Racing legend Henri Pescarolo is enjoying his first visit to see the FIA World Endurance Championship in China this weekend. Given the honour of being the Grand Marshal at Shanghai International Circuit this weekend, Pescarolo is enjoying the titanic battle between Porsche and Audi for the 2015 FIA WEC title.
“Yes, I think you can say this is a new golden age of endurance,” said the four time Le Mans winner. “The battles between Porsche and Audi have been fantastic. Hopefully next season Toyota can join them and then it will be even more special.”
“The championship is now at a critical stage but I think it is plain to see the advantage is with Porsche. But as we know, with 2,000kms of racing left to complete a lot can change. The weather is a big question for the race and the twists in the story will be varied, I am sure of this.”
Pescarolo will unfurl the green flag this afternoon to start the 6 Hours of Shanghai, an extremely befitting colour for the racing hero who knows China well, but is actually visiting the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time.
“I know China because we brought La Filiere here to Zhuhai a few times,” he says. “The market for racing in this country is quite new but the potential is very, very big. The WEC has some good roots here now. I think it will only grow further, especially if the races are as good as they have been this year.”
Pescarolo enjoyed an incredible 35 year professional career competing in F1, endurance racing, Rallye Paris Dakar and even helicopter racing!
Famous for his casque vert (green helmet) he won Le Mans in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1984. He also started 57 Grands Prix, scoring a best result at the 1970 Monaco Grand Prix. Pescarolo was also in charge of his own successful team for over a decade, nurturing many talented French drivers including Benoit Treluyer, Simon Pagenaud and Sebastien Bourdais.
Sam Smith
