Bleekemolen: “24 hours to win, 24 hours to be disqualified”

By climbing to the top of the podium last Sunday in GTE Am, Jeroen Bleekemolen thought he had secured his second category victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, après une première victoire en LM P2 en 2008 sur le Porsche Sypder RS du Van Merksteijn Motorsport.

But a little more than 24 hours after this highest step, the Dutchman and his teammates Ben Keating and Felipe Fraga, entered in the No. 85 Ford GT – Keating Motorsports had the unpleasant surprise of being disqualified for a tank exceeding the capacity set by the Balance of Performance.

The first private outing of a Ford GT therefore turned from a dream into a nightmare for the American team, which had already taken 3rd place in GTE Am in 2018 with a Ferrari 488. « It's a roller coaster full of emotions, comments Bleekemolen. It took us 24 hours to win the race, 24 hours to get disqualified, and 24 hours to move on.

It was very difficult to take into account, but I am very proud of the race we achieved. Rules are rules and we did not comply. Let's come back stronger and make sure the result still counts Monday night after the race next time. A big thank you to the whole team ! I can’t wait to return to Le Mans. »

Keating Motorsports will not appeal the decision. Ford Chip Ganassi Racing was also affected by an exclusion with the #68 of Bourdais – Hand – Müller, sanctioned for similar reasons and thus losing 4th place in the GTE Pro category.

Discover the full report and analysis of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, produced by our special correspondents in Sarthe, in issue 2221 of AUTOhebdo, available now in digital version and on newsstands.