energia: 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

The 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 64th Grand Prix of Endurance and took place on 15 and 16 June 1996. It was won by a Tom Walkinshaw-Porsche prototype run by Joest Racing with drivers Davy Jones, Manuel Reuter and Le Mans rookie Alexander Wurz. Like McLaren the year before, it won on its race debut, after tough competition from the works Porsche team and their own new design – the Porsche 911 GT1. Together, these two teams easily outpaced their rival prototypes and GT sports cars, leaving them in their wake. Evenly matched, in the end it came down to the metronomic reliability of the Joest car, and the drivers adhering to a steady schedule, that got the victory. From the start it was the…

Evidence: 34 • authority: 72

Alexander Georg Wurz (German pronunciation: [ˌalɛˈksandɐ ˈɡeː.ɐ̯k vʊʁt͡s]; born 15 February 1974) is an Austrian former racing driver, motorsport executive and businessman, who competed in Formula One between 1997 and 2007. In endurance racing, Wurz is a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1996 and 2009 with Joest and Peugeot, respectively. Amongst several test driver roles, Wurz competed at 69 Grands Prix across six seasons with Benetton, McLaren, and Williams; he achieved three podiums. Since his retirement, he has been a commentator for television, as well as chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association. and occasionally a driver steward.

Evidence: 34 • authority: 72

The 24 Hours of Le Mans (French: 24 Heures du Mans) is an annual 24-hour automobile endurance race organised by the automotive group Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and held on the Circuit de la Sarthe race track close to the city of Le Mans, the capital of the French department of Sarthe. It was first held as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency in 1923, after the automotive journalist Charles Faroux to Georges Durand, the ACO general secretary, and the industrialist Emile Coquile, agreed to hold the race for car manufacturers to test vehicle durability, equipment and reliability. Each overall victor is presented with a trophy bearing the event's emblem and the logo of the ACO commi…

Evidence: — • authority: 77

On 15–16 June 1996, driving for Joest Racing (Germany), he became the French event’s youngest-ever winner, aged just 22 years 123 days.

Evidence: — • authority: 84

On June 16, 1996, also at the young age of 22, Alexander Wurz beat the record still in place to this day of the youngest winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Evidence: — • authority: 84

At its wheel, a young, 22-year-old Austrian named Alex Wurz became, in his very first participation, the youngest winner ever at the 24 Hours.