Entertainment Sports Michael Fassbender Makes His Debut at the Iconic Le Mans 24-Hour Race: 'It's Intimidating' "This is a major place with some of the best drivers in the world, it's intimidating being on this circuit with them, so it's a lot to take on board mentally," the actor told Top Gear By BreAnna Bell BreAnna Bell BreAnna Bell is a former news writer at PEOPLE. She left PEOPLE in 2022. People Editorial Guidelines Published on June 17, 2022 08:03PM EDT Photo: Hoch Zwei/Michael Kunkel/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Image Michael Fassbender lived out his dreams of becoming a race car driver earlier this month. According to GQ, the 45-year-old actor drove a Porsche 911 RSR-19 for the German racing team, Proton Competition, during his debut at the iconic Le Mans endurance race in France on June 11. Fassbender was joined by Australian driver Matt Campbell and Canadian racer Zacharie Robichon, who took turns driving the car during the 24-hour race at the Circuit de la Sarthe. The race wasn't a complete success, though. The team finished 51st out of 62 teams that included both amateur and professional drivers, the outlet said. Fassbender reportedly crashed his vehicle twice during the race. He was also involved in another collision in one of the qualifying rounds. But the two-time Academy Award nominee has "always wanted to drive" cars, he told Top Gear. "Anything with four wheels, basically. I wasn't really interested in bicycles. All I wanted was one of those little pedal karts. I was always obsessed with cars," he said. Fassbender practiced for the epic race for several years before officially competing —he chronicled his progress in a series for Porshe's YouTube channel. Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander Make Rare Red Carpet Appearance at Cannes PHOTO: Joao Filipe/DPPI/LiveMedia/NurPhoto via AP PHOTO: Marc Piasecki/WireImage Despite the practice, Fassbender said he felt "intimidated" by the prospect of Le Mans. "I've done quite a few races, it's my third season in ELMS (European Le Mans Series), dealing with LMP (Le Mans Prototype) cars and traffic management, so I've got some experience of that," he told Top Gear. Alicia Vikander Says Husband Michael Fassbender Surprised Her with a Birthday Trip to See Family "But this is a major place with some of the best drivers in the world, it's intimidating being on this circuit with them, so it's a lot to take on board mentally," he added. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Fassbender explained he has a long way to go in developing his talent. He's "thinking too much in the car," he told Top Gear, though he hopes his skills will become second nature in time. The actor stands on the shoulders of several other famous actors who have tried motorsports, including his friend Patrick Dempsey, who reportedly introduced Fassbender to the Porsche team, according to the New York Times. RELATED VIDEO: Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander Got Married in an Ultra-Private Ibiza Ceremony Yet, Fassbender told Top Gear he's "never going to be a professional racing driver," though he remains "super passionate" about motorsports. "It means so much to me," he said. "And I want to reach my full potential. So it's a different type of nervousness, it's a different type of stress. I want more and more seat time so I get to a place where it's about muscle memory or becomes second nature."