SRT Motorsports - Dominik Farnbacher: What Racing at Le Mans Means to Me 

June 5, 2013 , AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -  The SRT Viper GTS-R is returning to competition in the world’s oldest active sports car endurance race – the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The event, first run in 1923, is set for June 22-23.

This is the fourth in a series of comments from the six drivers that will pilot the two SRT Viper GTS-Rs in the prestigious event. Today, Dominik Farnbacher, who will team with Marc Goossens and Ryan Dalziel in the No. 53 SRT Viper GTS-R for the 24-hour race, explains what racing at Le Mans means to him. It’s his third trip to Le Mans, finishing second once.

“It’s a big deal because it has such a great history, the first really-endurance race in the world. The whole world is watching. It’s not only France or a particular country, the whole world watches the race. The crowds are outstanding, you have 200,000 people there. When you are lined up beside your car on the starting grid and hear your national anthem with everyone watching, it’s just breathtaking. There is no other race like it – the driver’s parade the day before, the ceremony prior to the race and the finish especially when you stand on the podium overlooking the race track with all the people there watching you, 200,000 people yelling and waving. It’s very unique; you don’t have that anywhere else.

“You usually have four or five drivers for a 24-hour race. At Le Mans, you only have three drivers. It’s really a sprint race, a 24-hour sprint race. The GTE class is the strongest it’s ever been; there are five manufacturers competing against each other. To compete there, it’s really special. The ingredients for a strong finish are there – we have a strong team and car. It’s time to make it happen.”