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Eric HELARY

Eric Hélary is a French racing driver born on August 10, 1966 in Paris.

Most of the people know him because he won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1993, driving a Peugeot 905.

Today, he is consultant for Motor TV.

Eric Hélary followed an exemplary career path. Entering the competition field through karting in 1979, he will be Junior French Champion 3 years straight from 1984 to 1986. Then, he will start to race in Formula Ford and win the "volant Elkron" in 1986 in Montlhéry. He will become Formula Ford French Champion in 1988. He signs for the 1989 season in Oreca, Hughes de Chaunac's Team and takes part to the Formula 3 French Championship. He will win this championship with the Formula Projet Team the following year. This will provide him an access to the Formule 3000 Championship in 1991, however his results are rather disappointing, he will finish at the 8th rank.

He will decide then to leave the single-seat cars world, and in 1992, he will become European Champion and Vice French Champion in Formule Peugeot Spider 905. Still with Peugeot, he will engage in the Sports Cars World Championship. The next year, he is Formule Peugeot Spider 905 French Champion and wins at his first appearance the Le Mans 24 Hours with Geoff Brabham and Christophe Bouchut, driving a Peugeot 905.

From 1994 to 2005, he is one of the main actor of the French SuperTourism Car Championship, regularly ending at the second place on Opel and Peugeot cars. He will also join the BPR Championships in 1995, in STW in 1998 and 1999 and DTM in 2000.

From his victory in Le Mans, he will prefer to drive in long distance races and will win in 1996 the Chamonix 24 Hours which is an automobile race on ice, in 1997 the Spa 24 hours and will take part to 11 races of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Still loyal to Peugeot, the French brand will call him in 2007 to set up and develop their new car, the Peugeot 908 for the Le Mans 24 Hours 2007. Nevertheless, Eric will not take part to the race.