The 2019 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans mile stoned for the first time the end of the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as the second WEC podium finish for TDS Racing. The eight rounds of the 2018/2019 Super Season lead to all kind of mixed feelings and emotions within the team, from harsh disappointing to great joy today at the Le Mans. The #28 car finished twice just one place off the podium in Spa 2018 and Fuji, 5th at Spa 2019, it took 7th place in Silverstone and very disappointing result in Le Mans 2018. In addition Shanghai and Sebring were DNF races. The team was therefore over motivated to finish the season on a high note, and what for a high note : François Perrodo, Matthieu Vaxiviere and Loïc Duval on the third step of the 2019 LMP2 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A wonderful reward for the team
Xavier Combet: Our Super Season was made of ups and downs. We were able to show very good competitiveness, sometimes we failed to succeed and sometimes we were unlucky. So, finishing the season on the 24-Hours of Le Mans LMP2 podium with François, Matthieu and Loïc is a great reward, for them and for the complete team. The race was difficult because competition is very high in WEC LMP2. Here at Le Mans, the team that are ahead of us, as well as those that are behind all have Platinium, Gold and Silver driver line-ups. Loïc and Matthieu really did the job but the real revelation is that François never drove as well as he did today. He managed to keep the car on the top places, our mechanics and engineers prepared a good car and we did not get into any technical nor mechanical trouble. We managed the opportunities and the strategies, and ending up on the podium is just the best reward.
To see a Bronze driver on the 24H podium is also very good for the LMP2 category, as this class needs them to exist. So if we, LMP2 team can go on supplying this kind of challenge to this level of drivers, and see them benefit from us, then it’s good for all the parties, teams, drivers and organisation.
Successful mission.
Loïc Duval: I am very happy to end up our chapter this way. We competed in the full Super Season together, we have had some hard times and huge disappointments, so ending it with a Le Mans Podium is just very nice. To be honest, when I started with François, my goal was to take him on the podium at one point. We did a good race and we knew if we managed well fuel and tires we could be up front, as we have shown in the past. We worked very well the three of us, demonstrated that we could be fast and efficient and Francois progressed incredibly in one year. Of course it’s a team work but for him it’s an even more important personal improvement. And a P2 Podium in Le Mans is always a good step in a driver career. And I loved to step on that podium with Matthieu. I will never forget his huge disappointment last year, to only finish 4th just a few seconds from the 3rd step. One year later, we have demonstrated that we really have the competitiveness.
Pride and happiness.
Matthieu Vaxiviere: We did a good race and I am very happy to have taken François to this Le Mans podium. The Super Season is ending in the best possible way, because we had a lot of fun all together at TDS Racing over the last three years (with Emmanuel Collard in 2016). Of course third is good and of course my objectives is to step further up next time. This result is good for each person in the team who deserves it, be it mechanics, engineers or any other person in the team who has help us make it happen. In addition it’s a new line on my résumé, and that’s always good.
The loop was completed.
François Perrodo: We started our LMP2 story with TDS Racing in 2016 and stepped on the podium of our first WEC race in Silverstone (with Manu Collard and Matthieu), and we end it up today with our second WEC podium in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Super Season was a little difficult for me, but if one had said that it would end this way… it would not have bothered me at all!
The LMP2 prototypes are incredible cars, and I have to admit it has been hard on me sometimes. But I love to know I have lived the Golden Age of LMP2. I love these cars, I love the TDS Racing team as we shared some great times all together with the team and the drivers, and for sure I will miss them. But for the coming season, which is to start very soon, I have decided to go back to GT racing and that way back in my comfort zone. I would like to thank everyone for the great experience we shared.
Source. Mapidu Media/Photo. Clément Marin
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