24h Le Mans
At 17 years old, Natan Bihel is not yet old enough yet to drive on the roads, but the young Frenchman will make his endurance racing debut this year in the LM P3 prototype entered by the Yvan Muller Racing team in the Michelin Le Mans Cup - two rounds of which will be held at the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit in June.
Passionate about motorsports since he was a little boy, Natan Bihel started in karting before moving on to Super Touring last year. In 2017, the French native will go a step further by competing in the entire season in the Ligier JS P3 entered by four-time World Touring Car Champion (WTCC) Yvan Muller who discovered him during some testing sessions.
The young French driver is aware of the daunting challenge that awaits him, but intends to give his all in order to make his dream come true: compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Though Natan Bihel will still have to wait awhile, he will hit the 24 Hours circuit for two Michelin Le Mans Cup races as precursors to the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year.
Natan Bihel: "I attended the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time back when I was seven or eight. I fell in love with it then and there, and to this day I still feel the same. Even when I couldn't go to the race itself, I at least went to the qualifying sessions. To participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a dream of mine. But I've always thought it was out of reach. This season, I will compete in the Michelin Le Mans Cup with a Ligier JS P3 entered by Yvan Muller Racing, with Road to Le Mans as main event. Through that race, a curtain-raiser to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, I feel like I'm getting closer to my dream. At least I'll be able to race at the great circuit, that's fantastic."
If he manages to climb the endurance racing pyramid put in place by the Automobile Club to help young drivers reach the summit of motorsports, there is no doubt Natan Bihel will be at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans one day!
