G-Drive Racing not seeking 'revenge' at Le Mans

G-Drive Racing is not seeking any “revenge” heading into this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans after being stripped of LMP2 class victory in 2018, according to Jean-Eric Vergne.

Formula E champion Vergne claimed a dominant win for G-Drive in LMP2 last year alongside Roman Rusinov and Andrea Pizzitola, only for the #26 Oreca 07 Gibson to be thrown out of the final results over a refuelling part infringement.

The team’s protest against the decision was rejected by the FIA International Court of Appeal, handing class victory to Signatech Alpine Matmut.

Speaking ahead of practice at Le Mans on Wednesday, Vergne said he had no ill-feeling entering this year’s race lasting from the ruling, saying there was nothing for the team to prove.

“The people that know are aware that even without it, we still would have won. People are aware also that after Le Mans, a clarification has been made that allowed all the teams to be even faster than we were at Le Mans for refueling,” Vergne told Crash.net.

“Everybody knew as well before the race what we had. It had been homologated by the FIA because we hadn’t changed something. It’s what it is. It’s in the past.

“I wouldn’t call the feeling we have this year revenge, because revenge never brought anything good in life. But we have the will to do a good job and not prove anything - we don’t have anything to prove.

“Me personally, I’m just here because I love this race. I think it’s my favourite week of the year. You don’t have pressure, you love what you do, you’re driving fast cars on the best circuit in the world. It’s pure enjoyment. And I think my two other teammates and my team is in a very good frame, very good mentality.

“What happened last year is behind us. No-one is bitter. I will just fully focus on this race. I think we’ve prepared well. Everything is very positive so far.”

Vergne will once again racing alongside long-standing G-Drive racer Rusinov, with the pair being joined by Le Mans debutant Job van Uitert.

The trio raced together for the first time in last month’s 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, which Vergne said acted as perfect preparation for Le Mans.

“We took some unnecessary risks. At the beginning of the race we made two extra pit stops for no reason,” Vergne said.

“I think that was a very important race because it was a bit of a wake-up call from our strategists to do the right thing at the right time, which we haven’t done at Spa. But it’s fine, it was OK.

“It pushed us to try and come back and push the limits. We did come back. On the dry track, we were absolutely flying at Spa.

“We have a good car, super good engineers, two really good teammates. I think we have all the right ingredients. On paper we have everything to win, but it’s not always the people who have everything to win on paper that win Le Mans.

“The main thing we have to do, and that’s what I try to tell my teammates, is to really stay humble. At Le Mans, anything can happen. The moment you relax and make a small mistake, your race is over.”