Lucas Luhr (born 22 July 1979) is a German racing driver. He is a staple of the American Le Mans Series during the 2000s and early 2010s, winning the GT class with Porsche in 2002, the LMP2 category in 2006, and taking the overall LMP1 championship as part of the Audi Sport North America works outfit in 2008. He also won the P1 title in 2012 and 2013, driving for Honda-fielding Muscle Milk Pickett Racing.
Luhr's GT successes in Europe included class victories at the 2002 and 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans races with Porsche, as well as the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship title. In 2014, Luhr became a BMW factory driver, with whom he won the 2015 24 Hours of Spa, before departing in 2017.
Early career Born in Mülheim-Kärlich, Luhr began his career in karts in 1989. Throughout the early 1990s, he won several local and national karting trophies. He became a factory driver for the CRG company in 1994, winning the European Karting Championship and placing fourth in the Karting World Championship. In 1995, he moved to the Jolly Kart factory team, competing in the European and World championships.
Luhr moved to cars in 1996, becoming vice-champion of the German Formula Ford championship. He raced in the German Formula Three Championship in 1997 and 1998, winning the 1998 season opening round at the Hockenheimring.
Porsche factory career Luhr became a Porsche factory driver for the 1999 season. He won the 1999 Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland championship driving for the UPS Junior Team. In 2000, he moved to the American Le Mans Series, driving a Porsche 911 GT3-R for Dick Barbour Racing and partnering with Dirk Müller. He collected class wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1000 km Nürburgring, and Race of 1000 Years in Adelaide, as well as the ALMS GT class championship in his first season.
Luhr began the 2001 season with a class win in the 24 Hours of Daytona, driving for White Lightning Racing. In the ALMS, he partnered with Sascha Maassen at Alex Job Racing, again in a 911. The duo won the 12 Hours of Sebring, but had a disappointing season as the BMW M3 GTRs dominated the season. Luhr and Maassen finished fourth in the championship.
In 2002, Luhr and Maassen dominated the ALMS GT class, winning seven of ten races, including Sebring and Petit Le Mans. Luhr also won the GT class at Le Mans, driving with Kevin Buckler and Timo Bernhard for The Racer's Group.
For 2003, Luhr continued his winning ways with Maassen and AJR. The duo Sebring for the third straight year, giving Luhr his fourth straight class win, tying him with Bob Holbert for most consecutive class wins. In June, the pair, joined by Emmanuel Collard, captured the GT class at Le Mans. Luhr and Maassen would take five wins from nine races and win the ALMS GT championship for the second straight year.
After a second place at Sebring, Luhr moved to the FIA GT Championship for the 2004 season. He and Maassen won six races driving for Friesinger Motorsport and won their third consecutive championship together.
In 2005, Luhr's primary job was the development of the new Porsche RS Spyder, which was to make its full-time debut in 2006. He also raced in the big events in 911s, winning the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Spa 24 Hours. Luhr also won the Laguna Seca 4 Hours LMP2 class, in the debut race of the RS Spyder.
For 2006, Luhr rejoined Maassen, but moved to Penske Racing to drive the RS Spyder. The duo had a rough start to the season, netting only one class win. Luhr would finish the season driving with Romain Dumas and take two more victories to end as vice-champion with Maassen. Luhr also won the 24 Hours Nürburgring overall, driving with Timo Bernhard, Marcel Tiemann, and Mike Rockenfeller.
Audi career
For 2007, Luhr became a factory Audi driver. Luhr raced in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) series, driving an Audi A4 DTM for Audi Sport Team Rosberg. He participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving the LMP1 class R10 TDI.
In 2008, Luhr drove in the American Le Mans Series with Marco Werner in an Audi R10, the pair won the LMP1 class drivers title after six overall wins and eight class wins. He was also fourth overall at Le Mans.
In the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans race, Luhr crashed Audi's new R15 TDI into a tire wall during the seventh hour. Audi ruled out a technical defect on the car.
For 2010, Luhr drove in select events for Audi factory-supported teams in GT races. He competed in the VLN and at the Nürburgring 24 Hours for Team Abt Sportsline, and also for Phoenix Racing at the Spa 24 Hours. He also competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona finishing third for Level 5 Motorsports.
Post-Audi career In 2011, Luhr competed in the FIA GT1 World Championship for JR Motorsports, winning the drivers' championship with Michael Krumm in a Nissan GT-R.
For 2012, Luhr competed in the American Le Mans Series for Muscle Milk Motorsports, where he was the LMP1 champion and the Rolex Sports Car Series for Starworks Motorsport where he finished 12th in points with one race win. In 2013, he returned to Muscle Milk in ALMS LMP1 and also won the 24 Hours Nürburgring SP7 class in a Manthey Racing Porsche.
On 26 July 2013, it was announced that Luhr would make his IndyCar Series debut with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing at Sonoma Raceway in conjunction with RW Motorsports.DiZinno, Tony. SFHR, RW combine to provide Lucas Luhr his IndyCar debut at Sonoma, NBC Sports, 26 July 2013, Retrieved 2013-07-26 It was his first open wheel race since he competed in German Formula Three in 1998.
Personal life In October 2016, Luhr was arrested for public indecency after allegedly urinating in a RaceTrac parking lot near Road Atlanta in Georgia at 2a.m. in the morning.
Top Speed
Luhr was featured, along with Marion Jones and Marla Streb, in the large format film, Top Speed, hosted by Tim Allen. Luhr's appearance in the film focuses on his championships in the 24 Hours of Le Mans while he was driving for Porsche. The film was produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films.
Accolades FIA GT1 World Championship GT1 class champion: 2011 American Le Mans Series LMP1 class champion: 2008, 2012, 2013 American Le Mans Series LMP2 class champion: 2006 American Le Mans Series GT class champion: 2000, 2002, 2003 FIA GT N-GT class champion: 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans GT class winner: 2000, 2002, 2003 12 Hours of Sebring GT/GT2 class winner: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 24 Hours Nürburgring overall winner: 2006, 2011 Spa 24 Hours GT2 class winner: 2005 Petit Le Mans GT class winner: 2002 24 Hours of Daytona GT class winner: 2001 Porsche Supercup champion: 1999
Racing record
American Le Mans Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap) YearTeamClassMakeEngine123456789101112PointsRef2000Dick Barbour RacingGTPorsche 911 GT3-RPorsche 3.6 L Flat-6SEB1CHA10SIL4NÜR1SON1MOSDNFTEX3ROS11PET3†MON10LSV2ADE12nd2162001Alex Job RacingGTPorsche 911 GT3-RSPorsche 3.6 L Flat-6TEX1SEB1DON1JAR8SON5POR2MOS4MID6†MON3PET34th1762002Alex Job RacingGTPorsche 911 GT3-RSPorsche 3.6 L Flat-6SEB1SON1MIDDNFAME2WAS1TRO1MOS3MON1MIA1PET11st2452003Alex Job RacingGTPorsche 911 GT3-RSPorsche 3.6 L Flat-6SEB1ATL2SON1TRO1MOS4ELK4LAG1MIA1PET21st1642004Alex Job RacingGTPorsche 911 GT3-RSRPorsche 3.6 L Flat-6SEB2MID17th40BAM!LIMDNFSONDNFPORDNFMOSAMEPET6MON82005Petersen Motorsports White Lightning RacingGT2Porsche 911 GT3-RSRPorsche 3.6 L Flat-6SEB1ATLMDOLRPSONPORELKMOSPET21st26Penske RacingLMP2Porsche RS SpyderPorsche MR6 3.4 L V8LAG111th232006Penske RacingLMP2Porsche RS SpyderPorsche MR6 3.4 L V8SEB2†TEX3†MID2LIM2UTA1POR2†AME2MOS1PET2MON11st1842007Audi Sport North AmericaLMP1Audi R10 TDIAudi TDI 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel)SEBSTPLNBTEXUTALIMMIDAMEMOSDETPET422nd16thPetersen Motorsports White Lightning RacingGT2Ferrari F430GTFerrari 4.0L V8MONDNFNC-2008Audi Sport North AmericaLMP1Audi R10 TDIAudi TDI 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel)SEB2STP1LBH1UTA1LRP1MDO1ELK1MOS1DETDNFPET3LAG11st2192009Audi Sport North AmericaLMP1Audi R15 TDIAudi TDI 5.5 L Turbo V10 (Diesel)SEB3STPLBHUTALRPMDOELKMOSPET4LAG17th432010Muscle Milk Team CytosportLMP2Porsche RS Spyder EvoPorsche MR6 3.4 L V8SEBLBHMONUTALIMMDOROAMOSPET217th262011Muscle Milk Aston Martin RacingLMP1Lola-Aston Martin B08/62Aston Martin 6.0 L V12SEBDNFLBH1LRP2MOS1 MDO1ELK1BALLAG5PETDNF3rd1142012Muscle Milk Pickett RacingP1HPD ARX-03aHonda LM-V8 3.4 L V8SEB8†LBH1LAG1LRP1MOS1MDO1ELK2BAL3†VIR1PET3 1st 1952013Muscle Milk Pickett RacingP1HPD ARX-03aHonda LM-V8 3.4 L V8SEB4LBH1LAG1 1st 182HPD ARX-03cLRP1MOS1ELK1BAL1COA1VIR1PETDNF † Did not finish the race but was classified as his car completed more than 70% of the overall winner's race distance.
24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2000 Dick Barbour Racing Dirk Müller Bob Wollek Porsche 911 GT3-R GT 319 DSQ DSQ 2002 The Racer's Group Kevin Buckler Timo Bernhard Porsche 911 GT3-RS GT 322 16th 1st 2003 Alex Job Racing Petersen Motorsports Sascha Maassen Emmanuel Collard Porsche 911 GT3-RS GT 320 14th 1st 2007 Audi Sport Team Joest Mike Rockenfeller Alexandre Prémat Audi R10 TDI LMP1 23 DNF DNF 2008 Audi Sport Team Joest Mike Rockenfeller Alexandre Prémat Audi R10 TDI LMP1 374 4th 4th 2009 Audi Sport North America Marco Werner Mike Rockenfeller Audi R15 TDI LMP1 104 DNF DNF 2011 Flying Lizard Motorsports Jörg Bergmeister Patrick Long Porsche 997 GT3-RSR GTEPro 310 18th 6th 2013 Jota Sport Simon Dolan Oliver Turvey Zytek Z11SN-Nissan LMP2 319 13th 7thSource:
Complete DTM results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos Points 2007 Team Rosberg Audi A4 DTM 2006 HOC OSC LAU BRH NOR MUG ZAN NÜR CAT8† HOC 17th 1
† Retired, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race winner's distance.
Complete GT1 World Championship results Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos Points 2011 JR Motorsports Nissan GT-R ABUQR3 ABUCR14 ZOLQR7 ZOLCR9 ALGQR2 ALGCR1 SACQR11 SACCR9 SILQR2 SILCR1 NAVQR9 NAVCR6 PRIQR1 PRICR1 ORDQR11 ORDCR9 BEIQR4 BEICR3 SANQR2 SANCRRet 1st 137
IndyCar Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Chassis No. Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rank Points Ref 2013 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Dallara DW12 97 Honda STP ALA LBH SAO INDY DET1 DET2 TXS MIL IOW POC TOR1 TOR2 MDO SNM BAL HOU1 HOU2 FON 36th 8
Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 PointsRef 2014 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing P Oreca 03 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 DAY SEB LBH LAG DET WGL MOS IMS ROA COA PET 36th 462015BMW Team RLLGTLMBMW Z4 GTEBMW 4.4 L V8DAYSEBLBHLAGWGIMOSROAVIRAUSPET 5th 2912016BMW Team RLLGTLMBMW M6 GTLMBMW S63 4.4 L Twin Turbo V8 DAY SEB LBH LGA WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR COT PET 9th 267Source:
Complete NASCAR results Whelen Euro Series – EuroNASCAR PRO (key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest lap. * – Most laps led. ^ – Most positions gained) NASCAR Whelen Euro Series – EuroNASCAR PRO results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pts 2022 Racingfuel Motorsport 58 Chevy ESP ESP GBR GBR ITA ITA CZE CZE BEL BEL CRO CRO 34th 50 Season still in progress.
References
External links
Official website Fourtitude Magazine profile Top Speed Official Website MacGillivray Freeman Official Website