Powell ‘Worked Whole Life’ to Make Le Mans Debut

Photo: Florent Gooden/DPPI

Eric Powell says making his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut is something he’s “worked for my whole life” as the 40-year-old Florida native hopes to proudly fly the American flag in one of two Ford Mustang GT3 EVOs on the LMGT3 grid.

Powell, who received the call-up to join Proton Competition’s reshuffled full season FIA World Endurance Championship lineup this year, has been quickly coming to grips with racing on the global stage for the first time, after only previously competed in North America until this year.

The 2021 TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School TCA champion, who has also spent time in Pirelli GT4 America and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, stepped up to GT World Challenge America powered by AWS last year in Dollahite Racing’s Mustang GT3, which led to an end-of-year tryout in Proton’s Mustang at the WEC rookie test in Bahrain.

Powell, a former stunt driver at Walt Disney World, was then confirmed for a full season WEC campaign, alongside Seb Priaulx and Ben Tuck in the No. 77 LMGT3 entry, which he admits has been a baptism by fire in the opening two rounds.

“It’s crazy to be here,” he told Sportscar365. “I was just telling my teammates, it doesn’t feel real. It’s a dream come true. Obviously this is what I’ve worked for my whole life.

“It’s been a learning experience so far. There’s been a lot of challenges that I wasn’t anticipating, not just with the performance side, but it’s a completely different racing culture. There’s so many things that are different.

“I’m lucky. I have a great team, a great manufacturer, great teammates behind me to learn from.”

While admitting he’s been “drinking from a firehouse on so many different levels” Powell’s breakout performance came in only his second WEC race at Spa-Francorchamps last month, where he made a daring move around class pole-sitter Tom van Rompuy for the lead at Eau Rouge.

However, Powell ended up in the gravel trap a few laps later, but said that learning experience gives him even more motivation heading into this weekend.

“It was really nice at Spa to show some speed and to lead a couple of laps,” he said. “Obviously it was very unfortunate to make such a stupid mistake.

“But it’s easy to do there; it’s a corner where you’re trying to use every since inch of the road and I got greedy.

“I’m hoping we can carry some of that momentum forward. There was so many positives to take away from Spa.”

Powell, who has been able to take advantage of Ford Racing’s simulator at its technical center in Charlotte, said he’s been enjoying the learning experience on and off the track.

“Right out of the gate, Imola was a little overwhelming in so many ways,” he said. “It was definitely exciting. The grandeur of everything. It’s crazy. Some of these fans… it’s a different level than in the U.S.

“I’ve never raced in Europe [until this year], never been to any of these places. The fans here don’t know anything about me, and why would they?

“But at both events, especially Spa, more fans that I can even count came up to me with old racing photos to sign. That’s pretty wild and very cool.”

When asked what it’s like to be one of only a half-dozen American drivers competing in the WEC, and racing for an American brand, Powell said he feels “very fortunate” for the opportunity.

“There’s not a lot of American drivers in WEC or even at Le Mans; it’s a tiny percentage,” he said. “I feel very proud of that, for sure.

“There’s so much history with Ford at this race as well. It’s the 60th anniversary since they won overall for the first time and their 125th anniversary as a whole. It’s so cool.”

Source: Sports Car 365