Eric Helary

Éric Hélary, born on August 10, 1966, is a French racing driver whose career spans multiple disciplines, including single-seater formulae, endurance sports car racing, and touring cars. Hélary began his racing journey in karting before progressing to French Formula Ford, where he clinched the title in 1988. He continued his ascent, winning the French Formula Three Championship in 1990. While his single-seater career culminated in International Formula 3000, Hélary is best known for his remarkable success in sports car racing.

His most significant achievement came in 1993 when he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans at his first attempt, driving a factory Peugeot 905 alongside Christophe Bouchut and Geoff Brabham. In the same year, he also secured the Peugeot Spyder Cup title. Beyond Le Mans, Hélary has competed in the FIA GT Championship, French Supertourisme Championship, and even ice racing series like the Trophée Andros. He won the Spa 24 Hours in 1997.

In recent years, Hélary has remained active in the racing world, participating in historic racing events and serving as a driver advisor for the Total 24 Hours of Spa. He also won the Euro Racecar series, the European version of NASCAR, in 2011. He continues to be involved in motorsports, including running a historic racing team and working as a broadcaster for French television.