Farmer Nick Tandy has not accomplished too unhealthy for himself at Motorsport.
In January, Tandy made a narrative by changing into the primary driver to win the Grand Slam of the 24-hour competitions together with his victory within the Daytona. He added to his victories in earlier years in Le Mans, Spa and Nürburging, all with Porsche.
“Within the final three years I’ve been making an attempt to win it desperately,” Tandy stated in an interview in February, citing his victory in Dayton with Porsche Pen’s MotorsportS “This yr got here true.
“Truthfully, you actually do not take into consideration the dimensions of the achievement till folks begin speaking about it or ask questions on it. It’s a enormous factor for me as a result of it’s my world and that is what I do, however I’m just one individual on this large world. “
Tandy stated he was not conscious of the size of his achievements till the approaching weeks.
“This introduced residence what I did, one thing that nobody has ever accomplished, not to mention a bit farmer from the northern a part of Bedfordshire, who has simply determined to compete in the future,” he stated, citing a county in England.
The 40 -year -old Tandy adopted his father Joe in agriculture. When he’s not on a race monitor, Tandy helps his father in the truth that he runs a 250 -acre farm, exchanging the highest pace of 205 miles / h at his Porsche 963 for the tempo of a snail of a mix mix.
“If you happen to have a look at the story, there have been many farm households who had been within the automotive sport, Jim Clark was in all probability one of the crucial well-known,” he stated. Clark gained two Components One leaders championships within the 60s.
“The great factor I discover is after I compete, pack my baggage, go away my home and I am in racing mode, after which after I return, I exclude agriculture. It provides me free time to decomprete myself and regain the ability of stress, laborious work and vitality, collaborating within the highest degree skilled sport. “
After profitable Petit Le Mans in 2013, on the highway on the Atlanta in Georgia, Tandy triumphed in 24 hours at Le Mans in 2015. Victory in Nurburgring, adopted in 2018 and 24 hours later, two years later.
Though he took a category victory in Daytona on his first journey in 2014, it was a protracted wait to complete the set.
Tandy stated that profitable 24 hours on Le Mans is “all my targets and goals achieved at this second, however you then suppose:” Oh, what’s subsequent? “
After profitable the spa, he stated, “A journalist stated to me:” Nobody has ever gained the 4 24-hour competitions straight in historical past. I assumed, “There’s a aim, there’s a aim.”
Tandy competed at Porsches from 2009 to 2012, after which he grew to become a WORKS driver subsequent yr. After two years with Corvette in 2021 and 2022, he returned to Porsche, as he began a full -time program once more at IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship.
Within the third try, Tandy triumphed in Daytona together with his teammates Felipe Nasr from Brazil and Lawrence Vantur of Belgium. Tandy and NASR will likely be teammates by means of the remainder of this yr’s calendar of the Worldwide Sports activities Affiliation for Motor Sports activities, starting from Mobil 1 twelve hours of sebringS
NASR, the Components One driver with Sauber in 2015 and 2016, is a 3 -time IMSA champion and a two -time sebring winner.
“Nick has the Grand Slam of motor races virtually as a result of he gained all essentially the most well-known 24-hour competitions accessible,” Nadi stated in an interview in February.
“I advised Nick after we gained the Daytona: ‘Hey, you need to assist me win Le Man now as a result of you might have every little thing. It is my flip to ask you a service. “” NASR has not gained in Le Mans, in each class, in 5 makes an attempt.
Nasr stated this was a measure of Tandy’s character as a driver who, with 4 hours in Dayton, mentioned who would take the ultimate keep. Regardless of what was set for Tandy, he left Nayr to take the wheel.
“I requested him if he wished to shut the race,” Nara stated. “He stood and noticed that he was pondering, however in just a few seconds he regarded straight into my eyes and stated, ‘Felipe, you’ll leap on this automotive and drive away from her to the tip. You’ll end the race. That was very nice.
“I’ve nice respect for Nick and the achievements in his profession. There was little doubt that he might additionally do the job, so he might say, “Felipe, you’ll go on the market and win this race for us,” it was actually cool. It was one of many greatest moments I’ve seen within the races. “
The IMSA IMSR Championship wins in 2018, 2021 and final yr had been with completely different teammates. Though he efficiently partnered with Dane Cameron from america at Porsche Penske Motorsport in 2024, he noticed no drawback transferring to Tandy this season.
“The advantage of collaborating in Porsche Penske Motorsport is that he has a fantastic portfolio of drivers he can play between the sequence, IMSA or WEC,” Nadi stated, citing the World Endurance Championship. “That is one thing I’ve full confidence within the group.
“Dane and the group went down completely different paths, so that they got here up with the concept of ​​placing me and Nick within the automotive, the older boys in this system, say, with this mixture of expertise and data from the sequence.”
Tandy has by no means gained the IMSA drivers championship in 9 makes an attempt. He completed second from NASR and Cameron final yr in partnership with Mathieu Jaminet from France.
“It is humorous, however I in all probability had extra battles with Nick on the monitor final yr than I had with some other driver,” Nara stated. “We at the moment are competing collectively and regardless of all our success, we’re each hungry for extra.”
Jonathan Digud, Porsche Penske Motorsport managing director, stated in an interview in February that Tandy and Nadzh “clicked out instantly and succeeded instantly from the bat. This exhibits that we hope we made the correct determination for the remainder of the season. “
Diuguid stated that Tandy’s success within the 4 24-hour competitions is due to a “general understanding of what’s wanted to achieve success in endurance competitions.
“It is not nearly retrieving the tour time, visitors administration, automotive care or coping with circumstances. These are all this stuff. To reach these 4 competitions like this can be a enormous achievement and one thing I do know he doesn’t take without any consideration. “
Sebraing is the subsequent field that has been brushed for Tandy. He had wins within the GTLM class in 2018, 2019 and 2020, however the general victory escaped him. With Porsche Penske Motorsport, he was third in 2023 and ninth final yr.
“I used to be fortunate to win Sebruing thrice within the GT class,” Tandy stated. “General, SebRing will finish the so -called triple crown of occasions, which is Sebring, Dayton and Le Mans.
“He can even finalize the massive six of the multide sturdiness races, which incorporates the large 4 24-hour occasions and Petit Le Mans, which is 10 hours. This yr I’m extra smug than the final two years and have virtually gained the final two years. “
