In 2021 Audunn Gudmundsson makes Michelin Le Mans Cup history as the first Icelandic driver to compete in the series.
The 49-year-old driver from Garðbær, Iceland’s sixth largest town situated just south of the capital Reykjavik, has competed in the Radical Challenge Championship for the past two seasons, taking the 2020 Team Challenge title with British driver Tom Ashton, and is now making the step up to endurance racing.
Gudmundsson will be making his debut in Michelin Le Mans Cup with the new Icelandic team Team Thor, competing in an LMP3 class Ligier JS P320-Nissan alongside Tom Ashton.
We spoke to Audunn Gudmundsson ahead of his new challenge, which begins in Spain on Saturday 17 April.
Q: Welcome to the MLMC. Tell us about your racing career so far.
Audunn Gudmundsson: “Well, as my mother and father had no interest at all in motorsport, worked for the government and therefore didn’t have much money, I had to do it all by myself. Saying that I must say that I had wonderful parents.
“I started racing battered old snowmobiles when I was around 15 years old. In the beginning, my friends and I were driving snowmobiles, quads, jet skis and whatever we could get our hands on with motor. After a while I started to drive karts, but it didn’t last long as there was no track in Iceland, so we just drove on carparks!
“In recent years, I’ve spent more time driving buggies and therefore have driven snowmobiles less.
“I’ve been passionate about car racing from a very young age, and always enjoyed watching Formula 1. Since then, I have always dreamed of car racing on real tracks.As all people involved in motorsports know, you need money to race.
“Luckily, I was determined that I would have my own business, was willing to work hard and earn money which has allowed me to do so. Once I had the capacity to race, I co-bought my first Radical SR3 in 2012, with my friend Baldur Bjornsson. After that, I practiced and set my sights on racing.
“Then in 2019 I decided to enter 3 race weekends in the Radical Challenge Championship at Snetterton, Spa and Silverstone. I would say that it was very much enjoyable.
“It was hard to stop so I asked my wife if we could race again in 2020, we agreed to do so and did the whole 2020 season of the Radical SR3 Teams Championship with Tom Ashton, taking the title.
Q: Why did you choose to race in the Michelin Le Mans Cup in 2021?
AG: “During the Radical race weekend at Spa in 2019, I watched LMP3 cars for the first time and thought this is the coolest car I have ever seen, with the most phenomenal sound that I have ever heard. If I can do this, then for sure I would like to!Therefore, knowing that MLMC is better suited to gentleman drivers than ELMS, I chose that series.”
Q: You are the first Icelandic driver to compete in the series and you are racing with an Icelandic team as well.How does it feel to represent Iceland in this international championship?
AG: “I don’t feel that I am representing anyone; I am doing this for myself. I only started to drive high performance cars on asphalt when I was 41 years old, I am now 49 so I will not be on podium. That being said, I am competitive so I would like to have people to race against, but as long as I’m not last, I will be happy. I will just do my best, never give up and have fun - that is my number one goal.”
Q: Tell us about your team, Team Thor, and your teammate Tom Ashton.
AG: “Team Thor is the next step of my racing journey. It consists of myself, Tom Ashton, my wife Asa Thrastardottir and my friend Baldur Bjornsson, who is doing most of the work to set this up and without whom I could never have done this. We have joined forces with Marko, Jari and their experienced Koiranen GP team who will be running the car for us.
“Tom and I are entering our second season of racing together, following last season’s Radical Championship. He is, number one, a phenomenal driver, but he is also a good person and an excellent teacher. I have learnt so much from him and will hopefully keep on doing so this year.”
Q: Have you raced on any of the tracks we will visit this year before?
AG: “Yes, I have raced at Spa, but the other circuits will be a new challenge for me, and I look forward to driving on world-class circuits.”
Q: Which races on the 2021 calendar are you looking forward to the most and why?
AG: “I only know one circuit, which is Spa. When I took Eau Rouge corner flat out for the first time in a Radical SR3, I felt like I was becoming a world champion, but it was only during practice. Along with Ascari, Spa is my favourite track, so I would have to say Spa. All the other tracks look very promising, so I would not be surprised if I have a new favourite track after this season.”
Round 1 of the six round 2021 Michelin Le Mans Cup will take place in Barcelona in Spain on Saturday 17th April.
