The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a race that tests every aspect of a driver, speed, consistency, teamwork and resilience. For Richard Verschoor, his first appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans delivered all of those challenges and more. Together with teammates Doriane Pin and Julien Andlauer, Verschoor and Duqueine Team established themselves as one of the strongest contenders in the LMP2 category throughout race week.
Strong pace from practice to race day
From the opening practice sessions, the #30 Duqueine Team Oreca showed impressive speed around the Circuit de la Sarthe. The team carried that momentum into qualifying and Hyperpole, securing a strong starting position among the leading LMP2 contenders. As the race got underway, the trio quickly moved to the front of the field and spent significant portions of the race leading the LMP2 category. Throughout the day, night and early morning hours, Duqueine Team consistently demonstrated the pace needed to fight for victory.
Fighting for Victory Deep Into the Race
Verschoor played a key role during the overnight hours, helping the team build and maintain a healthy advantage at the front of the class. At multiple stages of the race, the #30 Oreca looked firmly in control of the LMP2 battle. The team continued to lead well into the final phase of the race, putting themselves in a strong position to challenge for a class victory on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
Valuable Experience at the World’s Greatest Endurance Race
Unfortunately, after leading for much of the event and looking set for a major result, the #30 Duqueine Team entry was forced to retire before the finish. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise outstanding performance from the entire team. While the final result did not reflect the speed shown throughout the week, Le Mans provided another important milestone in Verschoor’s endurance racing journey. On his debut appearance at the event, he proved capable of competing at the front of one of the most competitive LMP2 fields in recent years.
Looking ahead
Le Mans may not have delivered the ending the team deserved, but the performance demonstrated exactly what Richard Verschoor, Doriane Pin and Duqueine Team are capable of achieving together. With strong pace, valuable experience and plenty of positives to take away, the focus now shifts back to the remainder of the season as the fight continues in the European Le Mans Series.
