Team Virage celebrated a successful weekend in Mugello as the ELMS raced at the iconic Italian circuit for the first time. The Tuscan hills provided a stunning backdrop for the team’s hard-fought victory in the LMP3 category, marking their second win of the season. Both cars faced a range of conditions and challenges, but the team’s resilience and strategy paid off with impressive results.
Thursday marked the beginning of action with a full day of testing. Drivers had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the challenging Mugello circuit during the morning and afternoon sessions. The #19 car quickly found its pace, finishing P3 in the first session and topping the timesheets with P1 in the second. Meanwhile, the #8 car placed P5 and P10 in the respective sessions.
Friday delivered a dramatic mix of sunshine and heavy rain. In FP1, the #8 car made further gains, securing P3, while the #19 car faced a setback with an early incident that kept it out of the session for the rest of the day. During the Bronze Test, Julien Gerbi expertly handled the wet conditions, placing the #8 car in P1 and setting the tone for what would be a strong weekend.
The #8 car, driven by Julien Gerbi, Bernardo Pinheiro, and Gillian Henrion, delivered a standout performance by topping the timing sheets and finishing P1 in FP2. The #19 car, with Tristan Vautier, Raphael Narac, and Georgios Kolovos, rebounded from the previous day’s incident and finished P3, building momentum for qualifying. In the intense battle for grid positions, Kolovos secured P6 for the #19 car in the LMP2 PRO/AM class, while Henrion qualified the #8 car in P8 for the LMP3 race.
Sunday’s race proved to be a thrilling affair for Team Virage. The #8 car, starting from P8 in LMP3, faced a steep challenge but immediately began moving through the field. With multiple incidents and a red flag shaking up the order, the team’s strategy came into play. Gerbi and Pinheiro executed their stints with precision, and Henrion’s fuel management allowed the car to make one fewer pit stop than its rivals. This critical advantage enabled the team to climb to P1, taking the checkered flag and securing their second win of the ELMS season.
The #19 car also made a strong start, with Kolovos gaining two positions early in the race. Excellent fuel economy allowed the car to lead the race at one point, but despite solid drives from Narac and Vautier, the team was hit with bad luck when the safety cars didn’t fall in their favour. As a result, the #19 car finished P6 in the LMP2 PRO/AM category, still showing competitive pace but unable to capitalize on their early race performance.
With the LMP3 championship still within reach, Team Virage is looking ahead to the final round of the season in Portimão.
