Bourdais Chronicle: “These long months of hardship are behind me today”

Winner of a hair-raising race in Saint-Petersburg (Florida), Sébastien Bourdais looks back at the circumstances which allowed him to achieve a second consecutive success on this urban route. “A very funny weekend,” recalls Le Manceau. We were disappointed by my 14th place on the starting grid because we knew we could do better (he was hampered during his only attempt on soft tires. Editor's note). »

“We knew the car had more potential than this result suggested, and we proved it in the race, because if Red and Wickens held on (two laps from the finish, during the last restart. Editor’s note), we still managed to climb to third place, which would have already been a magnificent result in itself. However, everything did not start very well since Zachary (Claman DeMelo, his teammate. Editor’s note) cut my right rear tire in the first corner, which relegated me to last position, but a good strategy and my fuel-efficient driving allowed us to come back. »

This victory felt like a deliverance for the former pilot Toro Rosso en Formula 1. “All alone in my car, I am forced to admit that I exploded internally. All of a sudden, my Indy 500 qualifying accident was definitively filed away in the bad memories category. These long months of hardship are now behind me and that feels good. Then, when I got out of the car, I shared this with my loved ones, who were very supportive. »

Some things are just meant to be. #INDYCAR #firestoneGP @BourdaisOnTrack @dalecoyneracing @SealMasterNet @americanracing @prosupps @SportClips @MouserRacing @molexconnectors @getspectrum @Valpakcoupons #sebastienbourdais #vsindycar pic.twitter.com/YECKHXVqCW

—Vasser Sullivan IndyCar (@vsindycar) March 19, 2018

Sébastien Bourdais, however, had less success during the 12 Hours of Serbing (Florida), which he contested with Ford Chip Ganassi in GTLM (retirement due to technical problem). “It was impossible to compete with the BMW, which was clearly head and shoulders above the rest. Best lap, average over a relay or even top speed, it was untouchable. The rest of the peloton holds together, but I don't understand howImsa justifies such an advantage granted to a car. The M8 GTE is 45 kg lighter than the Ford, benefits from an 8 liter larger fuel tank, not to mention much more generous boost pressure. »