In the event that they know the band is breaking apart, do the gamers give their finest efficiency at each cease on the ultimate tour, or are they only going by way of the motions?
For Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais, it’s positively not the latter, particularly with a championship in sight.
Whereas the longer term holds a lot uncertainty for the people within the staff, what is thought is that Chip Ganassi Racing won’t exist as Cadillac Racing subsequent yr, and seems to have few choices for remaining an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship outfit for 2025 not less than. Bourdais and van der Zande might see the expiration of a three-year partnership that has introduced quite a few wins. That circumstance solely additional fuels the thirst for victory.
“That’s the solely objective we now have … regardless of the future is, regardless of the future brings, is up within the air, let’s say it’s within the stars,” says van der Zande. “However proper now we will win a championship and will probably be a tribute to the staff. I believe the staff has not been in the place, in the form as it’s now. They’re actually good folks. We’re working very well collectively. It’s a championship–profitable staff. It’s dialed in, within the final couple of years, and I believe that is the very best high quality of staff that we had in Ganassi to date. So it might make sense to win the championship and exit with a bang.”
Bourdais and van der Zande are 85 factors behind the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsports squad of Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr, with one win to the No. 7’s two. The Cadillacs have usually been stronger than the Porsches at Street America to date. Within the palms of van der Zande. The No. 01 Cadillac certified third, whereas the most effective the No. 7 might do was ninth. It’s a small achieve that they hope will flip into an even bigger one.
“I actually need to win an IMSA championship,” declares Bourdais. “I’ve by no means been able to take action, to date. I imply, it was actually an unlucky factor … ’22 I really feel like profitable three races, being on pole 4 occasions … It’s arduous to to lose a championship in these circumstances, however we managed to try this. I believe as many DNFs as we had race wins, truly. So it’d be very particular to say farewell to that program with Ganassi with a bang, however it’s racing. So that you all you are able to do is attempt your finest and hope that that’s sufficient.”
Luck has not been on their aspect – a mechanical concern took them out of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The identical technique that gained them the race in Lengthy Seaside labored in opposition to them within the subsequent race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. A little bit success headed their method can be welcome.
“You can solely hope that it balances itself out,” says Bourdais. “I believe we’ve had loads of robust moments and hardships with that 01. However on the finish of the day in racing, nothing is owed and the whole lot must be earned. And so we simply hope that we find yourself on the proper aspect of the fence for as soon as.”
An excellent day at Street America, a profitable weekend at Indianapolis, or a win at Motul Petit Le Mans … none of that can change the truth that subsequent yr is prone to look very completely different for all concerned.
“It’s the engineering, it’s the administration, it’s the mechanics, the drivers … all people is a bit of unsure for subsequent yr,” explains van der Zande. “And I believe we didn’t have that feeling for the final three years as a result of we have been locked in, which is a implausible feeling in motorsport. We’re going again to the conventional feeling of motorsport the place offers are yr by yr.
“So, for certain, that’s a has an influence on the environment. However I don’t really feel the environment is in a nasty method. Everybody is tremendous motivated to come back out right here with a win and a championship. So it’s the conventional motorsport feeling of uncertainty. However on the similar time, there’s the motivation to win. Maybe that makes it extra of a need to win, as a result of that is the final shot we now have.”
