Michelin Le Mans Cup: R-Ace GP Secures Maiden Victory
In an impressive display, Hugo Schwarze and Hadrien David clinched their first overall victory of the season in the #85 R-ace GP Duqueine D09-Toyota at the Michelin Le Mans Cup. This win marks the first triumph for the Duqueine D09 in an ACO-sanctioned series.
The #92 Forestier Racing By VPS Ligier JS P325 followed in second place, finishing 18 seconds behind the winners. The final podium spot was claimed by the #16 Team Virage Ligier JS P325.
In the LMP3 Pro/Am category, the #98 Motorsport 98 Ligier JS P325, featuring Belgian driver Eric De Doncker alongside former Michelin Le Mans Cup Champion Gillian Henrion, secured victory, crossing the line six seconds ahead of the #66 Rinaldi Racing Ligier. The #34 Inter Europol Competition Ligier inherited third following a post-race 30-second penalty assessed to the #31 CD Sport Duqueine.
In GT3, Murat Çuhadaroglu and David Fumanelli achieved their second victory this season in the #33 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 LMGT3, overcoming a challenging start from the back of the grid. The #51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3 took second place, while the #83 Iron Dames Porsche 911 LMGT3 claimed third, despite incurring a post-race penalty for track limit violations.
Grid Penalties Impact LMGT3 Class
Notably, the pole-sitting #63 Iron Lynx Mercedes AMG LMGT3, driven by Martin Berry, Lorcan Hanafin, and Fabian Schiller, will drop five positions on the grid due to a penalty from the previous race at Imola, stemming from a collision that Berry caused. The front row for today’s race will now consist of the #55 Spirit of Race Ferrari and the #59 Racing Spirit of Lemán Aston Martin.
Duqueine Looking Forward Under New Leadership
Jean-Karl Vernay has stepped into the role of Team Sporting Director and Customer Racing Manager at Duqueine, following Isotta Fraschini’s exit from the Hypercar category. Reflecting on the team’s challenges, Vernay stated, “It was a really good car to drive… our driver line-up included two rookies that needed driving time.” He emphasized his commitment to enhancing the team’s performance and securing future opportunities, noting, “We were performing well during the off-season… Thankfully, our new Team Operations and Lead Engineer turned this situation around.”
Vernay expressed disappointment at Duqueine’s non-selection for the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans but remained optimistic about their ongoing development and upcoming competitions in the European and potentially Asian Le Mans Series.
This victory for R-Ace GP and strategic shifts within Duqueine signal a pivotal moment in the ongoing season, with expectations high as teams prepare for future challenges.
