Hynes now preparing for a Le Mans challenge (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Hynes now preparing for a Le Mans challenge

TETBURY'S Marc Hynes, who will be best remembered for beating Jenson Button to win one of British motor sport's biggest championships, is set to return to the racetrack this summer when contesting the world-famous Le Mans 24-hour race.

Hynes, aged 26, is set to make his challenge at Le Mans, France, in June with one of British sports car manufacturing's most exciting names, TVR.

The race annually attracts 300,000 spectators and is broadcast around the world.

There was even a Hollywood film made about it, 'Le Mans', starring movie legend Steve McQueen in the 1970s.

Before that, though, Hynes' first stop in 2005 will be in America this weekend when lining up on the grid for the prestigious Sebring 12-hour endurance race on Saturday.

From there, the Gloucestershire driver will compete on five of Formula One's biggest race tracks across Europe in the Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES), including his home circuit of Silverstone.

Hynes' TVR 400R, capable of 200mph, will be prepared by the LNT team. Together, they will be aiming to win the GT2 category.

And Hynes is still one of Britain's leading racing drivers.

In the mid-90s, he won the Formula Vauxhall Junior and Formula Renault titles.

And in 1999, he clinched the British Formula Three title, ahead of Britain's current Formula One star, Jenson Button.

Although Hynes went on to test for Formula One teams, without the necessary financial backing, he tasted disappointment when his chance of an F1 seat was cruelly snatched from his grasp.

"Sports car racing is a new discipline to me. I've always competed in short, sprint races, whereas this will be a real test of endurance," says Hynes.

He continued, "I've not competed for a couple of seasons, but I've continued to work hard on my fitness at Whatley Manor, and that is what will be required to succeed from a driver's point of view, particularly with the long stints behind the wheel.

"Sebring will be a good test for me in my preparations for Le Mans which, of course, is the jewel in the crown.

Hynes concluded, "It's every driver's dream to race there. The LMES also looks exciting with Spa and Monza in particular being very special places."