Panis Racing to end the season “in apotheosis” in Portimão

Behind the new European champions WRT, the runner-up place must still be decided during the sixth and final round of the season in Portimão. Three teams are tied for as many points and will have to decide between each other under the Algarve sun: G-Drive, Panis Racing and United Autosports. The French team only starts in second position in this three-way race, but has the best current series of results with three consecutive podiums, including victory at the 4 Hours of Monza and a podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It is therefore in a state of mind “super positive” that the team is approaching this Portuguese weekend. “ We look forward and we are a point and a half from second, confirms Sarah Abadie, the team manager. Our only objective for the weekend is to finish ahead of our competitors to secure second place. We still have one more practice and qualifying session before we think about the race, but we're pretty confident because we're in the game. It's very close, so it's going to be down to whoever makes the fewest mistakes with the cleanest driving. »

If the season is already successful for Olivier Panis' team, there remains the regret of the points lost in the Red Bull Ring on a track exit. “We couldn't finish at the Red Bull Ring and it cost us dearly because we scored zero point, underlines the Toulouse woman. Overall, it remains a successful season with three podiums, with a new podium at Le Mans in addition to last season's. We know we are strong. It's still a sport with humans behind the wheels and a lot of things can happen, whether at our wheel or behind that of others. »

“It would be a great achievement for the team”

Julien Canal, one of the three drivers of the Oreca 07 – Gibson with William Stevens and James Allen, agrees: “We almost had podiums in every race, barring accidents like punctures or going off the track in Austria. Throughout the year, we proved that we were super fast and we were able to compete with teams with big financial resources like United Autosports, G-Drive or WRT. We still have a very good chance of grabbing the podium in the race and overall. »

Outstanding WRT, United Autosports and G-Drive will be Panis Racing's two main rivals to take second qualifying place for Le Mans. “United are a very strong team. G-Drive too, judges the 39-year-old Frenchman. They have incredible pilots, but also us like Will who has already done racing. Formula 1 (a Grand Prix in 2014 with Caterham, 17 in 2015 with Manor. Editor’s note). It is a championship which has nothing to demerit compared to the WEC. We saw it at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, we got the podium even though there were both championships combined. We won Monza, we made several podiums. I think we have a very good chance. The dream would really be to finish vice-champion. »

Especially since Le Manceau has never put his name on the podium of the European Championship: “It would be the apotheosis to make this podium overall. L'ELMS is a very popular and tough championship. We are all in a pinch with potentially two cars in a tenth in qualifying. It's very rewarding for us and we know that it's one of the best levels in the world in LM P2. It would be a great satisfaction, both for me who have never put my name on the overall podium of the European Championship, but also a great achievement for the team. »

Also read > 4 Hours of Portimão – The challenges of the ELMS final in Portugal