Londoner Alessandro Latif is set to make his sports-prototype debut in the world’s most gruelling and important endurance sportscar race next month.

Latif, who only turned 18-years-old last month, will race a British-built Zytek in the 82nd running of the gruelling twice-around-the-clock race on 14-15 June.

Alessandro, who was born in London, drives for the Peterborough-based Greaves Motorsport team with fellow Britons Michaël Munneman and James Winslow.

“Greaves Motorsport has consistently been one of the leading teams in the LM P2 class and has a bundle of experience,” commented Latif who drives the Zytek for the first time this week.

“I was close to racing for them at the end of last year in Bahrain but didn’t compete due to financial reasons. I’m desperately hoping that I can attract some funding and support for my maiden Le Mans campaign – it would be nice to think that a British company wants to support a young British driver on the world sportscar ‘stage’.”

For Alessandro, competing in the prestigious Le Mans race culminates a hectic six-month period that is laying the foundations for a successful career in GT and now sportscar racing.

Last November, Latif was invited by Audi Sport to test an Audi A4 DTM in Spain as part of its annual young driver test.

In January, Latif contested his maiden twice-around-the-clock race, finishing an impressive fifth in the Daytona 24 Hours and claimed eighth place in the Sebring 12 Hours two months later.

Alessandro, driving a Flying Lizard Motorsports Audi R8 LMS, was the highest-placed British-based driver in his class in both races.

He also races an Audi for reigning DTM champions Phoenix Racing in the seven race Blancpain Sprint series alongside 2012 FIA GT1 World Champion Marc Basseng.

Alessandro continued: “Le Mans marks my second 24 hour race after Daytona. My experience is limited but at least I know what to expect in a race of such duration although Le Mans is like no other race – that much I do know!

“This is my biggest race to date and actually the biggest race possible I could ever compete in. Daytona and Sebring were pretty big and special as well but Le Mans is Le Mans – there is literally nothing else like it in the world and it has always been my dream to race there.

“I can remember watching Steve McQueen’s Le Mans film over and over. I’m over the moon to be racing in such a historic race this year.”

Latif will get the chance to drive on the ultra-fast 8.47-mile circuit at the only test opportunity on Sunday 1 June.

“It has been a crazy last few months where things have moved very quickly but as a driver I focus on the next task at hand,” confirmed Alessandro who has personal support from French luxury shoemaker Corthay.

It’s the third year in succession Greaves Motorsport will contest Le Mans with a pair of Nissan powered Zytek prototypes having won the LM P2 class in 2011 and recorded a third place finish last year.

Greaves Motorsport Team Manager, Jacob Greaves, said: “We are very pleased that Alessandro is joining Greaves Motorsport at Le Mans. His combination of speed and youth fits right into the template that we have for helping young drivers along with their careers. To achieve victory is a challenge but we can certainly attain it, the ingredients are present on both sides, all we need to do now is go racing.”