Finishing second in the classic endurance race last year, victory around the part public road race track was sweet for Gene, a former Buckingham University student, who drove superbly throughout the event at the wheel of the number 9 diesel-powered Peugeot Hdi FAP.

Fifth fastest in qualifying, the car moved into the lead during the sixth hour of the race, and once at the head of the pack the car was never headed.

In a dramatic twist, victory was not assured for Gene and his team partners until the closing stages when Gene received the call from the team over the radio that he was allowed to steer the car to the chequered flag ahead of the favoured number 8 Peugeot of Frenchmen Stephane Sarrazin/Franck Montagny/Sebastien Bourdais.

Gene was at the wheel of the car as the chequered flag fell to mark the end of the race, with his car completing 382 laps and finishing one lap ahead of the number 8 Peugeot.

The Audi R15 of Allan McNish/Tom Kristensen/Dindo Capello took third a further five laps back.

A field of 55 cars took the start and the action-packed race entertained throughout.

An early mistake by Peugeot during a pit stop damaged the chances of their number 7 entry driven by Pedro Lamy/Christian Klien and former Granborough resident Nicolas Minassian.
The car never recovered from the damage sustained from a resulting puncture, and although the car reached the finish sixth it was 13 laps down.

Numerous incidents and accidents during the race saw the safety car deployed a number of times, with the Pescarolo-Peugeot driven by Benoit Treluyer destroyed in a nasty looking accident during the small hours.
Treluyer was uninjured after initial fears for his safety.
Gene said after his win: "This is the greatest moment of my racing career. I have worked so hard for this moment – I can't really believe it.
"To win the Le Mans 24-hour race is one of the most important things you can achieve as a racing driver.

"I dedicate this win to my family and friends."
Gene will be at Silverstone this weekend to attend the Santander British Grand Prix and carry out his regular television duties for Italian television as their pundit during broadcasts of Formula 1 events.