MADRID, 4 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish driver Belén García will take another step in her level of experience in endurance competition as she will participate in the European Le Mans Series in 2024 with a top team such as DKR Engineering.
“Belén García continues her rise in the pyramid of endurance competition. The 24-year-old Spanish driver, revelation in the Asian Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup, continues to advance with participation in the European Le Mans Series together with DKR Engineering, a leading team in the LMP3 category,” said the Catalan company's communications department.
The Spaniard made her debut in endurance racing last year and was able to achieve her first podium in the Ultimate Cup Series before continuing to progress in the Asian Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup, the latter where she finished tenth, a performance that has not gone unnoticed.
Thus, just after finishing her first full season, Belén García returned to action in Portimao (Portugal) driving the DKR Engineering Duqueine M30-D08 to participate in the 'rookie' test. “The Spaniard and the Luxembourg team soon found a good work synergy, completing a very productive day, which ended with the best time in LMP3, before reaching an agreement to continue this adventure together in the 'queen' discipline of endurance in Europe for the 2024 season,” they indicated from the Spanish team.
“I am happy to be able to confirm that I will be racing in the European Le Mans Series in 2024. I want to compete with the best in this sport and this is the right step to achieve the goal. I am delighted that it is with DKR Engineering and I was happy to be able to do the test with them because they have a very good reputation, they have won Road to Le Mans three times, and they also have several titles in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, Asian Le Mans Series and they achieved it in the European Le Mans Series in the LMP3 category in 2021 “, Belén García stressed.
The one from L'Ametlla del Vallès acknowledged that the Duqueine “is a different vehicle from the Ligier”, but that it “immediately” managed to be “fast”. “It bodes well for the future, I'm looking forward to starting to work with them again to prepare for the new season,” she confessed.
The European Le Mans Series consists of longer races, lasting four hours, but García looks “ready to fight”, although she has “no concrete expectations.” “Everything revolves around competing, fighting and focusing on work to obtain good results. I want to capitalize on everything I have learned so far in endurance and I am very motivated with this step forward in my career for the new season,” she remarked. .
“I know the LMP3 category and I have always wanted to compete in the four-hour race format. As usual, the goal will be to win. Despite knowing that there will be some teams with a very strong line-up, I feel strong and always want to be the best driver in the peloton. Of course it's not going to be an easy task, but when you compete you have to focus on working hard and winning, so that will be my goal,” he said.
“At DKR we are super happy to have signed with Belén. She was already testing with us in Portimão during the rookie tests and finished first, and the most important thing is that not only did she show good pace, but she also showed herself to be very professional in everything related to to the competition. We have very solid plans and she is also the first woman to drive for DKR and that is something very interesting for all of us too,” celebrated Kendy Janclaes, owner of DKR Engineering.
The calendar will consist of six races in Europe, opening on home soil with the 4 Hours of Barcelona before heading to the Circuit Paul Ricard (France) and the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola (Italy). After the summer break, the teams will return to the track at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) and Mugello (Italy) before the season finale at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão.