GT World Challenge Europe finale awaits Louis

Louis Delétraz will tackle his final sports car race of 2020 when he takes to the Circuit Paul Ricard asphalt for the last round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup this weekend.

The Swiss driver will rejoin the GPX Racing squad in France and will partner Romain Dumas and Thomas Preining in a factory-supported Porsche 911 GT3-R.

This weekend’s 1000km endurance race will mark the third time Louis, a member of the GPX Academy, has driven for the team this season. He helped the #40 car to a P10 finish at Imola in July and P11 at the iconic 24 Hours of Spa last month.

Circuit Paul Ricard is a happy hunting ground for Louis, following previous podium success in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. And it’s also where his new foray into endurance racing first got underway.

“It’s been a hugely enjoyable debut sports car programme for me with GPX Racing and finishing at Imola and Spa has been encouraging,” Louis said.

“I know Paul Ricard pretty well and it’s a cool track for me. I enjoy racing there and it’s where I first tested with GPX Racing and Porsche in a GT3 car back in February. It’s a place that will definitely bring back good memories.”

Louis spent close to eight enjoyable hours behind the wheel at Spa Francorchamps and had to draw on some of the valuable experience he gained when he finished P4 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in September.

The requirements at this weekend’s six-hour race in Southern France will be considerably different for Louis, however, and more akin to what he used to.

“We will have stints of about an hour each, which is a bit like in Formula 2. But there’s much less tyre saving and you can just push and push,” he explained.

“Hopefully I can learn from my previous events and continue to gain more valuable experience in a GT3 car this weekend.”

A 90-minute Free Practice session will kick Louis’ racing weekend off, starting at 08.00 on Saturday. The three-stage qualifying will get underway at 17.20 that afternoon. The 1000km race will go green at 11.45 on Sunday (times are CET).

RACE RESULTS