Alpine’s Hypercar reserve driver Jules Gounon is raring to absorb as a lot info and observe time as attainable this weekend in Fuji. The Frenchman — who was thrown in on the deep finish because the substitute for the injured Ferdinand Habsburg earlier this yr at Imola and Spa — is again for a 3rd begin within the No. 35 A424 and senses a primary alternative to impress.
In April when he obtained the decision to race in Italy following Habsburg’s crash in testing, the state of affairs was removed from perfect. He lacked observe time and the Signatech-run Alpine effort was nonetheless discovering its ft with its new automotive.
Now, although, on the again finish of the marketing campaign, Gounon rejoins the group at an thrilling second, contemporary from its finest results of the season simply two weeks in the past at Circuit of The Americas. There the A424 took an actual step ahead in efficiency phrases and the No. 35 completed fifth.
“Every part was not prepared for my debut, I had just one take a look at day within the automotive earlier than I arrived in Imola and all the pieces was new,” he mirrored in dialog with RACER. “I didn’t adapt to the programs and I didn’t do any work beforehand as a result of I wasn’t anticipating to drive. It was tough, particularly as I didn’t have any related downforce expertise earlier than in single-seaters or something like that. All I did was one LMP2 take a look at to persuade Alpine to provide me a reserve position!
“Spa was higher, however nonetheless laborious. All I had was 10 laps in every follow session after which within the races I did 45 minutes in Imola due to the altering circumstances and in Spa, I did 50 minutes due to the crimson flag. It’s not so much, so I’m positively not the place I wish to be but.
“Nevertheless, coming again I can see numerous progress since my final race, positively,” he stated. “Everybody has labored laborious and it reveals. The automotive feels significantly better, extra constant and extra pure. The programs are higher and that’s the important thing. There’s nonetheless a drawback in comparison with Porsche and Ferrari, who’ve extra vehicles working and extra time to research. However all of us have the purpose of constructing this.”
Higher nonetheless, he has had ample time to mentally put together for this cameo at Fuji within the seat normally occupied by Paul-Loup Chatin. To help his improvement, this look was written into his contract earlier than the season started, he’s had the weekend circled in his calendar for months.
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What would a robust efficiency on Sunday imply for his future? Proper now, there are not any ensures, however a standout efficiency would certainly enhance his probabilities of securing a full-time Hypercar drive sooner or later.
Taking that step is not going to be simple, although Gounon has each the flexibility and a résumé that speaks for itself. Throughout his time as a Mercedes-AMG manufacturing facility driver, he has racked up Spa 24 Hours, Rolex 24 At Daytona and Bathurst 12 Hour wins to his title, in addition to a pair of World Problem Europe titles. Now he has a watch on what’s subsequent.
Thus, he’s grateful that Mercedes-AMG — a model that aspires to compete within the FIA WEC however doesn’t at present have a program — has been so accommodating, permitting him to discover a future in Hypercar by including this reserve position at Alpine to his ongoing GT racing commitments.
“We’re positively within the golden period for endurance racing, with so many factories and professional drivers. I wish to be part of that going ahead,” Gounon stated when requested about his ambition to race within the WEC’s prime class. “On the identical time, I nonetheless have a contract with Mercedes till the top of subsequent yr, so I do know I’ll nonetheless be doing GT racing. If at some point I get the prospect (in Hypercar), I’ll take it, however I’ll positively not cease GT racing.
“For now although, my purpose is to not let my teammates down. I do know what I can ship by way of efficiency in a prototype like this, however I’m not there but. I’m not seconds off; I simply want to search out the ultimate few tenths. I don’t really feel like I’m on trial with the group, as an alternative, I’m on trial with myself and I wish to present what I can do and impress.
“With the group within the place it’s in now, we hope to attain extra factors and make a robust assertion. I wish to be part of that. Each weekend comes with new challenges. Hopefully, we will face them.”
