Bob Jane T-Marts will make a return to the Le Mans event next weekend – 39 years after the brand last competed at the famous French event.
Rodney Jane will make his international racing debut when he competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup races at the Le Mans circuit at Le Sarthe, France, next week.
Jane will race in the one-make Porsche championship that is supporting the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans event – the world’s oldest active endurance racing event that is celebrating its centenary this year.
While this will be Jane’s international racing debut, the Jane family holds a special piece of Australian motorsport history at the 24 Hour of Le Mans event.
Back in 1984, Rodney’s famous father Bob Jane backed an Australian attack consisting of touring car heroes Peter Brock and Larry Perkins in a Porsche 956 in 1984.
Brock and Perkins, who won three Bathurst 1000s together, were an all-Aussie dream team for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but after qualifying the orange Bob Jane T-Marts Porsche 15th and running as high as fifth in the race itself, mechanical issues, and ultimately a crash, ruled the pair out.
Next week, Rodney Jane will get the opportunity to experience the fearsome 13.6km circuit, driving a Porsche identical to the entry that he races in the Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship.
It is exciting that for the first time in 39 years the Bob Jane T-Marts brand will appear at Le Mans after Bob, Peter and Larry’s ambitious attack.
In Australia, Jane competes in the SP Tools Pro-Am class of Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia for the Sonic Motor Racing Services team.
Jane is in his second season of competition after a 10 year lay off. Before his time away from the driver’s seat, Jane won two AM-class Porsche championships and after one round of the 2023 season, he sits second of the AMs.
The Carrera Cup practice sessions at Le Mans start on Wednesday (June 5), with more practice and qualifying on Friday followed by the one and only race on Saturday.
Rodney Jane
“This trip for me means more than just driving a race car at Le Mans,” said Jane.
“My father was instrumental in the careers of many racing drivers, including some of the best names in the sport and he played a pivotal role in getting Peter Brock and Larry Perkins to race there 39 years ago in a Porsche in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“Two Bathurst legends racing there was massive news at the time and I’d like to think that this trip is a small way to pay homage to that.
“I’m really excited for this adventure. It is really going to mean a lot to myself and the Bob Jane T-Marts business.”