Jules, how do you feel about being here in Fuji for your third race of the season with Alpine?
I am very happy to be back with the team and in Hypercar. It is a category that makes you dream, it is the F1 of Endurance with so many manufacturers, fans, exposure, etc. It is a category that every professional driver wants to be in. I am lucky to be here thanks to Alpine.
Was your presence in the race this weekend agreed in advance with the team?
Yes, it was planned in our contract agreements at the beginning of the year with Alpine, with Mercedes-AMG and myself. It was agreed that after Le Mans, since the priority was for the drivers to prepare as well as possible for this meeting, if there was no championship objective for the drivers, I would have a chance to participate in one of the events that followed the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Interlagos was close to Le Mans, Austin was not necessarily suitable, Fuji was therefore the ideal place to “start” the Hypercar project (participations in Imola and Spa were not planned and resulted from Ferdinand Habsburg’s injury. Editor’s note). What was also complicated was that I had date conflicts with the other races. Thanks to Mercedes-AMG for letting me do it, to Alpine for giving me my chance and to Paul-Loup for letting me gain experience in this race.
What are you looking forward to this weekend?
I hope to continue learning. I have a lot of experience in Endurance, but I have only done two prototype races in my life at the beginning of the year. It is a category that has nothing to do with it. Even if I have not driven much (two fifty-minute races. Editor’s note), in particular because of the circumstances of the race, I have learned. I have not driven since Spa, so it has been six months since I set foot in a prototype. My goal is to learn step by step with a learning curve to follow to allow me to get closer to what I can do in GT. It is something that will really come with time and experience. I hope to gradually trust myself for this.
Will you need time to readapt?
To go fast, you have to understand the car and be one with it. I did a day of testing in Barcelona, another at Motorland (Aragon. Ed.), both races while the other drivers in the team have, for some, two or three years of Hypercar, the development of last year as well as this season. I did a few laps at Paul-Ricard before Le Mans in case Ferdinand did not feel fit for Le Mans, but only six. That’s quite a dry spell, but I’ve driven quite a lot with Mercedes-AMG in between, so it’s not like I haven’t done anything.
What differences do you see between the GT and the Hypercar?
There are similarities between GT and Hypercar, but the former is more comfortable than the latter in slow corners. I could see that at Spa and Imola. On the other hand, the Hypercar has much more power and goes much faster in a straight line and in fast corners.
What is the most difficult thing to understand, the hybrid management or the lack of ABS?
Each category has its own specificity. The most complicated thing in a Hypercar is that you have to think a lot. The team has few data channels while driving, so we have to inform them about what parameters we are on, etc. You have to be able to think at the same time as driving at 330 km/h. ABS is especially important for me, who comes from GT, because most of the drivers come from LM P2 and don’t have this difference. It has always been one of my qualities to be able to adapt very quickly, I also tend to think too much in a car. I almost want to say that I have more fun than in GT where we drive at 110% to look for the last tenth, whereas in Hypercar, there is a much wider spectrum of settings with all the parameters that we can influence as a driver.
This must have given you some revision after these last few months…
Yes, there are 70 pages of manual! Just yesterday (Wednesday) evening, Michelle (Gatting, his partner, Iron Dames driver in GT3. Editor’s note) asked me to stop reading it. I had the chance to do a bit of simulator before coming here in order to review some parameters. The simulator being based in Paris, we found a session while I was driving at Magny-Cours one weekend in GT World Challenge (August 22-25. Editor’s note). After the race (pole position, fastest lap in the race, third. Editor’s note) and the podium, it was 4:20 p.m. At 4:30 p.m., I had left for AO Tech. I arrived at 7:00 p.m. and I did simulator on Fuji until 11:00 p.m. before the team left for Austin (Texas). This allowed me to get back into the swing of things, especially with the procedures.
Is there a chance we’ll see you again this season with Alpine?
It’s not up to me to decide, but I’ll try to keep doing my job and I hope to have the chance to drive the car again in the future. I hope the team appreciates the work I can do with a different vision, because all the other drivers in the team are more prototype-oriented compared to me. I try to bring something extra with my humble GT experience.
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Jules Gounon Returns to Alpine Hypercar Lineup at Fuji
French racing driver Jules Gounon is set to make his return to the FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar lineup at the upcoming 6 Hours of Fuji, replacing Paul-Loup Chatin in the #35 Alpine Hypercar [[1]] [[2]] [[3]]. This will be Gounon’s third race of the season with Alpine, following his previous appearances at Imola and Spa.
In a recent interview, Gounon expressed his enthusiasm about returning to the Hypercar category, stating, “I am very happy to be back with the team and in Hypercar. It is a category that makes you dream, it is the F1 of Endurance with so many manufacturers, fans, exposure, etc. It is a category that every professional driver wants to be in.” He also credited Alpine for giving him the opportunity to participate in the event.
Gounon’s presence in the race was planned in advance with the team, as part of his contract agreement at the beginning of the year. He had date conflicts with other races, but thanks to Mercedes-AMG, he was able to participate in the Fuji event. He expressed his gratitude to the team and to Paul-Loup Chatin for allowing him to gain experience in the race.
As Gounon prepares for the 6 Hours of Fuji, he hopes to continue learning and improving his skills in the Hypercar category. Despite having only done two prototype races in his life, he has learned a lot and is eager to continue his learning curve. He has not driven a prototype since Spa, so he is looking forward to getting back behind the wheel and adapting to the car.
When asked about the differences between GT and Hypercar, Gounon noted that the former is more comfortable in slow corners, while the latter has more power and speed in straight lines and fast corners. He also mentioned that the most complicated thing about driving a Hypercar is having to think a lot while driving at high speeds, as the team has limited data channels.
Gounon has been preparing for the race by reviewing the Hypercar manual, which spans 70 pages, and participating in simulator sessions. He completed a session in Paris before heading to Fuji, where he reviewed parameters and practiced driving on the track.
With his return to the Hypercar lineup, Gounon is ready to take on the challenge and continue his learning journey in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Source:
Jules Gounon: Returning to Hypercar with Alpine at Fuji
Jules Gounon, a 29-year-old French racing driver, is set to make his third appearance of the season with Alpine in the Hypercar category at the Fuji circuit, Japan. In a recent interview, Gounon shared his thoughts on returning to Hypercar with Alpine, his experience so far, and what he’s looking forward to this weekend.
A Dream Come True
Gounon expressed his excitement about being back with Alpine in Hypercar, a category that he considers the “F1 of Endurance.” He believes that every professional driver wants to be part of this prestigious category, and he feels fortunate to have the opportunity to compete with Alpine [3].
Contract Agreement
Gounon revealed that his presence in the race this weekend was agreed upon in advance with Alpine, Mercedes-AMG, and himself. The contract agreement included participating in one of the events following the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Fuji was the ideal choice due to its scheduling and his availability <a href="https://motori.corriereadriatico.it/motorsport/wecalfujitornasullalpinea424lmdhgounonprenderapostodichatin-8343812.html”>[2].
Learning and Adaptation
Gounon has limited experience in Hypercar, having only participated in two prototype races earlier this year. He plans to continue learning and adapting to the Hypercar, which he considers a completely different category from GT. He has not driven a prototype since Spa, so he’s eager to get back behind the wheel and gain more experience.
Differences between GT and Hypercar
Gounon highlighted the differences between GT and Hypercar, noting that the latter has more power and goes much faster in straight lines and fast corners. However, GT is more comfortable in slow corners, which he experienced firsthand at Spa and Imola.
Challenges in Hypercar
Gounon identified the most challenging aspects of driving a Hypercar as thinking ahead and adapting to the lack of ABS. He believes that his ability to adapt quickly will be an asset in Hypercar, but it requires a different mindset compared to GT.
Preparation and Goals
Before Fuji, Gounon participated in testing sessions at Barcelona and Motorland (Aragon) to acclimate himself to the Hypercar. His goal is to continue learning and improving his skills in Hypercar, and he’s confident that his experience with Mercedes-AMG will help him adapt to the new car.
As Gounon takes to the track at Fuji this weekend, he’s prepared to face the challenges of Hypercar and make the most of his opportunity with Alpine. With his determination and adaptability, he’s sure to make a strong impression in the highly competitive Hypercar category.
About Jules Gounon
Jules Gounon is a French racing driver born on December 31, 1994, in Aubenas, France [1]. He has a strong background in endurance racing, competing in various championships, including the FIA WEC and GT World Challenge Europe. Gounon has a proven track record of success, and his return to Hypercar with Alpine is highly anticipated.
