Hanley has already stood on the Le Mans podium twice, taking the LMP2 Pro/Am victory in 2021 alongside Juan Pablo Montoya and Henrik Hedman for Dragonspeed USA (pictured below) and finishing second in the same category with Nielsen Racing in 2022. He is now looking for a third podium finish, this time with his current team United Autosports.
We caught up with Ben as he prepares for the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Q: The season has started well with a third-place finish in Spain and victory in Le Castellet. How would you sum up the start of the season from your point of view and what, if anything, needs to be improved ahead of the next ELMS race in Imola?
Ben Hanley: “The start of the season has been very good so far, the team have worked very hard over the winter, and it's has shown as we are leading the championship. It is a nice place to be in during the Le Mans period as there is a big break until the next ELMS race and everyone is in a good place, saying that we still know what areas we need to work on to improve going forward and that's what we are doing behind the scene in preparation for Imola.”
Q: You are racing with Gregoire Saucy and Griffin Peebles this year in the ELMS (pictured below). Have you raced with them / against them before? Tell us a bit more about your teammates.
BH: “I raced with Gregoire last season, so I know how fast he is, as we saw in Le Castellet, then Griffin has popped onto the scene and is doing a fantastic job so far and long may that continue. We are all getting on very well and it's created a nice environment to be working together in.”
Q: You are switching cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, joining Ollie Jarvis and Daniel Schneider, who you in the no222 Pro/Am entry. You raced with them last year. Will that be an advantage for this year’s race?
BH: “It's always good to keep consistency in driver lineups so heading into Le Mans with the same crew as last year is an advantage in that regard. Now Daniel has a year of experience, so he knows what is coming and also knows where he is going now compared to this time last year when it was all new.”
Q: Do you have any special memories from the races you’ve competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
BH: “Obviously winning the Pro/Am with DragonSpeed and standing on that top step of the podium is a great memory of Le Mans, it just makes you hungry for more of the same!”
Q: Does the fact that the 24 Hours of Le Mans is not part of the ELMS take away some of the pressure on you as a driver or because it is the greatest endurance race in the world, does it come with its own pressures?
BH: “Le Mans is its own event in my eyes, even if you’re competing in the WEC. You always have an eye on Le Mans, so it has its own pressure regardless of if it’s a one-off race event, like LMP2 is at the moment. Everyone is going there aiming to win their respective categories and we are aiming for the same. The win!”
Q: Do you have a favourite section / corner on the Circuit De La Sarthe?
BH: “My favourite section is probably the Porsche sequence, although Indy and Arnage sequences are a close second.”
Q: When you look at the LMP2 Pro/Am grid that will compete at Le Mans this year, what would you consider to be a good result at 4pm on Sunday 14 June?
BH: “I think I've already mentioned it above, but we will be aiming for the win, so that's where we are looking to be come Sunday afternoon.”
The 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans is the 94th edition of the race that was first run in 1923 and will take place on 13/14 June. CLICK HERE for more information on the event.
