Dakar Rally Update: Aston Martin Formula 1 Reserve Felipe Drugovich Impresses in Le Mans 24 Hours Debut
In a significant development for the Dakar Rally scene, Aston Martin Formula 1 reserve driver Felipe Drugovich has made a strong impression in his maiden outing at the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race. Drugovich, who is also competing in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) this season, joined the Action Express Racing team in the Hypercar class, driving the factory Cadillac V-Series.R.
Partnering with IMSA SportsCar Championship regulars Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken, Drugovich finished a respectable 15th in class after a challenging race that saw the #311 Cadillac suffer heavy damage in a crash during the 19th hour. Despite the setback, Drugovich’s debut at the iconic French circuit has left him optimistic about his future prospects in sportscar racing.
“I don’t know yet” whether he sees his future in formula cars or prototypes, Drugovich told Autosport. “For sure I enjoyed [Le Mans] really a lot. It’s a really cool world and I’m enjoying it.”
The Brazilian driver, who won the 2022 Formula 2 championship, acknowledged that his Le Mans debut could “open some doors” for him, as he considers his options between pursuing a return to single-seaters or continuing his journey in endurance racing.
Drugovich’s participation in the Le Mans 24 Hours was the highlight of his 2024 campaign, which includes a full-season ELMS program with the Vector Sport LMP2 squad. While he is not currently lined up for any additional WEC or IMSA races with Cadillac, the young driver expressed his enthusiasm for competing in more endurance events, stating that “these 24 hour races have always been kind of a dream for me.”
As the Dakar Rally community closely follows the progress of emerging talents like Drugovich, his successful debut at Le Mans has undoubtedly raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about his potential future in the sport. With his sights set on further opportunities in sportscar racing, Drugovich’s journey will be one to watch as he continues to explore his options and potentially open new doors in the world of motorsport.
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