Vincent Vosse (BMW Team WRT): “I am not going to judge Kubica on a single racing event”

Of the four BMWs entered by WRT in 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024, only one LMGT3 was still running in the early morning. As for the Hypercars, responsible for accumulating the kilometers to better prepare for the engagement in 2025, the night was fatal. An identical fate for the M4 driven, in particular, by Valentino Rossi.

While car 20 was quietly waiting, in its box, for a more auspicious hour to claim its 'Art Car' status, car 15 was already well broken down. Saturday evening, Dries Vanthoor was harpooned by the Classic Ferrari for sale of Robert Kubica at the moment when the Pole, leader of the race, was going to take a lap from the Belgian. Will this unsporting maneuver, to say the least, taint the excellent relationships that Vosse and Kubica developed when they worked together?

“I am obviously not happy with the way Robert (Kubica, Editor’s note) attacked Dries (Vanthoor, Editor’s note)”, Vincent Vosse told us. “On this occasion, he was impetuous to say the least. But I don't want to judge the guy on a single racing event. Okay, it was hot. He was in the lead and was about to take a turn at Dries. Robert did something that should not be done. After his stint, he exchanged a text message with me. »

Did he apologize? “He exchanged a text message with me”, repeats Vosse, smiling. We will leave it there for the fate cast on the No. 15 BMW Hypercar. As for the 20, why didn't it return to the track after Fryns' error on Saturday evening?

“I won’t hide from you that we’ve had a pretty complicated week”, admits Vosse. “The next meeting of the WEC, it's in a month in Brazil. This requires preparation and parts. What would be the point of aligning the kilometers when we no longer have anything to hope for in the general classification? What's the point of taking unnecessary risks in these delicate conditions, dictated by capricious weather? »

Exit the 46

In LMGT3, the results for WRT/BMW are barely more positive. At this time, only number 31 was still on the track. And Vincent Vosse goes there with his analysis…

“I suppose you noticed that Martin (on the No. 46, Editor's note) and Farfus (on the No. 31, Editor's note) were unable to keep up with the pace of the best at the start of the race. Obviously they have some very good 'Bronze' drivers at Porsche ! If one of our cars took the lead, it was thanks to our strategy. It's a shame that a road accident put an end to Valentino Rossi's experience at the 24 Hours when one of his teammates went off the road. Until then, Ahmad Al Harthy had achieved excellent relays. Unfortunately, he was caught by a patch of humidity in the S of the forest while his car was fitted with slick tires. The M4 was not destroyed but following the impact, it suffered a pressure problem. »

ALSO READ > The list of retirements from the 24 2024 Hours of Le Mans