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NASCAR has serious plans, and as if the novelties from the new season are not enough for them, they want to continue with the surprises. It seems that their NASCAR next gen car will be found at the Le Mans 24 Hours as a Garage 56 entry in 2023, which is definitely exclusive.
Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO, emphasized the importance of the 'international' role
“From the early days of NASCAR, it was important to my father that we played a visible role in international motorsports, and there is no bigger stage than the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” said Jim France, as quoted by motorsport “In partnering with Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, we have the winningest team, manufacturer and tire in NASCAR history.
We look forward to showcasing the technology in the Next Gen car and putting forward a competitive entry in the historic race”.
Rick Hendrick on the Garage 56
Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports will be the Garage 56 program manager, and is grateful for the role he will play.
“Participating in one of the truly iconic events in auto racing and representing NASCAR and Chevrolet on the world stage is a privilege,” Hendrick said “Jim deserves tremendous credit for having the vision for the project, and we thank him for trusting our organization with the responsibility.
“Even though Garage 56 is a ‘class of one,’ we are competitors and have every intention of putting a bold product on the racetrack for the fans at Le Mans. It’s a humbling opportunity – one that will present an exciting challenge over the next 15 months – but our team is ready”.
Pierre Fillon, president of l'Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), the organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. he is happy for this partnership, and will strive to continue this practice for years to come “Garage 56 is a special opportunity at Le Mans since this race has been a leader in technological process for the auto industry over its nearly century long existence,” said Pierre Fillon.
When the ACO receives an application for a Garage 56 program, we begin by talking with designers, team partners, and suppliers in order to set performance parameters such that the program can be successful for everyone involved.