Caerphilly racer on the podium at world-famous Le Mans circuit

Caerphilly race car driver Graham Cole has earned his first win of the year, enjoying success in Le Mans last weekend.

Driving his Bicknell PS7 Prototype car, which is produced by the Caerphilly-based Richwest Engineering, Cole secured his spot on the podium to follow in the footsteps of some of motorsports’ biggest names.

“The fact that it was recorded at the world famous Le Mans Buggatti circuit made this win all the more special,” Cole said. 

“Standing on the same winners’ podium as world champions like Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and the like adds an extra thrill even to a hardened veteran like me.”

But despite the win, the weekend produced both highs and lows for Cole and his GCCRacing team in France.

In qualifying, Cole had several hot laps aborted, with 50 cars of various levels all vying for top grid positions. But that wasn’t the biggest problem facing the team.

At the end of the 160mph start-finish straight, there’s a 90-degree left and 90-degree right chicane.

“It is at that point that we suffered total brake failure,” explained Cole, “meaning that we had to throw the car into a multi rotation spin.

“That was a real wake-up call and we were very lucky to emerge unscathed, although the new set of tyres we’d fitted emerged a little worse for wear.”

However, despite the spin and the hold ups, Cole recorded a “fairly decent” lap, but it was deleted for exceeding track limits.

The mishaps meant Cole was put at a disadvantage, having to start the first race towards the back of the grid.

Cole said: “In the cold and foggy conditions, our engine took a long to time to warm up and the electronics limited revs until lap four, by which time the whole field has disappeared.

“Even when the engine warmed up the brake problems returned, meaning an early return to the pits. With so may cars on track it was the only sensible option.”

But on the second race the following day, everything came together for the team.

“Overnight, Frank Leader and a few other French friends helped change out the entire braking system, including the brake cooling – resulting in perfect brakes ready for the midday race start,” explained Cole.

“A prolonged period of engine heat soaking and deployment of an oil heater meant the car was far better prepared for this race.”

However, with drizzle and fog descending on the world-famous track, most crews opted for wet weather tyres. But, Cole and his team went for a different strategy.

“Our local man, Franck, reckoned the fog would lift, so we opted for a combination of slicks at the front and wets on the rear; a combination we’d used with a fair degree of success in our rallying days.”

It turned out to be a winning call, with the track beginning to dry during the race.

Cole said: “We were able to turn the brake bias to the front axle and use the greater braking ability of the front slicks to our advantage. 

“So despite our lowly starting position we were able to overtake cars – although by mid race we seemed to be on track alone and had no idea of our position in the race.”

He continued: “Unbeknown to us at the time, many of our class rivals had either slid off track in the greasy early laps or pitted to change tyres; so it was a welcome surprise when we were ushered up to that hallowed podium in first T-Class position.”

However, the joy was short-lived – as a gearbox failure after the race meant the team could not compete in the following race.

“Unfortunately the faulty compressor is a spare part we do not carry, so despite some heroic efforts by our crew to devise an alternative, we were out,” Cole explained.

“Nevertheless, as that last race commenced mixed feelings followed, as badly damaged cars began returning to the pits on the back of recovery trucks.

“We soon learned that a seven-car pile-up at the start had taken out most of the field.”

Cole’s wife, Susan, said: “It’s highly likely Graham would have been part of that, so perhaps we should count ourselves lucky that we couldn’t start.”

As this season draws to a close, the team turns its focus to a new season of UK racing, with the new 2025 EQUIP Proto series.