The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of motorsport’s most historic races. But for Ferdinand Habsburg, it was a chance to give back to those in need. Source: Aleteia.
For every lap completed in the June 14-15 race, Habsburg – one of the three drivers of the Alpine Elf Endurance Team #35 car – hoped to raise money to feed children.
Apart from being a racing driver in the World Endurance Championship, Habsburg is the heir apparent to the headship of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
“Hi, I’m Ferdinand Habsburg,” he said in a video posted to his social media channels ahead of the weekend’s race. “And I’m going to try something special at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year.”
Working with “Mary’s Meals,” a charity named after the Virgin Mary that serves meals to schoolchildren, Habsburg aimed to turn the pinnacle of the World Endurance Championship calendar into a chance to give back to the world’s poorest.
Habsburg also wore a special “Mary’s Meals” helmet for the race, bringing additional awareness to the cause.
“I hope to drive as many laps as possible at Le Mans,” Habsburg said. “And every lap needs a sponsor. For just € 22 ($A33) you can sponsor a whole lap of me at the race, and with that we will be able to feed a child for a whole school year.”
“If we manage to feed a child for one school year for every lap I drive, then I would consider that a huge success, not only on the race track, but also in the fight against famine,” he said.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an annual endurance race held over a full 24-hour period at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France. The winner of the race is the car that has completed the most laps during that time.
The #35 car finished 10th after having qualified in 12th.
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Ferdinand Habsburg uses 24 Hours of Le Mans to fight famine (Aleteia)
