Michelin Le Mans Cup: First Win For R-Ace GP This Season
Hugo Schwarze and Hadrien David claimed their first overall Michelin Le Mans Cup victory this season in the #85 R-ace GP Duqueine D09-Toyota. It is the Duqueine D09’s first-ever victory in an ACO series.
The #92 Forestier Racing By VPS Ligier JS P325 took second place, some 18 seconds behind the winner. The final spot on the podium went to the #16 Team Virage Ligier JS P325.
Further down in the ranks, the LMP3 Pro/Am win went to a local team, the #98 Motorsport 98 Ligier JS P325 with Belgian Eric De Doncker and former Michelin Le Mans Cup Champion Gillian Henrion at the wheel. The class winner took the chequered flag some six seconds ahead of the #66 Rinaldi Racing Ligier. The #34 Inter Europol Competition Ligier inherited third place from the #31 CD Sport Duqueine after the chequered flag, as the latter received a 30-second post-race penalty.
Finally, in the GT3 class, Murat Çuhadaroglu and David Fumanelli took their second win of the season in the #33 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 LMGT3 after starting from the very back of the grid. Second in class was the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3, while the #83 Iron Dames Porsche 911 LMGT3R landed in third position in spite of a post-race penalty of 30 seconds resulting from repeated breaches of track limits by driver Marta Garcia.
LMGT3 Pole Sitter Drops Five Spots on the Grid
As noted in yesterday’s Qualifying report, the LMGT3 pole sitting car – the #63 Iron Lynx Mercedes AMG LMGT3 driven by Martin Berry, Lorcan Hanafin and Fabian Schiller – will drop five positions on the grid following a stewards decision taken during the last ELMS round at Imola. This penalty resulted from Martin Berry (in the #63) causing a collision with the #86 GR Racing Ferrari LMGT3 driven by Michael Wainwright.
Today’s LMGT3 front row is now shared by the #55 Spirit of Race Ferrari and the #59 Racing Spirit of Lemán Aston Martin.
Vernay: Duquiene “headed in the right direction”
Former Porsche works driver Jean-Karl Vernay was appointed as Duqueine Team Sporting Director and Customer Racing Manager as Isotta Fraschini stopped competing in the Hypercar Category of the World Endurance Championship in 2024.
“It was a really good car to drive,” Vernay said of the Isotta Fraschini. “It’s a shame we lacked testing. Isotta had invested a lot in their car yet their business plan was a little wobbly. Don’t forget either that our driver line up included two rookies that needed driving time. That’s time I could not have to further improve the car.”
“My main role now is to support the team with my experience and to improve our performance level. Of course, there are times when I wish was on track but my new role is great. My job is to make sure we attract the right people and the right drivers in the team. I can tell you that although I am no longer on track, I get my adrenaline shots. The last one I can remember is when our ORECA snatched Pole Position in Barcelona. A great moment!”
He, like anyone in his situation, lamented that the Duqueine Team was not selected for the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans. “That was such a disappointment for us,” said the Frenchman. “Yet it meant that there was something extra we needed to do to convince the ACO. Our goal now is to have the best possible end of the season in the European Le Mans Series. There is also a reasonable chance that we soon compete in the Asian Le Mans Series, with one car in the LMP2 class and possibly up to three in LMP3.”
Vernay has high hopes regarding the new Duqueine D09-Toyota, which took its first win on Saturday. “We were performing well during the off-season but once it kicked-off, we really weren’t where we expected. We clearly lacked development. Thankfully, our new Team Operations and Lead Engineeer – Sebastien Breuil – turned this situation around: We started having encouraging results. So, I really think we are headed in the right direction now.”
Feature image © Marcel Wulf
