Matt Harris visited Le Mans for his 21st birthday recently - but the famous French circuit wasn't kind to the Hampshire racer as the historic Lotus he was racing retired before he got behind the wheel in Saturday (June 16th) morning's race.

On his first visit to the Le Mans 24-Hour meeting, Matt was competing in the race for historic cars that preceded the classic 24-Hours event, but it was a frustrating event as he failed to complete a full lap of the 8.4-mile circuit all week.

"It was my first time at Le Mans," said Droxford-based Matt, "it was also my first historic race and my 21st birthday on the race day! I arrived on Wednesday in time to watch night qualifying for the 24-Hour race, which was amazing to see.

"We were racing a Lotus 11 that belongs the father of my co-driver Joe Twynam, but I didn't get to complete a full lap in qualifying on Thursday as the distributor failed just as I got back on to the pit straight on my first lap out. Even on the part-lap I did drive I had a mis-fire, so I must have had one of the slowest initial laps ever of the circuit, but it was still exciting to be out on the track.

"In Saturday morning's race Joe drove the car at the start, but before he could come in to hand the car over a condenser failed in the ignition and we were out - due to the failure of a £2.50 part! We were on the pit wall waiting for the car to come round, and it just didn't turn up on one lap. It was hugely disappointing, but I was determined to enjoy myself and stay to see the 24-Hour race."

Matt's next race will be at Brands Hatch (July 14) in the next round of the 2007 Avon Tyres British GT Championship when Matt will once again be sharing the Tech 9 Porsche 997 GT3 he took to victory in the opening round of the series with Oliver Bryant.