Jules Gounon: “We are the real outsiders”

For his discovery of 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2019, Jules Gounon had been integrated into the crew Risi Competition with Pipo Derani and Oliver Jarvis, for a first participation marked by recurring and insoluble mechanical problems throughout the week.

His return to Sarthe this year, still with the American team, will take place in the company of a shock duo with Sébastien Bourdais and Olivier Pla, two sizes of endurance.

“It’s a chance to ride with two legends, the Ardéchois told us before the first runs. When I was younger, I watched Sébastien and Olivier ride in the prototypes, and being able to ride with them is a dream. »

As with several crews, preparation for the event was largely disrupted by the current situation, apart from a short shakedown of the car. And the failed experience of 2019 cannot serve as a useful basis for the Frenchman.

“We did the best we could, but we had problems that we couldn't necessarily explain, recalls the official Bentley GT3 driver. Last year it was a very private program. This year, it's more supported by the factory, and we've already had meetings with Ferrari since our arrival on the circuit.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to ride in the car before the race. We said to ourselves that in terms of pure pace, we will lack it against the others, but our luck may be that we are the real outsiders, and that we have no pressure.

By paying attention, without making mistakes, by making good saves, you can be there. The weather conditions are uncertain. There are a lot of nights, a lot of amateurs who haven't ridden much. Many parameters must be taken into account. We want to run a clean race. »

The Ferrari – Risi joins a GTE Pro contingent where the Italian cars will be the most numerous against the two Porsche and both Aston Martin, since in addition to the two 488 GTE – AF Corse and the Risi Competizione example, there is added the WeatherTech Racing car of Vilander – MacNeil – Segal, which should not however play in front of the regular in the category.

Hence a possible great opportunity for the French trio, with Gounon also able to count on his experience of endurance events.. “I must have done more than ten races of this type, specifies the son of Jean-Marc Gounon.

Each time, we learn things, and we discover. Last year I discovered it here. It's a bit like Spa, Bathurst, or the Nürburgring, you also have to respect the track. »