Johor Motorsports Racing (JMR) etched its name into Malaysian motorsport history after successfully completing the prestigious 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 14th in the highly competitive LMGT3 category during the team’s first-ever appearance at the legendary endurance race.
The achievement marks a significant milestone not only for JMR but also for Malaysian motorsport, with team owner and driver His Highness Prince Jefri Ibrahim, alongside British drivers Ben Green and Lorcan Hanafin, guiding the No. 2 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R to the chequered flag after one of the toughest endurance races in the world.
Prince Jefri Ibrahim became only the sixth Malaysian driver in history to compete in the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours, adding another chapter to the nation’s growing presence on the international motorsport stage.
Starting from 24th position in the LMGT3 class after qualifying, JMR quickly established themselves as one of the surprise performers of the race. Strong pace from the trio, combined with smart race strategy, allowed the Malaysian outfit to climb steadily through the field.
Professional driver Ben Green emerged as one of the standout performers, delivering impressive stints that helped propel the Corvette into the top five positions multiple times during the middle stages of the race.
JMR’s impressive progress, however, was interrupted during the 17th hour when a gearbox issue forced the team into consecutive pit stops.
The unexpected repairs cost valuable time and resulted in the team losing four laps, dropping from a promising top-10 position down to 19th in class.
Despite the setback, the trio refused to surrender. Prince Jefri, Green and Hanafin maintained a disciplined approach through the remaining hours, focusing on reliability and consistency to recover valuable positions before the finish.
Their perseverance paid off as the team climbed back to finish 14th in class, successfully completing the grueling 24-hour challenge on debut.
The result becomes even more impressive considering nearly one-third of the LMGT3 field failed to reach the finish.
Held under near-perfect weather conditions, the 94th running of Le Mans featured temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius and tested drivers physically and mentally across an entire day of non-stop racing.
JMR partnered with TF Sport for its Le Mans debut, contributing to a four-car Corvette presence on the starting grid. The partnership proved fruitful as TF Sport’s sister Corvette secured overall LMGT3 class victory.
Reflecting on the team’s achievement, Prince Jefri expressed pride in the team’s effort while already setting ambitious goals for the future.
“This is the biggest race in the world. There were 350,000 people here and it’s been an amazing experience to be part of. The team did an incredible job and I’m super proud of them.”
“At our debut, it’s an achievement to finish the entire 24 hours. We had some great pace and gave it everything, but we had to make repairs that cost us valuable time. This is only our first attempt and we’ll be back stronger. The goal now is to win this race one day.”
Ben Green believes a podium challenge was possible before the overnight mechanical setback.
“Finishing Le Mans on our first attempt is a huge achievement. It was incredibly challenging, but we got to the finish. I genuinely believe a podium fight could have been possible if we hadn’t lost time with the repairs.”
Meanwhile, Lorcan Hanafin highlighted the determination shown by the entire team throughout the event.
“Finishing Le Mans on our first attempt is a massive achievement. Losing four laps while running comfortably inside the top ten is bittersweet, but it gives us motivation for next year.”
“Le Mans is one of the most physically demanding races in the world. It’s an incredible accomplishment for Prince Jefri to finish this race on his first attempt.”
With Le Mans now complete, JMR’s endurance racing campaign continues almost immediately.
The Malaysian team will return to action in just two weeks at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in Belgium, where they will make their second appearance in one of Europe’s premier GT endurance races.
After proving they belong on motorsport’s biggest stage, JMR leaves Le Mans with invaluable experience, international recognition, and a clear message to the global paddock — Malaysian motorsport is ready to compete among the world’s best.
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