Porsche’s Matt Campbell eyes Le Mans victory

A working class kid from Queensland is about to take on more than a dozen Formula 1 drivers in one of the world’s biggest races.

Matt Campbell should not be racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

All things considered, a working class kid from Queensland should not have a chance to take on more than a dozen Formula 1 drivers in one of the world’s biggest races.

Porsche's 963 Hypercar at Le Mans. Photo: Supplied

The hybrid Porsche with his name on the door is a world away from his old Datsun 1200, and the 325,000 spectators at the European circuit are a universe away from quiet supervision by his late grandfather at their local track.

And yet, Campbell will be the first Aussie since Mark Webber to have a shot at outright victory at Le Mans. He earned the remarkable opportunity with victories in major races such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and Bathurst 12 Hour this year.

Porsche racer Matt Campbell won the Allan Simonsen trophy at the Bathurst 12 Hour. Photo: Supplied.

“I didn’t think it was going to happen,” Campbell said.

“I’m forever grateful to my family, especially my mum, who risked a hell of a lot financially to be able to give me this opportunity.”

Motorsport is frightfully expensive.

Recognising the potential of a young Campbell years ago, a handful of mentors, rival drivers and family members pooled their cash to give him a chance – on the promise Campbell could make the big leagues and pay them back.

Porsche racer Matt Campbell made his name in Carrera Cup racing. Photo: Supplied.

The deal was put together by Porsche racing specialist Andy McElrea, inspired by similar equity programs that helped Aussie racers Will Davison and Will Power.

“What looked to be a quite effortless career was hanging in the balance,” he said.

“Convincing people that kids are going to be good enough to get paid lots of money to give them a return wasn’t the easiest thing to do.

“[But] it was not about the financial investment, so to speak, it was about being able to sit on the couch and watch this apprentice builder from Warwick winning the Bathurst 12 Hour, winning the Daytona 24 Hours, and hopefully winning the Le Mans 24 hours soon.”

Matt Campbell won the 2024 Bathurst 12 Hour with Porsche. Photo: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Le Mans has attracted F1 champions such as Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button in recent years. Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel could be next, after a test alongside Campbell a few weeks ago.

Porsche’s new Hypercar is so advanced that the manual for the steering wheel has 69 pages.

It has to be capable of racing flat out for 24 hours – the equivalent of 16 Grand Prix, non-stop in one day.

Fierce competition from Ferrari, Toyota, Peugeot, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini and Alpine will push cars and drivers to breaking point.

Matt Campbell drives Porsche's hybrid-powered Hypercar. Photo: Supplied.

Australian motorsport commentator Richard Craill took his voice to Le Mans last year.

“After Formula 1 cars, you won’t find anything as fast and technically advanced as a Le Mans prototype,” Craill said.

“The Le Mans 24 Hour is one of the biggest car races in the world. The depth of this field is phenomenal.”

Craill said Campbell truly beat the odds as someone with “no wealth at all” to make it to the summit of endurance racing.

Porsche's 963 Hypercar on track in the World Endurance Championship. Photo: Supplied

“His family worked incredibly hard to support the early racing – his granddad, his mum and his aunt in particular invested every cent they had,” Craill said.

“That Andy McElrea-led group including Michael Hovey and Grant Sparks … had that not come along, he would not be doing what he’s doing now, potentially winning Le Mans.

Campbell’s helmet pays tribute to the people who backed his career. Photo: Supplied

“It such a rare thing … someone delivers on natural talent, but then galvanises the people around him to go ‘well we know you’ve got no money, but we’re gonna support you regardless because we think you’re the real deal’.”

There is zero doubt Campbell is the real deal.

He played a starring role in Porsche’s victory at the Daytona 24 Hour in January, sharing his car with a veteran sports car racer in Dane Cameron, ex-F1 driver Felipe Nasr, and two-time Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden.

Porsche’s crew for Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship includes international racing stars with experience at the highest levels of motorsport.

Though Campbell’s resume looks thin in such company, McElrea says there is no doubt he belongs in a star-studded squad.

Matt Campbell and Porsche Penske Motorsport won the 2024 Rolex Daytona 24 Hour.

“All those dudes have that European wanker, swagger, arrogance about them – and the little builder from Warwick is quicker without any of the bullshit,” McElrea said.

“It’s not a stretch to say that the kid who was an apprentice builder in Warwick nine years ago is one of the absolute top sports car drivers in the world, and that’s absolutely no exaggeration, which is bloody cool.

“He’s going to be, in another 10 to 15 years, one of Australia’s most successful-ever drivers.

“At the end of the day, apart from Jack Brabham and Alan Jones, he’ll be the greatest.”

Campbell is far too modest to make such an outlandish statement.

Porsche racer Matt Campbell (right) on the podium at Le Mans. Photo: Supplied

But he is glad to have repaid the people who put their faith in him.

“I’m very grateful that it’s all worked out for the people that have been involved in this journey,” he said.

“I’m exactly where I wanted to be.”

And when Le Mans starts on Saturday, Campbell will be exactly where he should be – racing at 340km/h alongside F1 stars.

Matt Campbell in action in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Photo: KARIM JAAFAR / AFP

Originally published as Porsche’s Matt Campbell eyes Le Mans victory