Di Grassi open to GT-style top class at Le Mans

Lucas di Grassi has offered his support to a mooted GT-style top class for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a possible replacement for LMP1.

The future of LMP1 has been in question for some time following Porsche’s decision to close its programme at the end of 2017, leaving Toyota as the sole manufacturer racing in the class.

While a number of privateer teams will race in LMP1 for the WEC’s 2018/19 ‘super season’, the FIA and Automobile Club de l’Ouest are known to be considering options beyond that date.

One possibility is a return to a GT-style top class in sports car racing, with a number of manufacturers racing their production cars in the WEC and Le Mans via its GTE-Pro class.

Two-time Le Mans podium finisher di Grassi is eager to return to the race in the future, but said he would only do so if he can fight for overall victory.

“I miss very much driving an LMP1 there. I would love to come back, but I would only come back if I would be fighting for an overall win,” di Grassi told Crash.net. 

“I had a small experience in the pre-race test with GT there. I was quick, but it’s a totally different feeling. It’s a different technique. I had to learn a lot from when I drove LMP1.”

Di Grassi would be open to racing a GT-style car at Le Mans for overall victory, and thinks it may offer a workable solution to the uncertainty currently facing LMP1.

“I would go back with prototypes, even in GTE-Pro, if it was to fight for the overall win which I think GTE-Pro should,” di Grassi said.

“In the future, the type of a GT2 maybe, should be the right approach.

“But while this super season, this Toyota versus privateers goes on, I think it would be very tough for me to come back.”