Timo Bernhard
Timo Bernhard is a former racing driver from Germany. He was a sports car driver from Porsche, but was seconded to Audi for selected events in 2009 and 2010. He is the ninth 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.
Early career
Bernhard was born in Homburg, Saarland. He debuted in karting in 1991. He finished fifth at the CIK/FIA Junior World Championship and was crowned German junior champion. The next two years, Bernhard was sixth and third at the German Karting Championship. In 1998, he moved to formula cars as he joined Formula Ford, finishing sixth in both the German series and the Eurocup in 1998. In his last year in open-wheelers, 1999, Bernhard finished third in the German Formula Ford.Sports cars
For 2000, Bernhard drove in Porsche Supercup as a UPS Porsche Junior driver, finishing third in the championship. In 2001, he made his American [Le Mans Series] debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring, where he finished second 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, Bernhard 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 third in the Carrera Cup, and won his first ALMS race and finished fourth 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 three ALMS races, including Petit Le Mans, and finished second in the championship. He also finished third 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 fourth overall and second in class in the Spa 24 Hours. He finished on the podium at the Nürburgring 24 Hours for the third 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 second 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, and took four class victories in total and finished third 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 No. 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 distance record of ; the car ran 397 laps and. 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. 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
- ALMS LMP2 class champion: 2007, 2008
- ALMS GT class champion: 2004
- 24 Hours of Le Mans GT class winner: 2002
- 24 Hours of Le Mans Overall winner: 2010, 2017
- 12 Hours of Sebring GT class winner: 2004
- 12 Hours of Sebring Overall winner: 2008
- Petit Le Mans LMP2 class winner: 2006
- Petit Le Mans GT class winner: 2003, 2004
- 24 Hours of Daytona overall winner: 2003
- 24 Hours of Daytona GT class winner: 2002, 2003
- 24 Hours Nürburgring winner: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
- Porsche Carrera Cup Germany champion: 2001