Benoît Tréluyer: Between nature and motorsport

When Benoît Tréluyer looks across a rambling valley in the Provence from the terrace of his house in Gordes, the scene is almost reminiscent of the intellectual world of an author. The Audi driver is at home in the historical natural stone architecture where the lavender blossoms. He likes to use the surroundings in southern France for motocross trips as much as he does for cultivating olives, which he has pressed – a life between engine oil and olive oil.

“I am a Breton, and my first long stay abroad led me to Japan of all places,” says Benoît Tréluyer a little jokingly of his origins and when he recalls his first career steps. He comes from Alençon, Brittany about 50 kilometers north of Le Mans.

After a successful start in single-seater racing, the budding talent got the chance to make a career in Japan. Tréluyer spent twelve years of his racing life in the land of the rising sun, innumerable race wins as well as titles in the domestic Formula 3, Formula Nippon and Super GT championship mark his career. When Audi signed him in 2010, his name was mainly familiar with insiders. For Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, the Frenchman is a huge asset. His down-to-earth nature, his speed paired with tactical intelligence and his team spirit are just a few of the traits that make him ideal for endurance racing. “My years in Japan helped me to find my feet at Audi. The thought process and working style of Japanese and German teams are very similar,” compares Tréluyer, who has won seven WEC races and the 2012 World Championship title with his team mates.

The talented French made his first steps in motorsport on two wheels. Tréluyer competed in motocross events for six years; he still loves enduro motorbikes to this day. He has lived in the picturesque village Gordes for many years now with his wife Melanie and their son. Where he cultivates olives, from which the oil is pressed.

Benoît Tréluyer fulfilled a long cherished idea over 2014/2015 winter: in the ski resort Les Deux Alpes near Grenoble, he had a chalet furnished to accommodate both a holiday home as well as a large fitness studio. Whoever’s interested can rent the sport chalet themselves from the Audi driver. 

Profile

Date of birth: December 7, 1976
Place of birth: Alençon (F)
Place of residence: Gordes (F)
Status: married, one son
Height/weight: 1.78 m/68 kg
Le Mans starts: 10 (3 wins)

Sporting career

1983-1989 Motocross
1990-1994 Karting
1995 Formula Campus
1996 11th in French Formula Renault Championship
1997 6th in French Formula Renault Championship
1998 9th in French Formula 3 Championship
1999 3rd in French Formula 3 Championship, 3rd in Korea Formula 3 Superprix
2000 5th in Japanese Formula 3 Championship, 4th in Formula 3 Masters
2001 1st in Japanese Formula 3 Championship, 2nd in Formula 3 Grand Prix Macau, 3rd in Korea Formula 3 Superprix, Japanese GT Championship
2002 Japanese GT Championship, Formula Nippon, 3rd in GTS class in Le Mans 24 Hours
2003 7th in Japanese GT Championship, 2nd in Formula Nippon
2004 11th in Japanese GT Championship, 4th in Formula Nippon, 4th in Le Mans 24 Hours
2005 11th in Japanese Super GT Championship, 6th in Formula Nippon
2006 8th in Japanese Super GT Championship, 1st in Formula Nippon
2007 11th in Japanese Super GT Championship, 2nd in Formula Nippon, 6th in LMP1 class Le Mans 24 Hours
2008 1st in Japanese Super GT Championship, 8th in Formula Nippon, 7th in Le Mans 24 Hours
2009 4th in Japanese Super GT Championship, 2nd in Formula Nippon, Le Mans 24 Hours
2010 2nd in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R15 TDI), 7th in Japanese Super GT Championship
2011 1st in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 TDI), 2nd in Japanese Super GT Championship
2012 1st in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 1st in FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 1st in Silverstone 6 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 1st in Bahrain 6 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro)
2013 1st in Sebring 12 Hours, 2nd in FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, 1st in Spa 6 Hours, 1st in São Paulo 6 Hours, 1st in Shanghai 6 Hours, 5th in Le Mans 24 Hours (each time in Audi R18 e-tron quattro)
2014 1st in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 2nd in FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18 e-tron quattro)
2015 FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 3rd in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro)

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