Force India has publicly congratulated Nico Hulkenberg for becoming the first active F1 driver to win the Le Mans 24 Hours outright in 24 years.
Hulkenberg won the famous endurance race on debut in the Porsche 919 Hybrid he shared with Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber by over a lap. The German will have limited time to soak up his victory as he returns to F1 duty with Force India at this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix.
After the German emulated Johnny Herbert and Bertrand Gachot's victory with Mazda in 1991, Force India boss Vijay Mallya tweeted his congratulations.
Bravo Nico @NicoHulkenberg ! Many congratulations for winning Le Mans on debut. All of us at Force India @ForceIndiaF1 are proud of you.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) June 14, 2015Nico @NicoHulkenberg becomes the first active formula one driver to win Le Mans after a gap of 24 years. All of us @ForceIndiaF1 delighted.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) June 14, 2015Hulkenberg only had the opportunity to drive in this year's race because Force India allowed him to sign a deal with Porsche for two rounds of this year's World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Spa and the race at Le Mans. It is something which has rarely been done in recent times, with Honda vetoing Fernando Alonso's plans to do the same, and Hulkenberg replied to his boss with a message of thanks.
Thanks VJ! You made this possiblehttps://t.co/6p3ANFtQ09
— Nico Hülkenberg (@NicoHulkenberg) June 14, 2015Jenson Button and Romain Grosjean were among the F1 drivers to offer Hulkenberg their congratulations after the race.
Once again #24hLeMans & all the competitors putting on a great show. Congrats 2 all the winners especially fellow F1 driver @NicoHulkenberg
— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) June 14, 2015Very well done @NicoHulkenberg on winning #LeMans24h ! Must be feeling good to be back on the top step of the podium mate... #r8main #LM24
— Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) June 14, 2015