Benoît Tréluyer Explained

Benoît Tréluyer
Nationality: French
Birth Date:1976 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Alençon, Orne, France
Racing Licence: FIA Platinum
Embed:yes
Years:,,  –
Team(S):Équipe de France FFSA
Pescarolo Sport
Audi Sport Team Joest
Best Finish:1st
Class Wins:3

Benoît Tréluyer (in French pronounced as /bənwa tʁelyje/; born 7 December 1976) is a French professional racing driver.

Early career

Beginning his motorsport career in motocross and karting, Alençon-born Tréluyer switched to single-seaters in Formula Renault Campus for 1995. He was a race winner in the French Formula Renault championship in 1996, finishing sixth overall in 1997 before moving up to domestic F3 for 1998. He would go on to finish ninth overall in his rookie season and third the following year, and also claimed the European Formula Three Cup at the Pau Circuit in 1999.

Formula Nippon and Super GT

Tréluyer relocated to Asia to contest the Japanese F3 category in 2000, a title he would win in 2001 with 15 wins and 13 pole positions from 19 races. He also finished second in the blue riband Macau GP and third in the F3 World Cup in Korea.

In 2002 he graduated from F3 to Formula Nippon, only racing in 5 rounds. He finished second overall the following season and finally claiming the title in 2006 with 4 wins from 9 races. He would take two more runner-up finishes in the championship (2007 and 2009) before calling time on his single-seater career to focus on sportscar competition.

Throughout his time in Nippon Tréluyer also competed in Japan's GT category having debuted in the series during the 2001 season aboard a Dome Project Honda NSX. From the next year, he drove for Nissan-backed teams for ten years. He would win the title in 2008 alongside co-driver Satoshi Motoyama and also finished as runner-up in 2011, his final year in Japan before making the factory Audi squad his sole racing priority.

Endurance racing and Le Mans

Tréluyer made his Le Mans 24 Hours debut in 2002, claiming a GT class podium in the Chrysler Viper he shared with fellow countrymen Jonathan Cochet and Jean-Philippe Belloc. He would return to the race in 2004 to contest the premier LMP1 class with legendary French outfit Pescarolo Sport, taking a best finish of fourth overall. During the 2009 race Tréluyer was involved in a frightening accident that saw him transported to the infield care centre at the Circuit de la Sarthe. He was treated and released without serious injury.

In 2010 he joined the factory Audi squad alongside André Lotterer and Marcel Fässler. The trio took second position in their maiden 24 Hours together before triumphing in the 2011 race, holding off the charging Peugeot cars as their fellow Audis both exited in terrifying accidents. They would retain their crown in 2012 piloting the first hybrid-powered car to claim victory at La Sarthe. Tréluyer fell ill on the morning of the race, forcing him to swap shifts with Fässler, but recovered to play his part in the triumph.

Further wins in Great Britain and Bahrain, as well as podiums in Brazil, Japan and China, saw the trio go on to claim the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship drivers' title, becoming the first recipients of an officially sanctioned world sportscar title in two decades. Afterwards Tréluyer revealed that he was "very proud to finish ahead of Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish who are fantastic drivers."

In March 2013 Tréluyer, along with Audi team-mates Fässler and Oliver Jarvis, took victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The Frenchman will defend his world title in the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship alongside regular partners Lotterer and Fässler.

Career highlights

Racing record

Complete Japanese Formula 3 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamEngine12345678910111213141516171819DCPts
2000IngingToyotaSUZ
TSU
FUJ
MIN
TAI
SUZ
SUG
MOT
SEN
SUZ
5th24
2001Mugen x Dome ProjectMugenSUZ
1

SUZ
2

TSU
1

TSU
2

FUJ
1

FUJ
2

MIN
1

MIN
2

MOT
1

MOT
2

SUZ
SUG
1

SUG
2

SEN
1

SEN
2

TAI
1

TAI
2

MOT
1

MOT
2

1st260

Complete JGTC/Super GT results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCarClass123456789DCPtsRef
2001Dome x Mugen ProjectHonda NSXGT500TAIFUJSUGFUJMOT
SUZ
MIN
18th12[1]
2002ImpulNissan Skyline GT-RGT500TAIFUJSUGSEPFUJMOT
MIN
SUZ
28th1[2]
2003ImpulNissan Skyline GT-RGT500TAI
FUJ
SUG
FUJ
FUJ
MOT
AUT
SUZ
4th64[3]
2004ImpulNissan ZGT500TAI
SUG
SEP
TOK
MOT
AUT
SUZ
11th35[4]
2005ImpulNissan ZGT500OKA
FUJ
SEP
SUG
MOT
FUJ
AUT
SUZ
11th35[5]
2006ImpulNissan ZGT500SUZ
OKA
FUJ
SEP
SUG
SUZ
MOT
AUT
FUJ
8th67[6]
2007ImpulNissan ZGT500SUZ
OKA
FUJ
SEP
SUGSUZ
MOT
AUT
FUJ
13th30[7]
2008NISMONissan GT-RGT500SUZ
OKA
FUJ
SEP
SUG
SUZ
MOT
AUT
FUJ
1st76[8]
2009NISMONissan GT-RGT500OKA
SUZ
FUJ
SEP
SUG
SUZFUJ
AUT
MOT
4th73[9]
2010NISMONissan GT-RGT500SUZ
OKA
FUJ
SEP
SUG
SUZ
FUJ
MOT
7th48[10]
2011NISMONissan GT-RGT500OKA
FUJ
SEP
SUG
SUZ
FUJ
AUT
MOT
2nd79[11]

Complete Formula Nippon results

YearEntrant1234567891011DCPoints
2002COSMO OIL CERUMOSUZ
FUJ
MIN
SUZ
MOT
SUGFUJMINMOTSUZ14th1
2003IMPULSUZ
FUJ
MIN
MOT
SUZ
SUG
FUJ
MIN
MOT
SUZ
2nd35
2004mobilecast IMPULSUZ
SUG
MOT
SUZ
SUG
MIN
SEP
MOT
SUZ
4th30
2005mobilecast IMPULMOT
SUZ
SUG
FUJ
SUZ
MIN
FUJ
MOT
SUZ
6th14
2006mobilecast IMPULFUJ
SUZ
MOT
SUZ
AUT
FUJ
SUG
MOT
SUZ
1st51
2007mobilecast IMPULFUJ
SUZ
MOT
OKA
SUZ
FUJ
SUG
MOT
SUZ
2nd45
2008LAWSON IMPULFUJ
SUZ
MOT
OKA
SUZ
SUZ
MOT
MOT
FUJ
FUJ
SUG
8th27
2009LAWSON IMPULFUJ
SUZ
MOT
FUJ
SUZ
MOT
AUT
SUG
2nd40

24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLaps
Equipe de France FFSA
Oreca
Jonathan Cochet
Jean-Philippe Belloc
Chrysler Viper GTS-RGTS32614th3rd
Pescarolo Sport Soheil Ayari
Érik Comas
Pescarolo C60-JuddLMP13614th4th
Pescarolo Sport Harold Primat
Christophe Tinseau
Pescarolo 01-JuddLMP132513th6th
Pescarolo Sport Christophe Tinseau
Harold Primat
Pescarolo 01-JuddLMP13627th7th
Pescarolo Sport Simon Pagenaud
Jean-Christophe Boullion
Peugeot 908 HDi FAPLMP1210DNFDNF
Audi Sport Team Joest André Lotterer
Marcel Fässler
Audi R15 TDI plusLMP13962nd2nd
Audi Sport Team Joest André Lotterer
Marcel Fässler
Audi R18 TDILMP13551st1st
Audi Sport Team Joest André Lotterer
Marcel Fässler
Audi R18 e-tron quattroLMP13781st1st
Audi Sport Team Joest André Lotterer
Marcel Fässler
Audi R18 e-tron quattroLMP13385th5th
Audi Sport Team Joest André Lotterer
Marcel Fässler
Audi R18 e-tron quattroLMP1-H3791st1st
Audi Sport Team Joest André Lotterer
Marcel Fässler
Audi R18 e-tron quattroLMP13933rd3rd
Audi Sport Team Joest Marcel Fässler
André Lotterer
Audi R18LMP13674th4th

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

YearEntrantClassChassisEngine123456789RankPoints
2012Audi Sport Team JoestLMP1Audi R18 e-tron quattroAudi TDI 3.7L Turbo V6
(Hybrid Diesel)
SEB
SPA
LMS
SIL
SÃO
BHR
FUJ
SHA
1st172.5
2013Audi Sport Team JoestLMP1Audi R18 e-tron quattroAudi TDI 3.7L Turbo V6
(Hybrid Diesel)
SIL
SPA
LMS
SÃO
COA
FUJ
SHA
BHR
2nd149.25
2014Audi Sport Team JoestLMP1Audi R18 e-tron quattroAudi TDI 4.0 L Turbo V6
(Hybrid Diesel)
SIL
SPA
LMS
COA
FUJ
SHA
BHR
SÃO
2nd127
2015Audi Sport Team JoestLMP1Audi R18 e-tron quattroAudi TDI 4.0 L Turbo V6
(Hybrid Diesel)
SIL
SPA
LMS
NÜR
COA
FUJ
SHA
BHR
2nd161
2016Audi Sport Team JoestLMP1Audi R18Audi TDI 4.0 L Turbo Diesel V6
(Hybrid)
SIL
SPA
LMS
NÜRMEX
COA
FUJ
SHA
BHR
6th70

Notes and References

  1. Web site: All-Japan GT Championship – Season 2001: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.
  2. Web site: All-Japan GT Championship – Season 2002: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.
  3. Web site: All-Japan GT Championship – Season 2003: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.
  4. Web site: All-Japan GT Championship – Season 2004: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.
  5. Web site: Japanese Super GT Series – Season 2005: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.
  6. Web site: Japanese Super GT Series – Season 2006: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.
  7. Web site: Japanese Super GT Series – Season 2007: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.
  8. Web site: Japanese Super GT Series – Season 2008: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.
  9. Web site: Japanese Super GT Series – Season 2009: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.
  10. Web site: Japanese Super GT Series – Season 2010: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.
  11. Web site: Japanese Super GT Series – Season 2011: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 2 September 2023.