LM24: Hulkenberg vows to return to Le Mans

Force India Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg has vowed to return to the Le Mans 24 Hours after being denied the opportunity to defend his 2015 victory with Porsche.

Hulkenberg collected a Gregor Grant Award at the Autosport Awards last Sunday for becoming the first active F1 driver in 24 years to claim a Le Mans victory, doing so alongside Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber in the third 919 LMP1 entered by Porsche at Spa and Le Mans. But recent confirmation of the F1 calendar for 2016, with Azerbaijan clashing with Le Mans, plus Porsche's decision to only run two cars on cost grounds, means Hulkenberg will not be at Circuit de la Sarthe next June.

The 28-year-old is confident he will be back one day, though, telling Autosport: "There is definitely a sense of disappointment I won't be able to defend the title next year. But there are two things: first there was this calendar issue, and secondly now, there is no third car next year. Even if I'd been able to go, it still would not have been physically possible because there is no third car.

"It's a bit of a pity, but I try to see the bright side because it means when I do go back, I'll be going back as a champion, and surely that's a good thing.

"Certainly, it's not the last Le Mans has seen of me. I'd like to think I still have many more years ahead of me in F1, and I still have greater things to achieve there. But for sure there will be a time again when I go back to Le Mans."

Hulkenberg still appreciates the fact Force India, particularly team principal Vijay Mallya, gave him the opportunity to compete in the first place, considering so many drivers have clauses in their F1 contracts denying them such chances.

"I owe the team a lot. It wouldn't have been possible without them," added Hulkenberg. "You have to give the team and Vijay a lot of credit for letting me do it, for taking a risk, a calculated risk, but still there was one.

"In the end it turned out great as it was a win-win situation because there was so much positive media, and Vijay received a lot of praise for letting me do it. When you win, obviously everything is good at the end."

Originally on Autosport.com