"Looking back on the final overall result, I think it was a good race" - Lilou Wadoux has enjoyed a positive start to her rookie campaign in Japan's premier sports car series Super GT, as the Ferrari factory driver moved forward in her first ever stint in the highly competitive championship.
Lilou Wadoux has enjoyed a positive start to her rookie campaign in Japan's premier sports car series Super GT, as the Ferrari factory driver moved forward in her first ever stint in the highly competitive championship to finish just outside the top ten at Okayama.
In her first season within the Prancing Horse, Wadoux had the chance to compete at the highest level of GT competitions, showing her trademark speed and impressing in FIA World Endurance Championship - where she became the first ever woman to win a race - IMSA, GT World Challenge Europe and GT World Challenge America, at the wheel of the 488 GTE, LMP2 Oreca, 296 GT3. She raced in some of the world's top events, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Crowdstrike 24H of Spa, the Sahlen's 6 Hours of the Glen as well as the 8H of Indianapolis.
After a hypercar test in the Le Mans-winning Ferrari 499P at the end of the year, Wadoux was announced as part of the PONOS Racing line up for the 2024 Super GT championship, Japan's top sports cars series, alongside experienced racer Kei Cozzolino, a former GT World Challenge Asia champion and FIA WEC competitor. The Ferrari duo would contest the GT300 category, for GT3-derived cars.
Wadoux's preparation for her Super GT debut included plenty of simulator work, as most of the races would be held at circuits she has never visited before, and with limited testing available. Ahead of the season opener at Okayama Circuit, Lilou got behind the wheel of the 296 GT3 operated by PONOS Racing at Fuji on 23-24 March, which she described as a positive test.
"We gathered extensive data on our 296 GT3, aided significantly by the variable weather conditions, which allowed us to test both Michelin dry and wet tyres", Lilou explained. "An important fact in this championship where, if we look back, races have frequently taken place after heavy rainfall."
Wadoux also had a test day at Okayama in February - although her running time ended up limited. She then could not attend the collective pre-season test due to a clash with the IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring. Therefore the 22-year-old Frenchwoman entered the season with the awareness that the first round would be a testing ground to familiarize with the car, the tracks as well as the format of the series.
The first day of track action at the technical Okayama International Circuit proved to be challenging for the PRONOS Racing crew, as an issue in practice hampered the team's mileage ahead of qualifying. On a sunny day, Kei Cozzolino took over the #45 Ferrari 296 GT3 - but soon reported a technical issue and the car was wheeled back into the garage. The problem was identified - a fuel pump issue - and promptly fixed. Cozzolino was back on track as set a 1:27.454 lap which put the PONOS Racing machine in P17, before handing over to Lilou Wadoux. At that point, Lilou only had time left for four laps behind the wheel.
The work on the setup continued with the afternoon's qualifying now in sight. Cozzolino ran in Group A in Q1 and showed the car's potential with a second place in the group - however track conditions changed significantly in Q2. Lilou recorded a time of 1:27.561, and the aggregate times placed the duo in P12 for the first race of the season.
On Sunday, higher temperatures for the time of the year would pose an extra challenge, with tyre wear a concern. Kei Cozzolino took the start for PONOS Racing from the 6th row of the grid in the GT300 class; he had a clean getaway and held position, although the safety car was immediately deployed on lap 1 for a multi-car contact in the GT500 class; the pit opened on lap 5 and several cars opted to pit. Holding position at the restart, Cozzolino initially had to defend from the #31 apr Lexus LC500h, but then held off the pressure and settled in P12, with a safe margin ahead and behind while at the same time managing his tyres.
Cozzolino climbed the order as the GT300 field started the round of pit stops around lap 30; by lap 44 the #45 PONOS Ferrari ran as high as second in class, with 2 cars extending their stints. The Japanese-Italian driver ultimately took the way of the pitlane on lap 49 and handed over the #45 Ferrari 296 to factory driver Lilou Wadoux, who started her first ever race in the Japanese series.
Wadoux rejoined P16 after the pit cycle was completed, around 3 seconds behind the only other Ferrari - the #6 Uni-robo Bluegrass. On lap 64, the #5 Toyota was sent into a spin and Wadoux picked up a position, advancing to P15. The Frenchwoman was also significantly closing in on the #6 Ferrari ahead - and they both would navigate through heavy traffic by gaining positions: Lilou got ahead of the #20 Toyota and was right in the mix of a big seven-car train in the final ten laps.
With a brilliant overtake, Wadoux overtook the #18 UPGarage Honda NSX for 13th, amidst some wild traffic from the GT500 class. Once in clear air, Wadoux soon pulled away and grabbed 12th on the final lap of the race, completing her first Super GT race with a lively performance. A post-race penalty eventually promoted the PONOS Racing Ferrari to P11, which thus finished one place ahead of its starting position.
"Looking back on the final overall result, I think it was a good race", Lilou commented. "We had various conditions, but during my stint I was able to battle with other competitors, and I don't think there could have been a better strategy", she said.
"The car was much better than in qualifying and I would like to thank the team for their hard work", Wadoux continued. "At the beginning of the race, Kei pushed forward with softer tyres, so my stint was relatively easy. I think I did my best."
"This was PONOS Racing's first race, and I think it showed great improvement - and if we'll have a good car at Fuji, I think we'll be able to do well in the next race as well. I think it was a race where I got a clear idea of the direction I should be heading."
The second round of the Super GT championship will be held at Fuji Speedway on 3-5 May.