Status Grand Prix is all set for this weekend’s 6 Hours of Silverstone round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, with French brothers Julien and Maxime Jousse once again joining Britain’s Alexander Sims on the driving strength. On a track that is within earshot of its Silverstone base, Status GP is confident of returning to the form that carried its Lola-Judd B12/80 Coupe to third place in the opening European Le Mans Series round at Paul Ricard.
This is the second time that the Jousse brothers have joined Sims at Status GP. They teamed up for the ELMS round at Donington Park last month, although unfortunately they did not finish the race. This Sunday the trio is hopeful of fighting for a podium position in the LMP2 class, even if Status GP – which has focused on the ELMS and the Le Mans 24 Hours this year – is not registered for FIA WEC points.
Sims has a very strong record at Silverstone, taking race wins in Formula 3 there in 2010 and ’11 and in Formula Renault in ’08, and podium finishes with Status GP in GP3 last year. He is also enjoying the boost of a victory on a one-off F3 return last weekend at the Nurburgring.
Julien Jousse also has plenty of experience of the famed British Grand Prix venue – he raced there with the Pescarolo team on his way to victory in the 2011 Le Mans Series, and competed beforehand at the track in Superleague Formula and World Series by Renault.
Younger brother Maxime Jousse has never competed on the current layout of Silverstone, but won a Formula Palmer Audi race on the older version of the GP track. He joined his two team-mates in the simulator on Wednesday, in part to gain some knowledge of the new circuit.
Free practice takes place on Friday at 1130 and 1600 and on Saturday at 1100, with qualifying on Saturday at 1450 and the race on Sunday at 1200.
DRIVER QUOTES
Alexander Sims: “Our speed should be good this weekend so I expect our car to be in the hunt in qualifying. Making it to the finish of the race is something that has eluded us the last couple of times, but we’ve now found the issues and addressed them. I know Silverstone pretty well and I’ve always got on well there. I really think that my pace and the car’s speed will be good, so I’m confident of a good result for Status GP.”
Julien Jousse: “I like the track and I’ve raced many times there, although last year it was our most difficult weekend on the way to the LMS title. Silverstone will be much better for the Lola car than our last race at Donington. My only concern is the weather, especially if practice is wet and the race is dry. You never know what will happen, but we just have to do our best and fight for a good result.”
Maxime Jousse: “I have never raced on the new track at Silverstone, but it’s only three or four corners different to the old one so I don’t see a problem. It’s going to be good and I’m really looking forward to the weekend. As with Julien, my biggest concern is the weather. I like the rain, but it’s not what you need when you are gaining confidence and mileage in a car that is new to you. But I hope we can do a good job.”
Source : Status GP