Status Grand Prix is proud to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours, which was recently ranked number one by National Geographic magazine in its list of the world’s greatest sporting events and attracts 250,000 spectators.

Le Mans hosted the first-ever Grand Prix in 1906, and in 1923 the idea for a 24-hour race for sportscars was born. It has run every year since then, except for during the Second World War and the period immediately afterwards.

It was during the 1960s that sports-racing cars evolved into something similar to the shape of today’s contenders, with the legendary Ferraris, Ford GT40s and then Porsche 917s. All cars are theoretically two-seaters, which is why the drivers in the sports-prototypes sit to the side of the centreline.

In 2012 the Le Mans 24 Hours is run in four classes, the sports-prototypes in LMP1 and LMP2, and the GT supercars in GTE Pro and GTE Am.

Status is competing in the LMP2 class for its first attack on the Le Mans 24 Hours. Its car is a Lola B12/80, built in Great Britain, with the engine supplied by British motorsport specialist Judd. It uses Dunlop tyres.

Status GP was founded to compete in the A1GP World Cup of motorsport, and won the championship as Team Ireland in 2008-09. It then switched to the Formula 1-supporting GP3 Series and has competed there since 2010. For 2012, Status expanded into the European Le Mans Series, and is therefore eligible to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours.