The Thiriet by TDS Racing slowed down in Austria!

For the first time in its history, the European Le Mans Series welcomed a closed LM P2 with the arrival of the Thiriet by TDS Racing Ligier JS P2! After great debuts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a second place in the category, the 2012 champion arrived in Austria as a leader of the championship. 

After having run the two first rounds of the season with a Morgan Nissan, the team discovered its new car on a very different track. After the free practices devoted to the setting of the car, Tristan Gommendy set the third fastest time of the qualifying practice session after having the virtual pole position several times... 

Pierre Thiriet took a safe start and just lost one place at the first corner. Throughout his stint, he fought with two other cars but secured his 4th place thanks to great manoeuvres “My first stint went well even if the battles were sometimes tough. I succeeded in keeping a place that allowed us to target the victory, knowing I am the least experienced driver of the team and that I managed to fight with Gold drivers”. After his amazing stint, he handed over to Ludovic Badey after 50 minutes of race. 

Unfortunately, after few laps, a brake disc broke at one of the fastest places of the track! Thanks to its dexterity, the driver from Lyon did not hit anything and came back to the pit. “I handed over to Pierre and, very quickly, I broke a brake disc in the second corner of the circuit, one of the quickest places of the circuit and one of the biggest breakings. I went straight on and had a spin. I succeeded in bringing the car back to the pit and the mechanics changed the brake disc. Unfortunately, we lost time. ”

After a very quick intervention of the mechanics, he went back on the track but shortly after, he had a new technical problem. At the same place, a stub axle broke. Ludovic was not able to go back to the pits and had to retire after only more than one hour of race. « Then, the rear left stub axlebroke and I lost the wheel as well as the disc. It was impossible to bring the car back, we retired! »  

Once again, the team has shown its efficiency and the drivers their skills behind the wheel. Technical problems came to fade the good result that seemed to come. Now, the team is going to enjoy the summer break to come back even stronger for the fourth round which will take place in France, on Paul Ricard track, next 13th and 14th September! 

Ludovic Badey:«These issues are part of the race but it is a shame to lose a race due to supposed reliable parts! Moreover, these breakages are very occasional. We lost valuable points. But what happened to us can happen to the others. Two races are still to be run, the championship is not over! “  

Pierre Thiriet :« Unfortunately, we had two serious technical issues. We broke a disc and the rear left stub axle. We have not scored any points. Two races have to be run, we are going to show the potential of the car which is very important, as well as the one of the team and the drivers...! »  

Tristan Gommendy: «We are still discovering the car and there are still things we have to understand. There is work to do in collaboration with Onroak Automotive for the end of the season. Regarding the team itself, it did a great job. We got the most from the car this weekend. In the qualifying practice session, I could have improved a bit more but to be as fast as the Zytek was not possible.  Regarding the race, Pierre did a great stints, he managed to be in the same pace than the leading drivers. He was aggressive without taking too many risks. However, manoeuvres from some drivers can be deplored!

We are happy with our work, we gave our best. We now have to focus on the next race in Le Castellet and not to think too much to the problems we had here. We have to go ahead and prepare to win the last races if we want to be champions. We were hunted, we have become hunters. That is the kind of position I like! »