Colin Kolles explains the absence of Jacques Villeneuve at Le Mans

Shock this Thursday, May 25 with the announcement of the replacement of Jacques Villeneuve by Tristan Vautier at Vanwall for the Centenary of 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team was content with a simple tweet announcing its new trio for the Le Mans classic, without giving any further explanations about the absence of the world champion. Formula 1 1997. Contacted by AUTOhebdo, Colin Kolles explained this last minute change to us. 

“There are two reasons which explain that Jacques will not drive at Le Mans, begins our interlocutor. The first is that he doesn't have enough mileage on the car due to various circumstances. The second is that his wife is expecting a child (early June. Editor’s note). That's why we decided it was better for him not to drive. »

The circumstances mentioned by the boss of the Austrian team are abandonments to 1000 Miles of Sebring (suspension), 6 Hours of Portimão (brakes) and 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (accident with an LMGTE Am), the first three rounds of the 2023 season of WEC, which occurred every time the Canadian was behind the wheel of the Vandervell 680.

“We tested in Monza (early May. Editor’s note) and we made this decision after the three days of testing”, confides Kolles. 

Vautier preferred to Muth

A reserve for the Vanwall team, young Esteban Muth (21 years old) was not selected to replace Jacques Villeneuve. The team therefore favored an external option with Frenchman Tristan Vautier. “Esteban doesn’t have enough experience or kilometers with this car”, justifies Colin Kolles.

“Tristan is a winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring (2021. Editor’s note), recalls Kolles. He has experience with DPi, he has been driving these kinds of cars for years. »

Accustomed toIMSA for several seasons, the Isérois has been competing in the European Le Mans Series with Algarve Pro Racing and discovered the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022 in the LM P2 category with ARC Bratislava. With this choice of a driver accustomed to the prototype, Colin Kolles hopes “minimize risks” in the race during the Le Mans classic.

As for whether Jacques Villeneuve will return to the wheel for the 6 Hours of Monza on July 9, this has not yet been decided, although his name is included in the provisional entry list.

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