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Jann
Mardenbourgh, the young racer from Ely in Cardiff, who some of you will have
raced with at Pembrey in 2011 as he raced in the Welsh Championship as part of
his conversion into a real racer, having won that years Nissan PlayStation
Academy, finished 5th in the LMP2 class and 9th overall at Le Mans! Jann and his
team mates were the stars of the LMP2 class having led for most of the race
before mechanical issues, including a loss of power and a cracked rear disc,
lost them time in the pits, dropping them to 5th! Well done to Jann and his team
mates Alex Brundle and Mark Shulzhitskiy! Whilst Jann was keeping his feet on
the ground, and preparing for the GP3 race at the Austrian Grand Prix,
speculation mounted on his role in the Nissan LMP1 challenge in 2015 as reported
online by Autosport!
Jann is said
to be targeting a place in
Nissan's LMP1 team when the Japanese marque returns to the Le Mans 24 Hours in
2015. The 22-year-old Nissan protege performed well at Le Mans this year driving
the G-Drive-backed OAK Racing Ligier that was on course for LMP2 victory before
losing time with an engine problem. While no decision has been made on whether
Mardenborough will be promoted to the LMP1 line-up, his strong showings in
Nissan-powered machinery at Le Mans during the past two years would make him a
logical candidate for its outright victory assault. "I'd love to be involved in
that project but nothing is guaranteed," Mardenborough told AUTOSPORT "People
high up in Nissan have said that none of the GT Academy drivers are guaranteed a
place in this project. But it's something to work towards and it is a goal. I'll
continue pushing to show the guys that are part of the project that I am worthy
of the role."
' LE MANS PROVES LIFE IS UNFAIR'
 Mardenborough,
whose focus is on his GP3 campaign with Arden this year, finished fifth in LMP2
this year alongside Alex Brundle and fellow Nissan GT Academy product Mark
Shulzhitskiy.
He feels that his driving at Le Mans has taken a step forward this year
despite describing missing out on victory as "very gutting"."There are positives
to take from my second Le Mans and it was a massive thrill to be able to start
the race for the second time. I am less disappointed than I was last year for
coming fourth on the road - which became third in the end - because I'm a bit
more experienced and look on the brighter side. I found a nice rhythm pushing
the car but not damaging it over the kerbs too much, so it was easy to do that
and just stay in the zone. I learned a lot about how to keep the tyres
consistent over stints with heavy fuel on old tyres and brought it home. It's
very cruel, Le Mans, and it tells you that life is unfair, so you try and take
the best from it. It certainly makes me more determined, and certainly Nissan as
well, to come back next year, hopefully for my third time."
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