Fabien Michal, Pierre-Alexandre Provost and Hugo Schwarze master the Silverstone rain to close within nine points of CLX Motorsport
R-ACE GP secured its first European Le Mans Series victory after defeating championship leader CLX Motorsport in a rain-affected LMP3 contest at Silverstone.
“First season for R-ACE GP in ELMS and the first win for the line-up, and we are happy for everyone,” Fabien Michal said.
Michal shared the No. 85 Duqueine D09-Toyota with Pierre-Alexandre Provost and Hugo Schwarze, with the trio finishing 14.401 seconds ahead of the No. 17 CLX Motorsport Ligier.
The landmark result was also the first ELMS LMP3 victory for the third-generation Duqueine D09, breaking the dominance of the Ligier JS P325 used by most of the field.
Strategy In The Rain
R-ace GP started second in class behind the pole-sitting CLX car, with Paul Lanchère initially leading for the defending champions.
The arrival of rain during the race’s second hour created the defining strategic decision as teams attempted to judge how long the changing conditions would last.
Michal said the decision to change tyres when the rain arrived after the opening hour proved crucial to the team’s strategy.
Provost kept the No. 85 car within reach of CLX before Alexander Jacoby spun the leading Ligier on the exit of Village Corner.
The mistake cost CLX around 45 seconds and allowed Provost to take control of the category during the penultimate hour.
Provost described winning at Silverstone, his favourite circuit on the calendar, as a particularly special moment.
The Frenchman admitted the team had taken a risk with its tyre pressures while expecting less rain during the closing stages.
He said the team’s tyre-pressure gamble left him short of grip early in the stint and forced him to balance attacking CLX against surviving the difficult conditions.
Schwarze Brings It Home
Schwarze took over for the final stint with a healthy advantage, but Louis Iglesias began reducing the gap in the recovering CLX car.
Rather than becoming drawn into unnecessary risks, Schwarze concentrated on protecting the tyres and keeping the Duqueine on the road.
Schwarze said his first thought upon hearing that the gap had reached 26 seconds was to reduce the risks and bring the car home safely. When Iglesias began closing, he increased his pace without abandoning that controlled approach.
As the circuit began to dry, Schwarze was able to increase his pace and stabilise the lead before taking the chequered flag.
The improving circuit then allowed Schwarze to push the tyres harder, stabilise the gap and complete a victory he described as leaving the team over the moon.
The win reduced CLX Motorsport’s championship advantage to nine points, ensuring the LMP3 title will be decided at Portimão from 8 to 10 October.
R-ace GP enters the finale chasing a championship in its first ELMS season, while CLX is attempting to become the first team to claim a fourth title in the category.
