Timo Bernhard

Last updated
Timo Bernhard
Timo Bernhard Driver of Porsche Team's Porsche 919 Hybrid.jpg
Bernhard in 2014
Nationality Flag of Germany.svg German
Born (1981-02-24) 24 February 1981 (age 42)
Homburg, West Germany
Racing licence FIA Platinum Driver.png FIA Platinum
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years2002–2003, 2005, 2009–2011, 2013–2018
Teams Porsche LMP Team #2 Porsche GT Team #94
The Racer's Group
Peterson Motorsports/White Lightning Racing
Audi Sport Team Joest
Best finish1st (2010, 2017)
Class wins3 (2002, 2010, 2017)

Timo Bernhard (born 24 February 1981) is a former driver from Germany. He was a sports car driver from Porsche, [1] but was seconded to Audi for selected events in 2009 and 2010. He is the ninth and most recent driver to complete the informal triple crown of endurance racing. On 29 June 2018, he became the first person in 35 years to break the all-time Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record, set by Stefan Bellof in 1983 with a Porsche 956, in a derestricted Porsche 919 Evo with a time of 5:19.546. [2]

Contents

Early career

Bernhard was born in Homburg, Saarland. He debuted in karting in 1991. He finished 5th at the CIK/FIA Junior World Championship and was crowned German junior champion. The next two years, Bernhard was 6th and 3rd at the German Karting Championship. In 1998 he moved to formula cars as he joined Formula Ford, finishing 6th in both the German series and the Eurocup in 1998. In his last year in open-wheelers, 1999, Bernhard finished 3rd in the German Formula Ford.

Sports cars

For 2000, Bernhard drove in Porsche Supercup as a UPS Porsche Junior driver, finishing 3rd in the championship. In 2001, he made his American Le Mans Series debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring, where he finished 2nd in the GT class with Randy Pobst and Christian Menzel, driving for Alex Job Racing. He also made four other ALMS starts, and won the Porsche Carrera Cup championship.

2002

In 2002 he began the season with a class win in the 24 Hours of Daytona for The Racer's Group. He then finished second overall at the 24 Hours Nürburgring driving for Alzen Motorsport. The crowning achievement of the year was winning the GT class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Kevin Buckler and Lucas Luhr. He also finished 3rd in the Carrera Cup, and won his first ALMS race (with Jörg Bergmeister) and finished 4th in the championship.

2003

Bernhard began the season by winning the 24 Hours of Daytona outright in a Porsche 911 GT3-RS, driving with Buckler, Michael Schrom, and Bergmeister. Bernhard and Bergmeister won 3 ALMS races, including Petit Le Mans, and finished second in the championship. He also finished 3rd at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

2004

In 2004, Bernhard again partnered with Jörg Bergmeister in the ALMS. The duo took six wins from nine starts and won the GT class driver's championship. Their successes included class wins at Sebring and Petit Le Mans, both time joined by Sascha Maassen. Bernhard also finished 4th overall and 2nd in class in the Spa 24 Hours. He finished on the podium at the Nürburgring 24 Hours for the 3rd straight year, finishing in third in a Manthey Racing Porsche.

2005

Bernhard joined Romain Dumas in the ALMS for 2005. They scored four class wins, and Bernhard won four poles, but finished second in the championship. Dumas also finished 2nd in the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving with Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long.

2006

In 2006, Bernhard moved to Penske Racing who owned and captained by legendary owner Roger Penske and the new Porsche RS Spyder in the LMP2 class of the ALMS, again partnering Dumas. After a frustrating start to the season, Bernhard and Dumas took advantage of the Audi R10's absence from the series to take the overall win at Mid-Ohio. This was the first overall win for an LMP2 class car, and the first win for an under-class car since 2003. Bernhard also won the LMP2 class at Petit Le Mans (with Sascha Maassen and Emmanuel Collard), and took four class victories in total and finished 3rd in the championship. He also won the 24 Hours Nürburgring outright, partnering Lucas Luhr, Marcel Tiemann, and Mike Rockenfeller.

2009

Bernhard and Dumas moved to Joest Racing, in which he ran the new Audi R15 TDI. Along with Alexandre Prémat, the #3 car finished 17th in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans.

2010

Along with Dumas and Rockenfeller, Bernhard took the overall win in the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. This was the first win for either driver and set records throughout and after the race, including breaking the 1971 distance record of 5,335.313 km (3,315.210 mi); the car (#9) ran 397 laps and 5,410.713 km (3,362.061 mi). Bernhard's victory made him the eleventh driver to complete the Triple Crown in endurance racing, with Bernhard also winning not only the 2003 24 Hours of Daytona but also the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring with Penske (also with Dumas but also with Collard). Bernhard partnered Klaus Graf in the Muscle Milk Team CytoSport Porsche RS Spyder to second place at Road America, the seventh round of the 2010 ALMS season.

Racing achievements

Bernhard driving an Audi R15 TDI at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans Audi R15 TDi - Audi Sport Team Joest.jpg
Bernhard driving an Audi R15 TDI at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans

Racing record

Career summary

Series/EventClassYearsRacesWinsPodiumsBest season result
Open Wheel
Formula Ford 1800 Germany 180019998043rd place (1999)
Endurance Racing
FIA World Endurance Championship LMP12012-2017331223Champion (2015,2017)
LMGTE Pro201330121st (2012)
Intercontinental Le Mans Cup LMP12011703
Le Mans Series LMP12010-201150313th (2010)
Blancpain Endurance Series GT3 Pro201310028th (2013)
American Le Mans Series LMP2006-2011361630Champion (2007, 2008)
GT2002-2010441324Champion (2004)
Grand American Rolex Series DP2005-201015034th place (2010)
GT2002-201052223rd place (2003)
VLN Endurance 2009-20123+2149th (2010)
24 Hours of Le Mans LMP12009-2017722Winner (2010, 2017)
GTE Pro20131012nd place (2013)
GT2002-2005312Winner (2002)
24 Hours of Nürburgring SP72006-2013666Winner (2006-2010, 2013)
A82003-2004212Winner (2003)
A72002111Winner (2002)
GT
FIA GT Championship GT22006100
NGT2001-200520113th place (2004)
United SportsCar Championship GTD2014100126th place (2014)
Porsche Supercup GT32001-200214183rd place (2002)
Porsche Carrera Cup Germany GT31999-20032768Champion (2001)
Karting
Andrea Margutti TrophyICA199618th place (1996)
Five Continents CupJunior A19955th place (1995)
German Kart Championship1996-19973rd place (1997)
German Junior Kart Championship1995Champion (1995)
Source: [3] [4]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2002 Flag of the United States.svg The Racer's Group Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Buckler
Flag of Germany.svg Lucas Luhr
Porsche 911 GT3-RSGT32216th1st
2003 Flag of the United States.svg The Racer's Group Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Buckler
Flag of Germany.svg Jörg Bergmeister
Porsche 911 GT3-RSGT30420th5th
2005 Flag of the United States.svg Petersen Motorsports
Flag of the United States.svg White Lightning Racing
Flag of Germany.svg Jörg Bergmeister
Flag of the United States.svg Patrick Long
Porsche 911 GT3-RSRGT233111th2nd
2009 Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Team Joest Flag of France.svg Romain Dumas
Flag of France.svg Alexandre Prémat
Audi R15 TDI LMP133317th13th
2010 Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport North America Flag of France.svg Romain Dumas
Flag of Germany.svg Mike Rockenfeller
Audi R15 TDI plus LMP13971st1st
2011 Flag of Germany.svg Audi Sport Team Joest Flag of France.svg Romain Dumas
Flag of Germany.svg Mike Rockenfeller
Audi R18 TDI LMP1116DNFDNF
2013 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche AG Team Manthey Flag of France.svg Patrick Pilet
Flag of Germany.svg Jörg Bergmeister
Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro
31516th2nd
2014 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Team Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Hartley
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Webber
Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1-H346NCNC
2015 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Team Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Hartley
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Webber
Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP13942nd2nd
2016 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Team Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Hartley
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Webber
Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP134613th5th
2017 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche LMP Team Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon Hartley
Flag of New Zealand.svg Earl Bamber
Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP13671st1st
2018 Flag of the United States.svg Porsche GT Team Flag of France.svg Romain Dumas
Flag of Germany.svg Sven Müller
Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro
92DNFDNF
Sources: [5] [3]

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

YearTeamClassChassis
Engine
Co-driversResultsChampionship
123456789PointsRank
2013 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche AG Team Manthey LMGTE Pro Porsche 911 RSR
4.0 L Flat-6
Flag of Germany.svg
Flag of France.svg
Jörg Bergmeister
Patrick Pilet
SIL
7
SPA
Ret
LMS
2
SÃO COA FUJ SHA BHR 4212th
2014 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Team LMP1-H Porsche 919 Hybrid
2.0 L Turbo V4 (Hybrid)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Mark Webber
Brendon Hartley
SIL
3
SPA
12
LMS
NC
COA
5
FUJ
3
SHA
6
BHR
3
SÃO
Ret
64.59th
2015 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Team LMP1 Porsche 919 Hybrid
2.0 L Turbo V4 (Hybrid)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Mark Webber
Brendon Hartley
SIL
Ret
SPA
3
LMS
2
NÜR
1
COA
1
FUJ
1
SHA
1
BHR
5
1661st
2016 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Team LMP1 Porsche 919 Hybrid
2.0 L Turbo V4 (Hybrid)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Mark Webber
Brendon Hartley
SIL
Ret
SPA
26
LMS
10
NÜR
1
MEX
1
COA
1
FUJ
3
SHA
1
BHR
3
134.54th
2017 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche LMP Team LMP1 Porsche 919 Hybrid
2.0 L Turbo V4 (Hybrid)
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Brendon Hartley
Earl Bamber
SIL
2
SPA
3
LMS
1
NÜR
1
MEX
1
COA
1
FUJ
4
SHA
2
BHR
2
2081st
Sources: [3] [6]

* Season still in progress. (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

YearEntrantClassChassisEngine1234567891011RankPoints
2014 Park Place MotorsportsGTD Porsche 911 GT America Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
23
SEB
LGA
BEL
WGL
MOS
IMS
ELK
VIR
AUS
ATL
 ? ?
2018 Tequila Patrón ESM P Nissan Onroak DPi Nissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V6 DAY
SEB
LBH
MDO
DET
WGL
MOS
ELK
LGA
PET
6
53rd25
2019 Mazda Team Joest DPi Mazda RT24-P Mazda MZ-2.0T 2.0 L Turbo I4 DAY
11
SEB
11
LBH
MDO
DET
WGL
2
MOS
ELK
LGA
PET
6
15th97
Source: [3]

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References

  1. http://www.timo-bernhard.de/news_detail.php?id=186%5B%5D
  2. 5:19.55 minutes – Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo takes record on Porsche Newsroom
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Timo Bernhard Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  4. "Timo Bernhard: Racedriver biography - career and success". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  5. "Timo Bernhard". Automobile Club de l'Ouest . Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  6. "Timo Bernhard". FIA World Endurance Championship . Retrieved 15 August 2023.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Porsche Carrera Cup Germany champion
2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
2010
With: Romain Dumas & Mike Rockenfeller
Succeeded by
Preceded by FIA World Endurance Champion
2015
With: Brendon Hartley & Mark Webber
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
2017
With: Earl Bamber & Brendon Hartley
Succeeded by
Preceded by FIA World Endurance Champion
2017
With: Earl Bamber & Brendon Hartley
Succeeded by
Preceded by Race of Champions Nations' Cup
2018
With: René Rast
Succeeded by