Le Mans Car Race to promote Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka would be highlighted as the Country for Tourism and Investment in the World Famous 24 hours Le Mans car race on June 11 and 12 in France.

This is the 79th Edition of the most gruelling, legendary and Glamorous Car race in the world, which celebrities such as Paul Newman have participated, Steve Mcqueen made a film out of it and Luc Besson turned it into film set.

56 cars/teams will start the race, with three drivers for each team and cover 5,000 kms in 24 hours. In the 2010 edition, there were 2,155 journalists accredited, covering 776 newspapers and magazines.

The event is covered globally in 172 countries, 70 percent live. In Sri Lanka, the highlights would be shown on cable television. Two local companies, investor services Asia, a specialist company to promote business between France, Sri Lanka and South India and Travel Development, a leading tour operator are co-sponsors from Sri Lanka of the Ferrari, JMB Racing Team. A spokesperson for the companies, when interviewed stated, that in the previous years, in other races, the car carried the logos of their companies. However, when the opportunity came up to be involved in the Le Mans Race, they had requested Jean Marc Menahem, one of the drivers in the JMB Racing Team, it could promote the whole country and he graciously accepted.

He also met the Ministers of Economic Development, External Affairs, Senior Officials of the President Office and other business and social leaders to discuss this promotion and other matters.

Menahem has been a great friend of Sri Lanka for many years, the spokesperson for TD and ISA added. He was the co-founder of the Franco Sri Lankan Business Council in Lyon.

He has visited the island on many occasions and is also involved in many social projects at present, including the Pilot project for 19 schools in Kolonnawa.