The 6th and final round of the 2021 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) took place on the stunning and challenging Portimao Circuit in Portugal. Known for its technical layout and breathtaking elevation changes, Portimao proved to be a real test for both drivers and teams. Unfortunately, DUQUEINE Team faced a difficult end to their season, with Oreca #30 forced to retire just 30 minutes into the race after an accident involving Memo Rojas.
The team started preparations on Thursday, with collective testing under warm conditions. The engineers, mechanics, and drivers worked closely together to set the car up for the circuit. During the free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday morning, the team worked hard to find the right balance for the Oreca #30.
René Binder, the Austrian driver, was once again tasked with getting the best possible qualifying time for the team. Despite having three laps canceled for track limits at Turn 1, Binder remained focused and managed to qualify DUQUEINE Team in 11th position. Although not the result they were hoping for, the team remained positive thanks to their strong practice performances.
The 4-hour race began at 1 PM, with Memo Rojas taking the wheel for the opening stint. As always, the first few turns were tense, with several close calls, wheel rubs, and off-track moments. However, Memo managed to avoid the chaos and gained two positions, moving up to 9th.
Unfortunately, this promising start was short-lived. After just 30 minutes, Memo suffered a left rear wheel failure at the final corner, leading to a spin and a sequence of unfortunate events. Another car was involved in the incident, but most importantly, both drivers emerged unharmed. This premature retirement dashed the team’s hopes for a strong finish to the race.
Although the early retirement from the race was a bitter disappointment, it’s important to recognize that DUQUEINE Team finished an impressive 5th in the overall ELMS championship standings. In a highly competitive series, this is a solid result, and the team’s dedication throughout the season was clear. Despite the unfortunate end to their campaign, the performances over the year have shown their potential and commitment.
Although the season ended on a disappointing note, DUQUEINE Team is already looking forward to the 2022 season. The hard work and resilience demonstrated by the team throughout the year have positioned them well for future challenges. With renewed focus and determination, DUQUEINE Team will return even stronger, ready to tackle a new season full of challenges.
We look forward to seeing you in 2022. Thank you for your support throughout the season!
A big dissappointment and a shocking moment to end our 2021 ELMS season here in Portimao: Having started 11th on the grid my team mate, Memo Rojas, lost his wheel in the fast right hander leading into the start finish straight. His four-fold spin caused a brutal accident of LMP3 driver, Andreas Laskaratos, who crashed into the pitwall but, thank god, survived that crash almost unjured. We all know that our DUQUEINE Team was defeated far below our true potential this weekend but in this moment I have no idea, why our package was not competitive here.
The race did not go as expected. However, everything had started well. Memo gained 2 positions. But we quickly realized that the race pace was not what we hoped for, however we continued to fight. Unfortunately after 15 laps, Memo lost his wheel and spun around which signaled the end of the race.
While we could fight for the 2nd place in the championship, this retirement puts us in 5th place. We can still be proud of this 5th place because this year, the championship was very tough.
So we are P5 in the championship, I’m happy with that, but today we could have fought for second place in the championship. Unfortunately, 30min after the start, I lost a wheel and the race ended for us. We were lucky enough to get away with it almost unscathed.
I would like to thank my whole team and my teammates René and Tristan.
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