First edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Théo Pourchaire in the LMP2 category. New circuit, new category, and above all a new challenge for the Grassois, who handled it like a pro.
After a few races in the European LeMans Series (ELMS) for Théo Pourchaire, the Grassois made his debut in one of the most legendary events in motorsport: The 24 Hours of Le Mans. This time at the wheel of an LMP2 from his team Algarve Pro Racing, he positioned well right from the start of the weekend. While completely discovering the Circuit de la Sarthe, the number 25 placed 31st out of sixty-two cars and tenth in the category with a time of 3:38.525.
It was then time for the qualifications, and our French driver took the wheel. He secured the first Hyperpole qualification of his career by recording the seventh-best time of 3:36.612. A performance that delighted the driver, who didn’t fail to thank his supporters: “you motivated me like never before, and regardless of tomorrow’s race results, I’ll forever remember my first 24 hours of Le Mans.” Free practice sessions 2 and 3 placed them 29th and 34th, with the Frenchman’s teammates in the car.
Unfortunately, in hyperpole 1, his teammate Lorenzo Fluxa couldn’t do better than last place. They would start 33rd on the grid for the race start. The last free practice session 4 was less positive with a 57th place.
The dive into the deep end
The driver to take the start of these 24H was indeed Théo Pourchaire. He had a good start as he gained a position, although he eventually lost it a few corners later. He maintained his twelfth place in LMP2, up until the sixteenth minute. He lost a place to Esteban Masson and moved to 34th overall.
The Grassois was running about two seconds slower than the first car in his category. After 30 minutes, a collision between two cars allowed Théo Pourchaire to gain two positions. The first fuel stop came at the thirty-fifth minute, leaving him in 34th overall. Towards the end of his first stint, the driver complained of grip issues.
An accident that cost the podium
Back at the wheel around 10 p.m., the car had sustained damage between his two stints. The stop took longer as a result, and they returned far behind. No safety car or full course yellow (slowdown under yellow flag, ed.) helped in a possible comeback, setting the tone for the rest of the race. His stint was calm, remaining thirteenth in his category.
The final stretch
He regained the wheel around 11:30 a.m., being eleventh in LMP2 and in the top 30 overall. He regained a few positions but had one more stop than the cars ahead. He moved up to ninth until the United Motorsport car ahead of him entered the pits, allowing him to take eighth place. A second full course yellow came with 2 hours and 19 minutes remaining, and the cars in front pitted, allowing him to gain a position. He pitted a lap later, adding only fuel, and came out eighth.
Two cars ahead of him pitted, allowing him to retake sixth place. However, this was short-lived as he returned to the pit a lap later. The car emerged in eighth position, marking the end of the stint and the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Théo Pourchaire. With thirty-seven stops, a best lap of 3:37.181, Algarve Pro Racing number 25 finished eighth in LMP2 and twenty-sixth in the overall standings.
