Motor sports: Singapore team secure historic pole position in amateur class for Le Mans

SINGAPORE - Clearwater Racing, a team led by Singapore-born Malaysian Mok Weng Sun, will start from pole position in the GTE Amateur class of this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This is the first time a Singapore-registered outfit is competing in the event in France, one of the most prestigious and dangerous endurance car races in the world.

Held annually since 1923, it sees 60 teams across four categories - each comprising three drivers working in shifts - racing non-stop for 24 hours at the Circuit de la Sarthe

Mok, private equity fund manager, is the team principal and one of three drivers, alongside Japanese Keita Sawa and British professional racer Rob Bell.

Their Ferrari 458 GTE can reach top speeds of 300kmh and average about 200kmh at the 21-turn circuit, as drivers experience G-forces of up to 4g.

During Thursday's (June 16) qualifying, Bell clocked 3min 56.827sec on the 13.629km track, which was the fastest time of the 13 teams in their GTE Amateur division.

Aston Martin Racing was second with a time of 3:57.198, followed by Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing (3:57.513).

Danish driver Allan Simonsen was the last fatality in 2013. In total, more than 20 people have died during the Le Mans race week.