The Michelin Le Mans Cup was launched in 2016 as an endurance race series that placed the emphasis on providing the maximum amount of track time for bronze rated drivers.
This has encouraged not only the gentlemen / amateur drivers to compete on six of Europe’s best circuits, including the awesome 13.6km La Sarthe circuit at Le Mans, but it has also attracted the latest crop of young professional drivers wishing to use the series as a springboard for their racing careers.
The Michelin Le Mans Cup has seen young drivers go onto the very peak of endurance racing, with race and title winners in the European Le Mans Series, FIA World Endurance Championship and even standing on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans; drivers such as Phil Hanson, Thomas Laurent, Job Van Uitert and Ross Gunn.
Doriane Pin
17-year-old Doriane Pin had a successful career in karts, taking race wins in the French championship before being crowned national female champion in 2019.Her first outing in cars was in the 2020 Renault Clio Cup France, where she finished the season as Vice Champion in the Juniors with one win and two seconds.
Her achievements had not gone unnoticed and Doriane was chosen for the FIA Girls on Track Ferrari Driver Academy. This has led to her being offered the opportunity to race with Iron Lynx in the 2021 Michelin Le Mans Cup.
Unfortunately, a technical issue at the first round in Spain meant that the car couldn’t compete in the 2-hour race, but Pin had already shown her pace, finishing FP2 as the second fastest GT3 driver, just four tenths behind the highly experience Paolo Ruberti in the no8 Iron Lynx Ferrari.
For Round 2 in Le Castellet Doriane Pin will be joined once again by Belgium’s Sarah Bovy and the all-female crew will be looking forward to making their race debut in France on Saturday 5 June.
Finn Gehrsitz
At just 16 years old Finn Gehrsitz became the youngest driver to ever start a Michelin Le Mans Cup race when he competed in Round 1 in Barcelona. The German, who is racing a Ligier JS P320-Nissan run by Phoenix Racing finished 8th on his endurance race debut alongside compatriot Hamza Owega.
Finn was born in Stuttgart on the 25 September 2004 and spent five years in karts, winning the Baden-Wurttemberg Kart Cup in his debut season in 2014 and in 2015, was the ADAC Rotax Max Open Champion in 2016 and took the runners up spot in the 2016 ADAC Rotax Max Challenge Germany.
Finn admits his ultimate goal is to become a factory driver for a manufacturer like his favourite driver former FIA World Endurance Champion and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Andre Lotterer.
On his website Finn Gehrsitz lists his favourite circuit as the Circuit Paul Ricard so for Round 2 of the 2021 Michelin Le Mans Cup the young German will be hoping to improve on his top 10 finish in Barcelona.
