Porsche and Audi, the two most successful makes at Le Mans (25 wins), were side by side on this year’s podium…

Two of the three drivers in the 2010 Le Mans-winning car were in fact factory Porsche drivers ‘on loan’ to Audi, while the third was a former Porsche star.

The names of Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard figure on Porsche’s list of eight factory drivers this season. The Frenchman has driven for the make in the American Le Mans Series since 2004 and has won two titles in the Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 (2007 and 2008).

Timo Bernhard has been a factory Porsche driver since 2002 in American Le Mans Series, working with Romain Dumas on the team’s LMGT2 and LMP2 programmes. The pair also share the same car in the German VLN series.

Mike Rockenfeller has been an Audi driver since 2007. Before that, however, he had been part of the works Porsche squad since his win in the 2004 Porsche Carrera. He has also won the FIA GT2 crown with Porsche (2005).

All eight of today’s Porsche factory drivers were at Le Mans. Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard won outright, while Marc Lieb, Wolf Henzler and Richard Lietz took the top prize in LMGT2 with the N°77 Porsche. Patrick Long and Patrick Pilet came fifth in LMGT2 after suffering clutch trouble in the N°76 Imsa-Performance Matmut Porsche. Only Jorg Bergmeister (N°80 Flying Lizard Porsche) failed to reach the finish.

Porsche won its 98th class win at Le Mans this year.

24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi, Porsche