Based in the Belgian Ardennes since Tuesday, Team IDEC SPORT has been working all week to find the best set-up for its two Oreca LMP2 cars, with a rainy qualifying session shaking things up ahead of Sunday’s race.
Among the 44 cars entered, Jamie Chadwick and Paul Lafargue started in sixth and seventh position on the famous roller coaster. For this tenth edition, the first two hours were very disjointed, with more time spent under neutralization than under green flag conditions.
Shortly before the halfway point, Jamie Chadwick, who had gained a position at the start, and Paul Lafargue, who had been involved in a collision, relaying him in tenth place, ran a very good race despite the safety cars and yellow flags. They then handed over the wheel to Dani Juncadella in the #18 and Job Van Uitert in the #28.
At the final driver change and pit stop, the #18 car, with Mathys Jaubert at the wheel, found itself just behind VDS Panis Racing and finished second before receiving a three-minute penalty for entering under full course yellow, which relegated the crew to twelfth place. In the #28 car, Paul-Loup Chatin crossed the finish line in fourth position.
The Team looks forward to seeing you at the Silverstone circuit in England on September 13 and 14.
Nicolas Minassian, Team Principal
“I am satisfied with the work accomplished this week. The entire team followed its roadmap to the letter with passion, energy, and professionalism. Regarding #28, after a difficult start to the season, achieving this position feels good. The three drivers did a great job, as did the team. For #18, the final result after the penalty obviously does not reflect everything the team put in place and the race the crew ran. So on the one hand I am very happy, and on the other, I am very frustrated, like all the members of the team. We are taking some time to reflect and analyze the decision made by the race director.”
Paul-Loup Chatin, driver of the #28 alongside Paul Lafargue and Job Van Uitert
“A great team result. We worked hard to improve our performance. We were out of sync in terms of strategy. We gambled on our last pit stop to avoid the splash & dash at the end. It paid off. Given the many incidents during the race, which did not work in our favor, this is the best result we could have hoped for. We will continue to fight for that podium finish that we are still missing.”
Mathys Jaubert, driver of the #18 car alongside Jamie Chadwick and Dani Juncadella
“Once again, my teammates did a magnificent job. All I had to do was roll with it. However, it was a particularly tense race given the many incidents, safety cars, and yellow flags. We had to be very careful. Despite everything, we finished second until we received that three-minute penalty.”
