The podium placers congratulate each other after a harrowing 24-hour showdown. Image: Yamaha Austria Racing Team.

Broc Parkes has finished his debut FIM World Endurance Championship (WEC) event on the podium, playing a crucial part in his Monster Energy Yamaha Australia Racing Team’s (YART) ride to second place at Bol d’Or.

An experienced hand at the French Magny-Cours, Parkes, teamed with Sheridan Morais and Igor Jerman, reeled off hours upon hours of mistake-free laps, learning and managing the variables of endurance racing along the way.

The team gelled well, despite only firming the lineup days earlier after Josh Waters was ruled out due to his wrist injury.

“It was a really really tough race,” explained Parkes. “We didn’t know what to expect coming into this weekend with Josh [Waters] out and Sheridan getting drafted in last minute.

“The team was faultless. A few teams had a few problems, we didn’t have one thing go wrong.”

As the YART set their sights on the leading Kawasaki outfit they soon became mindful of the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) who were fighting back after a slow start.

Parkes was handed control during the crucial stages, lapping consistently and fending off the SERT’s advances.

“I had to do a couple of stints in a row because Suzuki were getting really close, they just kept closing the gap but in the end we got there.

“Second place was awesome, and it’s a real positive for us in terms of the championship because Kawasaki are not doing all of the rounds.”

Though he enjoyed the unique challenge of WEC, Parkes admitted to feeling incredibly fatigued once the 24 hours was run.

“Early in the morning I was really tired,” he continued. “I was in a world of hurt. But the team didn’t put a foot wrong and everyone really just focused on that end result.”

Parkes will return to Australia in the coming days to continue his Australian FX-Superbike Championship campaign with the Yamaha Racing Team at Wakefield Park.