Timo Bernhard

1. Who is he?

Timo Bernhard is German, he was born on February 24, 1981 in Homburg. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times (twice in LM P1 and once in GT).

2. Junior course

After winning his national title in karting, Bernhard arrived in single-seater racing with Formula Ford Germany in 1998. For his second year in the category, he finished on the 3rd step of the podium in the championship. It caught the eye of Porsche who decided to integrate it into the Porsche Supercup Germany. With the UPS Porsche Junior Team, Bernhard gradually became a professional driver. In 2000, for his first year in the discipline, he placed 3rd. He won the title the following year.

3. Endurance course

Timo Bernhard started endurance racing in 2002 with the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and Le Mans. He won both events, with the Alzen Motorsport team in the Green Hell and in GT in Sarthe with Porsche. He continued his harvest of 24 Hour victories the following year, at Daytona. Bernhard has been competing in the American Le Mans Series since 2004. First in GT, where he won the title as a rookie. The German made the transition to LM P2 in 2006. In 3 years, he was crowned champion of the category twice. The year 2009 was a turning point for the pilot. Audi chose him to drive the R15 TDI at Le Mans, alongside Romain Dumas and Alexandre Prémat. A team with which he will participate in the event until 2011. Two years later, Bernhard returns to the Porsche fold to compete in the WEC. He begins his adventure in the company of Pilet and Bergmeister. The following year, he formed the crew with which he would triumph. From 2014 to 2017, with Hartley and Webber, the trio achieved great results. Together they win the championship. Bernhard adds a second title to his list of achievements in 2017, alongside Hartley and Earl Bamber. With the added bonus of another victory at Le Mans. He leaves the WEC with this title in his pocket. Bernhard is launching a final challenge at Le Mans in 2018. Driving a Porsche 911 RSR, the German is entering GTE Pro, with Dumas and Müller. A race that they will not be able to finish.

4. AUTOhebdo’s opinion

Timo Bernhard ticks all the boxes of the ideal factory driver: talented, loyal to his employer, passionate about the history of motorsport. The German, whose childhood hero was the comet Stefan Bellof, maintains a relationship of esteem with the family of the late hope of the 1980s. Having beaten the Nordschleife record with the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo by 52 seconds previously detained by… Stefan Bellof, he received a message from the father: “ Bravo Timo, I respect you enormously. » An anecdote that says a lot about Timo Bernhard's impeccable reputation in the industry.

Timo Bernhard’s WEC results

Highlights of Timo Bernhard's career

June 16, 2002: Timo Bernhard wins the 24 hours of Le Mans in the GT category. A remarkable performance for his first participation. ©DPPI.

November 21, 2015: the Bernhard-Webber-Hartley crew are WEC world champions. A title that they won thanks to 4 victories in a row in the middle of the championship. ©DPPI.