<p>Karun Chandhok is banking on his past experience at 24 Hours of Le Mans for a top five finish in the world’s oldest sports car race, starting this weekend at the Circuit de la Sarthe. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Chandhok will be competing in the LMP2 category for Murphy Prototypes, an emerging outfit which led its class for five hours before retiring following a technical snag. <br /> <br />“It is a new class and much bigger one than LMP1. It is going to be a much closer field, but it will pretty much be about having a reliable car more than anything else,” Chandhok said from Le Mans in France.<br /><br />The former Formula One driver was part of the JRM LMP1 squad in his debut race last year, coming home sixth overall with 2009 winner David Brabham and Peter Dumbreck.<br />This time he is partnering former Red Bull reserve Brendon Hartley and Mark Patterson. Murphy Protypes’ ORECA-Nissan 03 will be fighting with 22 LMP2 cars while the overall winner is likely to come from the more powerful eight LMP1 machines. <br /><br />“The manufacturers always have an edge over privateers. Ours is fairly a new team but I would be disappointed if we don’t finish in the top five in our class. If all goes well in the race, a podium is also a possibility,” said the 29-year-old.<br /><br />He says adjusting to a prototype will not be an issue amid driving in the GT1 series this season.</p>
<p>Karun Chandhok is banking on his past experience at 24 Hours of Le Mans for a top five finish in the world’s oldest sports car race, starting this weekend at the Circuit de la Sarthe. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Chandhok will be competing in the LMP2 category for Murphy Prototypes, an emerging outfit which led its class for five hours before retiring following a technical snag. <br /> <br />“It is a new class and much bigger one than LMP1. It is going to be a much closer field, but it will pretty much be about having a reliable car more than anything else,” Chandhok said from Le Mans in France.<br /><br />The former Formula One driver was part of the JRM LMP1 squad in his debut race last year, coming home sixth overall with 2009 winner David Brabham and Peter Dumbreck.<br />This time he is partnering former Red Bull reserve Brendon Hartley and Mark Patterson. Murphy Protypes’ ORECA-Nissan 03 will be fighting with 22 LMP2 cars while the overall winner is likely to come from the more powerful eight LMP1 machines. <br /><br />“The manufacturers always have an edge over privateers. Ours is fairly a new team but I would be disappointed if we don’t finish in the top five in our class. If all goes well in the race, a podium is also a possibility,” said the 29-year-old.<br /><br />He says adjusting to a prototype will not be an issue amid driving in the GT1 series this season.</p>