Team Virage driver and Co-Owner Julien Gerbi celebrated a magnificent performance last season by the Spanish based team. Not only did Team Virage secure the Michelin Le Mans Cup team and driver titles, with Gerbi securing the drivers' crown alongside Gillian Henrion, the team also won the Ligier European Series JS P4 title again, with Bernardo Pinheiro taking the runners up spot in the drivers’ championship, and also won the 2023 Ultimate Cup Series.
Julien Gerbi will race in the ELMS for the 2024 season alongside Bernardo Pinheiro in LMP3, with the team also running a car in the LMP2 Pro-Am category this season as well. However, Team Virage will defend their Team Title with a two car entry in the 2024 Michelin Le Mans Cup.
We caught up with Julien to talk about that successful 2023 season and look forward to the upcoming challenge starting at home in Barcelona in April.
Julien Gerbi:“Well, quite a lot actually. Just after the last race we had the last two Ultimate Cup races. We had two cars in Magny Cours, and three cars in Le Castellet; I was racing in one actually. Then straight to Malaysia, for the opening races of the Asian Le Mans Series, then back to Spain for some testing and we are now preparing the new season.
“So, we stopped a little bit for Christmas, which was a very welcome break, but we've been flat out in all the working weeks since Portimao. Actually, we haven’t even had time for a proper party yet!”
JG: “It meant a lot in different ways. As the team manager and co-owner of the team, it was the achievement of six years of very hard work. We wanted and needed ato demonstrate that that we were competitive in LMP3. We had shown that we were competitive, but we never really achieved the result in a big championship. So, it was important for us to prove to the people that we were able to do it.
“It was important for our guys as well, who are pushing really hard for several years, to finally get the proper result in a major championship. So that was the first point.
“Then as a driver, it was a very special feeling. I had given up on racing for over 10 years and I was not expecting to come back full-time; even less to go for this kind of championship and for a title. So, it was a bit like having a dream come true after having lost it.”
JG: “Driving wise, in the Le Mans Cup and in the ELMS, both cars are same, they're using the same tyre, so this will be similar. But in the racing part and in the approach, it is very different.
“In the ELMS the races are longer, it is more of an endurance.The time in the car is longer, you're racing with two other drivers, you have more pitstops, more strategy. So, the approach has to be a bit different. Le Mans Cup is closer to a “long sprint” format, where you usually have more close fights. So, the approach has to be more of consistency, knowing when to push, knowing when to save tyres and fuel, anticipating more."
JG: “Yes, this is this is a big part of the of the championship, especially for the LMP3. You are overtaking GT3s and you get overtaken by LMP2s.
“In Le Mans Cup usually with the cautions and with the fact that the bronze driver is only racing for one hour, you don't really get into the traffic of GTs. So, it's just a pure fight for positions during the green flag laps until your driver change. In the ELMS, you really need to know how not to lose too much time overtaking the GTs, not to lose too much time getting passed by the LMP2s and not getting involved in some unfortunate incident with these two categories.”
JG: “I know Bernardo well because he's been with us since the second part of 2022 in JS P4 and in LMP3. Last year we've been working together in the Ligier European Series and during the testing programme. However, we've not raced together as a line-up yet, so it will be a first in Barcelona.
“He is a young driver who joined us with very little international car experience, no prototype experience, and who kept on improving and progressing since day 1. We get along very well (I hope he agrees with that) and we understand each other because we share a similar approach to racing, which is not going all in from the beginning, but going step by step and, and getting to know the situation because before really starting to push. He’s taking things step by step, progressing step by step and every time that he was, in a situation this season that he needed to deliver, he was very competitive.
“So, I am sure to have a good performance and a good collaboration with him.”
JG: “We will join the series with two cars. I will not be racing in the Le Mans Cup as I will concentrate on the ELMS this season. However, we have two very good line-ups with the very clear objective to fight for the title again.”
JG: “Definitely Portimao, and my first reason is the pure driving layout. The track is really nice, it has a combination of high-speed corners, which go up and downhill, and some pretty big braking areas as well. So, it's really the kind of track that I appreciate.
“Then there is also a sentimental thing, because, of course, of winning the title there last year and because I did my first ELMS race there in 2020. So I have a special relationship with this track. It's also Bernardo’s home track as well and the region is super nice.”
JG: “It's a nice track. The layout is a bit old style in a similar way to Portimao with some ups and downs, some high-speed corners and less room for mistakes. So, it should be fun. And there is a very nice restaurant close to the track where I always like to go.”
JG: “There are a lot of competitive line-ups from the names that we've seen on the entry list. We can see different cars which can go for the win."
“However, last year proved that things can change very quickly from one weekend to another. In those four-hour races it will be key to be the one being the most consistent and making fewer mistakes.
“So, we will try to do this race after race, and we will see at the end of the season where we are.”
JG: “Well, last year was very positive because we won the Le Mans Cup, we won the Ligier European Series, and we won the Ultimate Cup. The only championship that we've not won is the ELMS, so I'd say the goal is to fix this situation in 2024.”
