Several A1GP drivers are competing in the famous Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race this weekend – with two pairs of rival drivers from different nations teaming up in the endurance classic.

Neel Jani, part of the 2007/08 championship-winning Switzerland team, has partnered with French rival Nicolas Prost for a challenge on the event in a Lola-Aston Martin LMP1 car. The pairs’ prototype is qualified highest of all the cars containing current A1GP drivers, starting this weekend’s event from 10th. The pair is being joined by Le Mans Series racer Andrea Belicchi in the Speedy Sebah-run car.

Jani and Prost are not the only A1GP drivers from rival nations teaming up at this year’s race, with India’s Narain Karthikeyan and Germany’s Andre Lotterer both part of a Team Kolles Audi R10 entry. They will start in 14th.

A1 Team France’s sporting director Olivier Panis is joined by one the squad’s most capped drivers, Nicolas Lapierre, in their Oreca from 16th on the grid.

There are other A1GP nations also represented. Great Britain racer Danny Watts is part of the team lining up 11th on the grid in a Strakka Racing Ginetta-Zytek, Danny Watts who was responsible for Strakka’s quickest run said “I think we’re at the sharp end of the petrol race, which is very important to us. I was quite happy with the lap, although there is a little more to come. This wasn’t possible due to traffic, but that’s the same for everyone here. The car is handling well, the engine is strong and the tyres are good, so we are in good shape for the race.”, while Netherlands’ Jeroen Bleekemolen will start 11th on the GT2 grid in a Snoras Spyker.

The endurance race begins at 15.00 hours CET today.