Benoît Tréluyer: Two and four wheels
Back to overviewAutomobile race drivers who started out in motorcycle racing are few and far between. Benoît Tréluyer is one of the rare exceptions from the rule. At the age of six, he started motocross racing, which he stayed in for seven years. Today, on four wheels, he’s a celebrated world champion and three time Le Mans winner. His love of motorcycles is something he continues to cultivate.
If you run into Benoît Tréluyer in the WEC paddock following a summer break, you can quickly tell whether he ventured on another off-road motorcycle tour – which may well include races. A few burns or cuts are only the smallest visible tribute he may have paid to the unshakeable belief in artistic weightlessness shared by all motocrossers.
Southern France that is now home to him is a place perfectly suited for Tréluyer’s hobby. The town of Gordes where he lives is perched on a rock protruding from the Monts de Vaucluse. Benath it is the vast valley of the Coulon river, the banks of which extend all the way to the Luberon mountains. With his wife, Melanie, and son, Jules, the Audi driver, who hails from Britany, lives in a stone house. He enjoys the landscape of the Provence for all kinds of excursions on motorized and muscle-powered cycles. The region offers a number of culinary delights as well. Olives thrive on Tréluyer’s property in the mild southern French climate. Their oil perfectly complements the region’s Mediterranean cuisine.
In racing, the Frenchman worked his way up to the world’s top ranks via a long career path in Japan. Since as far back as 2010, he has been forming a well-balanced trio with André Lotterer and Marcel Fässler. A squad that with ten single victories – including three successes at Le Mans – to its credit has evolved into the most successful WEC driver team. By the end of the 2016 season, this lineup will have existed longer than any other Audi driver trio before it.
His international success has not impaired Tréluyer‘s friendly nature in the least. With his uncomplicated ways Ben, as everyone calls him, perfectly blends with the team, always committed to its joint mission. With fans and media, he is a popular and respected conversation and interview partner.
Profile
Date of birth: December7, 1976
Place of birth: Alençon (F)
Residence: Gordes (F)
Marital status: married, one son
Height/weight: 1.78 m/68 kg
Le Mans races: 12 (3 victories)
Sporting career
1983–89 Motocross
1990–94 Kart
1995 Formula Campus
1996 11th French Formula Renault Championship
1997 6th French Formula Renault Championship
1998 9th French Formula 3 Championship
1999 3rd French Formula 3 Championship, 3rd Formula 3 Superprix Korea
2000 5th Japanese Formula 3 Championship, 4th Formula 3 Masters
2001 1st Japanese Formula 3 Championship, 2nd Formula 3 Grand Prix Macau, 3rd Formula 3 Superprix Korea, Japanese GT Championship
2002 Japanese GT Championship, Formula Nippon, 3rd GTS class Le Mans 24 Hours
2003 7th Japanese GT Championship, 2nd Formula Nippon
2004 11th Japanese GT Championship, 4th Formula Nippon, 4th Le Mans 24 Hours
2005 11th Japanese Super GT Championship, 6th Formula Nippon
2006 8th Japanese Super GT Championship, 1st Formula Nippon
2007 11th Japanese Super GT Championship, 2nd Formula Nippon, 6th LMP1 class Le Mans 24 Hours
2008 1st Japanese Super GT Championship, 8th Formula Nippon, 7th Le Mans 24 Hours
2009 4th Japanese Super GT Championship, 2nd Formula Nippon, Le Mans 24 Hours
2010 2nd Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R15 TDI), 7th Japanese Super GT Championship
2011 1st Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 TDI), 2nd Japanese Super GT Championship
2012 1st Le Mans 24 Hours, 1st FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), 1st WEC Silverstone, 1st WEC Bahrain (in Audi R18 e-tron quattro at each event)
2013 1st Sebring 12 Hours, 2nd FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), 1st WEC Spa, 1st WEC São Paulo, 1st WEC Shanghai, 5th Le Mans 24 Hours (in Audi R18 e-tron quattro at each event)
2014 1st Le Mans 24 Hours, 1st WEC Austin, 2nd FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) (in Audi R18 e-tron quattro at each event)
2015 1st WEC Silverstone, 1st WEC Spa, 2nd FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), 3rd Le Mans 24 Hours (in Audi R18 e-tron quattro at each event)
2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) (Audi R18)
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