crash, its unfair to blame him without the full story and as I heard it, there was a faliure on the car.... He was quick at Kremer, uncomfortable in International F3000, and quick in the Euro 3000 tests....Hopefully this will provide him with the break he needs to get his career back on track....

Fieldgate · 8 Jun 2004, 16:10 (Ref:997466)

On the basis I was standing in the garage at the time, I think my story is as full as anyone's...

If you're ever so bothered, ask about the speed differentials into the curves on that out-lap compared with all of the qualifying runs and you can form your own conclusions.

I'm sorry to say, but the only failure in that car at that time had flesh surrounding it, irrespective of whatever urban myths have been spread subsequently.

Sam is a nice guy, but there are 100's of nice guys.

**Aysedasi** · 8 Jun 2004, 16:13 (Ref:997470)

Fieldgate, I may have missed it somewhere, but you're opbviously "connected", can you divulge how so?

Fieldgate · 8 Jun 2004, 16:58 (Ref:997525)

X-Markets - Deutsche Bank.

...so it's my train set.

**Aysedasi** · 8 Jun 2004, 18:08 (Ref:997596)

LOL

Cadete · 8 Jun 2004, 22:38 (Ref:997874)

X-Markets - Deutsche Bank... that's the Dallara's sponsor. Send wishes of best luck to the team and to Barbosa for me. And if by some weird idea you decide to do some kind of publicity stunt or testing here in Portugal, warn me!

sorry for the OT post, back to Hancock.

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