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Gulf Today
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Today
From farm to fame, Tandy recognised for 24 Hours grand slam
Nick Tandy's thirst for speed began when he was barely a teenager, driving a combine harvester around an open field on his father's farm. The only driver to have won every 24-hour endurance race -- a grand slam of Le Mans, Nuerburgring, Spa and Daytona -- the Briton was honoured on Tuesday with the Royal Automobile Club's Segrave Trophy for outstanding exploits on land, sea or air. Past winners include Formula One champions Lewis Hamilton, Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell. Speaking to Reuters at the London club, and slightly stunned to be there, the Porsche factory driver accepted his path was perhaps not the typical one. Driving the combine had certainly made him want to go faster, though. "You just wanted to get the job done so you could go out and play with your friends," he said. Tandy still helps out when he can, going from 250kph around a racetrack to the wheel of a tractor at walking pace with a harrow on the back. "Everyone has their own back story and I'm country folk," he said. "I enjoy going back to the countryside. "I struggle going to places like Monaco but everyone's different I guess." Tandy, now 40, took overall victory at Le Mans' Sarthe circuit a decade ago, a 2015 victory shared with Earl Bamber of New Zealand and German F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg. At the time it was a box ticked, a dream come true. "But then of course you wake up the very next morning and think 'Right. What's next?'," he said. The answer came in 2018 when he won the Nuerburgring 24 Hours, again with Porsche. In 2020 he conquered the Spa 24 Hours with Bamber and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor. That left Daytona and Tandy had won the U.S. race previously in the GT class. "Somebody said to me 'you do realise nobody has ever won them all, overall, and you've won three and you've got a class win at Daytona'. And I thought 'Oof! Now there's a challenge'," he recalled. The Briton succeeded last January with Brazilian Felipe Nasr and Vanthoor. Tandy also won the 2015 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, Georgia, and 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida last March -- becoming the first driver to win endurance racing's 'Big Six'. In a world where the car is more often the star, Tandy said he had been taken aback by the amount of interest suddenly penetrating his "little bubble". "I drive my little car in my little races around and around and kind of finish where we started up," he said. "I haven't been on water and driven a boat faster than anybody's ever done. I haven't won a world championship in a plane. I haven't circumnavigated the globe. "It makes you realise that what you've done actually is probably bigger than I ever thought." Comparisons have been made to double Formula One champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Clark, an all-time great who came from a Scottish farming family and died in 1968. Tandy said being mentioned in the same breath as Clark was unbelievable but the background similarity was not such a surprise. "There's so many more other good drivers that come from farming," he said. "There's something about having the land available and growing up and driving machines, working on machines as well, and understanding mechanics. "I'm a professional racing driver... but when I come home, I can switch off and I go back to family life and working in my workshop, helping my dad on the farm. Just being a normal person." Reuters
TimesLIVE
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
From farm to fame, Nick Tandy recognised for 24 Hours grand slam
The answer came in 2018 when he won the Nürburgring 24 Hours, again with Porsche. In 2020 he conquered the Spa 24 Hours with Bamber and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor. That left Daytona and Tandy had won the US race previously in the GT class. "Somebody said to me 'you do realise nobody has ever won them all, overall, and you've won three and you've got a class win at Daytona'. I thought 'Oof! Now there's a challenge'," he recalled. The Briton succeeded last January with Brazilian Felipe Nasr and Vanthoor. Tandy also won the 2015 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, Georgia, and 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida last March, becoming the first driver to win endurance racing's "Big Six". In a world where the car is more often the star, Tandy said he had been taken aback by the amount of interest suddenly penetrating his "little bubble". "I drive my little car in my little races around and around and kind of finish where we started up," he said. "I haven't been on water and driven a boat faster than anybody's ever done. I haven't won a world championship in a plane. I haven't circumnavigated the globe. "It makes you realise that what you've done is probably bigger than I ever thought." Comparisons have been made to double Formula One champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Clark, an all-time great who came from a Scottish farming family and died in 1968. Tandy said being mentioned in the same breath as Clark was unbelievable but the background similarity was not a surprise. "There's many more other good drivers who come from farming," he said. "There's something about having the land available and growing up and driving machines, working on machines and understanding mechanics. "I'm a professional racing driver, but when I come home, I can switch off and go back to family life and working in my workshop, helping my dad on the farm. Being a normal person."
Reuters
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
From farm to fame, Tandy recognised for 24 Hours grand slam
LONDON, July 29 (Reuters) - Nick Tandy's thirst for speed began when he was barely a teenager, driving a combine harvester around an open field on his father's farm. The only driver to have won every 24-hour endurance race -- a grand slam of Le Mans, Nuerburgring, Spa and Daytona -- the Briton was honoured on Tuesday with the Royal Automobile Club's Segrave Trophy for outstanding exploits on land, sea or air. Past winners include Formula One champions Lewis Hamilton, Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell. Speaking to Reuters at the London club, and slightly stunned to be there, the Porsche factory driver accepted his path was perhaps not the typical one. Driving the combine had certainly made him want to go faster, though. "You just wanted to get the job done so you could go out and play with your friends," he said. Tandy still helps out when he can, going from 250kph around a racetrack to the wheel of a tractor at walking pace with a harrow on the back. "Everyone has their own back story and I'm country folk," he said. "I enjoy going back to the countryside. "I struggle going to places like Monaco but everyone's different I guess." Tandy, now 40, took overall victory at Le Mans' Sarthe circuit a decade ago, a 2015 victory shared with Earl Bamber of New Zealand and German F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg. At the time it was a box ticked, a dream come true. "But then of course you wake up the very next morning and think 'Right. What's next?'," he said. The answer came in 2018 when he won the Nuerburgring 24 Hours, again with Porsche. In 2020 he conquered the Spa 24 Hours with Bamber and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor. That left Daytona and Tandy had won the U.S. race previously in the GT class. "Somebody said to me 'you do realise nobody has ever won them all, overall, and you've won three and you've got a class win at Daytona'. And I thought 'Oof! Now there's a challenge'," he recalled. The Briton succeeded last January with Brazilian Felipe Nasr and Vanthoor. Tandy also won the 2015 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, Georgia, and 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida last March -- becoming the first driver to win endurance racing's 'Big Six'. In a world where the car is more often the star, Tandy said he had been taken aback by the amount of interest suddenly penetrating his "little bubble". "I drive my little car in my little races around and around and kind of finish where we started up," he said. "I haven't been on water and driven a boat faster than anybody's ever done. I haven't won a world championship in a plane. I haven't circumnavigated the globe. "It makes you realise that what you've done actually is probably bigger than I ever thought." Comparisons have been made to double Formula One champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Clark, an all-time great who came from a Scottish farming family and died in 1968. Tandy said being mentioned in the same breath as Clark was unbelievable but the background similarity was not such a surprise. "There's so many more other good drivers that come from farming," he said. "There's something about having the land available and growing up and driving machines, working on machines as well, and understanding mechanics. "I'm a professional racing driver... but when I come home, I can switch off and I go back to family life and working in my workshop, helping my dad on the farm. Just being a normal person."
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Spa sessions show Charlie has the Hart for racetrack
Rising Rivington motor racing star Charlie Hart continued to show his talent with his best showing of the 2025 GT4 European Series season so far, almost taking a stunning pole position but also scoring two fifth-place finishes at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa week. The 16-year-old arrived in Belgium with his RAFA Racing by Race Lab team fresh off the back of a fighting display at Zandvoort, where he and co-driver Callum Davies both charged forward through the pack in their McLaren Artura GT4. The third of the six GT4 European Series events was the biggest one yet for the teenager, as the series supported the infamous Spa 24 Hours race at the historic Formula One circuit located within the Ardennes. Hart was among a massive field of cars competing for glory, held over two 60-minute races in front of massive crowds of 128,000 fans. A highlight of the event was the highly-regarded 'Spa Parade' which saw almost 200 GT3 and GT4 cars descend on the local town in the build-up to the race weekend itself. It was a hit with the fans, who gathered to take photos with the drivers and scoop up their very own limited edition signed posters of the pair. The Lancashire rookie then instantly showed his speed throughout the week's action on track. Hart went fastest of anyone during practice by a comfortable margin to lay his marker in the sand, backing it up with a close third in pre-qualifying. Conditions turned for the worst in qualifying as the rain arrived for Hart's 20-minute session. He tamed the spray and treacherous weather in style however, finishing second and only narrowly 0.086secs away from his first pole position in the series. The car would also start third for race two. Come the opening race of the week, Hart was given the task of starting the RAFA McLaren. On the outside line, he was edged down to fourth but still right in the fight for the lead throughout his stint. Two safety-car periods were frustrating, however, for Hart, who wanted to get back to racing against his rivals ahead sooner rather than later. He handed over to Davies in fourth, whereafter the car came home for a season-best fifth-placed finish. Hoping to better that again the following day, Hart was given the second stint on this occasion. They almost climbed up to P2 on the road after a strong start, but the race was soon neutralised after a heavy crash for several cars behind them in the pack. The clean-up operation meant only 30 minutes of racing could be achieved to fit the schedule, Hart jumping in the car while the number 812 sat third. He instantly went into battle with the BMW of Ricardo Van Der Ende, almost managing to pass the Dutchman around the outside at Les Combes, but being forced to take to the run-off area and slot in behind. He continued the chase all race, delayed in the battle as pit-stops cycled through. Finishing narrowly behind the podium finishers, the Silver-rated driver came home a similarly impressive fifth to match the race one result, again adding crucial points to move the crew up to ninth in the competitive Silver class standings with three meetings to go. Hart said: 'It was a really good weekend for us at Spa. We were definitely I'd say one of the quickest out there, and we were on it from the word go. 'I managed to top a session in practice, and then thought we had a good chance in qualifying, even in the conditions we had to deal with. 'I would have loved to have been on that pole position! But it was still a great result, and I'm sure that we'll have more chances to get that in the future. 'We were careful at the start as it's always going to be a bit messy with so many cars going into La Source and then Eau Rouge, but I would really have liked more green flag running in the car to try and make a difference in that first stint. 'We both did a solid job, and we can't complain too much with two good finishes. We're closing in on those podiums and wins now.'
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jake Dennis and girlfriend Lexi Grace Boosey cheer for F1's new podium winner Nico Hulkenberg
Jake Dennis was among the many race enthusiasts who watched the Formula 1 race on Sunday. It was special in many ways as Kick Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg secured his first podium at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Among those cheering for him was Andretti's Jake Dennis, who shared a glimpse of how he and his girlfriend Lexi Grace Boosey celebrated Hulkenberg's achievement as he lifted his first trophy on the podium. Who were Jake Dennis and Lexi Grace Boosey cheering for? Jake Dennis took to his Instagram Stories to share a video from his home as he watched the British Grand Prix. The video, captured by him, showed his girlfriend clapping for Nico Hulkenberg as he claimed his first-ever podium at the British Grand Prix. His dog was seen sitting beside her with his back to the TV. Dennis wrote with the video, 'Don't even know the guy but I'm absolutely buzzing for him!' The TV screen showed glimpses of Nico Hulkenberg crossing the finish line and celebrating his achievement with his team. It was his first podium in 239 Formula 1 races. Image credit: Jake Dennis/Instagram Jake Dennis' Formula E season Meanwhile, Jake Dennis is preparing for the Berlin E-Prix, starting from July 11. The double-header has Round 13 on July 12 and Round 14 on July 13. He had a tough time in Jakarta last month, as he was among the frontrunners in the race but was hit by Mahindra Racing's Nyck De Vries, which ended all his chances of grabbing a podium. He currently has one podium this season — his third-place finish in the Monaco E-Prix Part 1. Jake Dennis' birthday celebrations Last month, he also celebrated his 30th birthday. It was a massive multi-day celebration on a yacht in Monaco in the presence of his girlfriend, friends, and family. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Recently, Boosey shared a bunch of throwback pictures from the celebrations on Instagram. 'June, you were special,' she wrote in the caption. Also Read: The pictures were mostly from Jake Dennis' birthday celebrations, and some were from his participation in the Spa 24 Hours race. The pictures showed him chilling on a yacht with Boosey and others. There was also a glimpse of his birthday cake, which surprisingly had a golf cart on it instead of a Formula E car.
