24h. of Spa: Goueslard aims for the podium

Audi, Aston Martin, BMW, McLaren, Porsche, Mercedes or even Ferrari (among others?), many brands will aim for victory next week at the 24 Hours of Spa, during an event whose starting grid will be made up of 70 cars. If some competitors only come to freelance, others play big in Blancpain Endurance Series, because the event yields double the points of a classic round. This is the case of Team Sofrev-ASP ​​which will enter two Ferrari 458 Italia GT3s, including the No. 10 which will see Patrice Goueslard, Julien Jousse and Olivier Pla taking turns. With such a trio, Jérôme Policand's team can allow themselves to dream. But Patrice Goueslard is well aware that even if he is supported by two young people who are as fast as they are reliable, the task promises to be difficult, especially since the FIA ​​has decided to penalize the beautiful Italian with 25 kg of additional ballast.

“At the 24 Hours of Spa, it’s a bit like at Le Mans: there are the factories and the private individuals, underlines the Caennais pilot. I wonder who will be able to beat Audi with factory drivers and Dr. Ullrich as manager? But we have our chance... With a view to the championship, there will be a ranking and points awarded every 6 hours. For my part, I achieved (during the test day, editor's note) a time of 2:23:5 with a full tank of fuel, which gives me a good race time. I'm happy to team up with two young, friendly and professional drivers. If the mechanical gods are with us, maybe I could repeat my 2002 podium? »

That year, Patrice Goueslard, Sébastian Bourdais and Sébastien Dumez finished second in the event on a Viper GTS-R from the Larbre Compétition team.