HSR’s first overseas visit runs in support of Le Mans Classic Legend, a historic event for cars that competed in the iconic 24 hour event from 1976 onwards.
Among the 30-strong field is 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt Busch, who will pilot his 2020 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro, the car which won that year’s race at Las Vegas en route to 10th in the standings.
Busch’s car features a tribute to his late brother Kyle, who passed away days after Kurt announced his Le Mans start.
“For me, it’s getting those juices flowing, grabbing gears, feeling the speed and the energy of the car again,” Busch said.
“With HSR, I didn’t know about it and started doing some research.
“I had a Goodyear tyre test, and a guy from HSR came up and said, ‘You’re going to Le Mans this year.’
“I said, ‘What? How do you get to Le Mans? What are you guys doing?’
“He said, ‘We’re shipping as many cars as we can to Le Mans.’ I’m like, ‘I have a car. Let’s go.’”
Continuing the theme of honouring legacies, Victor Corda and Australian Chris Stillwell will each campaign Roush Fenway Racing-built cars with ties to the late Greg Biffle.
Michael Parsons will pilot an iconic Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lumina from the early 1990s, originally driven by ‘The Intimidator’ Dale Earnhardt.
Former professional football lineman Scott Dolfi will drive a NEMCO Motorsports NASCAR Truck from 2016, originally raced by John Hunter Nemechek.
That truck is presented in colours raced by Nemechek in 2022 with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
John Hunter’s father Joe will pilot a 2006 Toyota Camry inspired by the #47 Old Spice car of Cal Naughton Jr (portrayed by John C. Reilly), one of a trio of cars inspired by the movie Talladega Nights.
HSR and IMSA president John Doonan in a Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) inspired car, and Ryan Gemmell aboard a Chevy Monte Carlo wearing the colours of Sacha Baron Cohen’s character Jean Girard.
A 2006 Ford Fusion with ties close to home will be piloted by John McCormick.
The car was built by JTG Daugherty Racing and used as the sister car to that of two-time Supercars champion Marcos Ambrose.
While not raced by Ambrose himself, the car is presented in the STP livery from his first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (then Nationwide Series) victory at Watkins Glen in 2008.
J.C. France, grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr, will drive a 2014 Chevrolet Impala – re-bodied as a Camaro and wrapped in the Garage 56 livery that Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button and Mike Rockenfeller raced at Le Mans in 2023.
France Sr was instrumental in entering two stock cars – a Dodge Charger and Ford Torino – in the 1976 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The very same Torino will hit the track once more this weekend in the hands of Jean Algernas, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its first appearance.
Two of the three races will be livestreamed on both the HSR and IMSA YouTube Channels.
The first race will be streamed on Sunday July 5 at 1:00am AEST, with the second also on Sunday at 5:55pm.
A spotter’s guide for all entries can be found HERE
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