SEBRING, Fla. -- NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports have partnered on an effort to enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year with a modified version of its new Next Gen car.
The collaborative effort announced Thursday at Sebring International Raceway seeks the "Garage 56" entry, which was created in 2012 as a special single-entry class reserved for innovative cars. The Garage 56 entry allows for the testing of new technologies, creativity and innovation without claiming a spot on the traditional starting grid.
NASCAR still needs an invitation from l'Automobile Club de l'Ouest, the organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it seemed a formality based on the magnitude of Thursday's announcement.