As the engines fall silent and the dust settles on another unforgettable Le Mans 24-hour race, I always return to the UK with an irresistible urge to compete in it at least once. Unfortunately, time is speeding up, and the competition is getting more professional, making this dream seem more distant than ever - but still, hopefully not impossible.
In the meantime, competing in any 24-hour race is a significant achievement for any racing enthusiast. Many readers will have already ticked off that milestone, whether successfully or not, but I have yet to do so. Until now, that is, as the opportunity has presented itself this year with EnduroKa and its upcoming Ynys Mon 24 round at Anglesey.
You’ll likely recall that Team PH has covered the EnduroKa race series since its inception. Despite our best efforts over three years of very enjoyable racing, we never quite reached the top step. But we did learn an awful lot about endurance racing and successfully built two cars on our very own driveways. Ask any team member, and they'll tell you how much they miss the camaraderie and excitement of competing in the hugely popular series.
This year, things are a little different: we've teamed up with the Sukaru Racing 555 entry, alongside support from Autotech Motorsport. They offer one of the many 'arrive and drive' options available to anyone who’d like to have a go, providing trackside support for the entire 24 hours. To make it truly feel like Le Mans, we're opting for the regulation minimum of three drivers instead of the maximum of six allowed.
As ever, preparation is key—learning how to feed, sleep, and hydrate ourselves during the race is essential. At Le Mans, I sought advice from the professionals. Radio Le Mans expert Johnny Mowlem explained that he fuels up on pasta and bananas during a race weekend, and Sebastien Buemi reckoned it was important to take naps whenever necessary. These are strategies we need to refine.
Driver changes are another critical aspect. While Le Mans allows four-hour stints, giving drivers a decent rest, EnduroKa is less generous. The maximum driver stint is two hours and 20 minutes, including the pit stop. Realistically then, with three drivers, rest periods are only about four hours between stints. So if you have any strategies of your own, we’d welcome your suggestions in the comments!
Obviously getting the car to the finish is the ultimate goal. Earlier this year, we participated in a shakedown event at Silverstone to prepare for the upcoming 24-hour challenge. It tested both the car and the team. While the day didn’t go exactly as planned—we were stuck in 3rd gear—we did demonstrate our resilience and determination by changing the gearbox and clutch in just 35 minutes. As you might expect, this experience again underscored the unpredictable nature of racing and the relentless need for thorough preparation.
If the thrill of Le Mans has ignited your racing spirit, there's still time to enter the EnduroKa 24-hour race at Anglesey. For anyone without a car or new to the series, the Arrive and Drive packages provide a ready-to-race Ford Ka and full support, allowing you to jump straight into the action without the hassle of car preparation. Alternatively, if you already have a car, entries are still open.
None of which means I’ve given up on Le Mans, of course - but I am very much looking forward to a slower-paced version in Wales and seeing if 24-hour racing really is as hard as it looks. Bring it on.
Photo Credits: Hazel Ford Photography, Tristan Judge, Chris Hilson
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