Risi Competizione has completed its driver line-up for the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans. Following the news of Pipo Derani's signing last week, the Houston-based outfit has now announced that Oliver Jarvis and Jules Gounon will be driving the #89 Ferrari 488 GTE in the French endurance classic.
Jarvis, who currently competes in the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship with Mazda Team Joest, has six Le Mans starts and one class win to his name. Gounon, a former ADAC GT Masters champion and Bentley factory driver, has never competed at Le Mans before.
“I am delighted to be returning to Le Mans with Risi Competizione, after winning the LMP2 class in 2017 and leading the race outright,” said Jarvis.
“Having raced at Le Mans in LMP1 and LMP2 it will be a new challenge for me in GTE Pro, but I am confident with such a strong team behind me that I will be able to get up to speed quickly. I can’t wait to start working with my new team and team mates and return to a race I absolutely love!”
Gounon added: “It’s been a dream since I was a child to race for a French affiliated team at Le Mans. To be able to do it with Risi Competizione, who’s already won three times in its own class, is something really special for me."
“I’d really like to thank Giuseppe Risi and Jean Guikas regarding this project and for the trust they are putting in me for this race. I really believe we have a strong package with the Risi team, the car and the drivers to make a good result there. Thanks a lot for that and I’m looking forward to Le Mans.”
Team owner Giuseppe Risi is confident ahead of the race in June:
“Pipo is a fast young driver and has driven the 488 before at Le Mans. Oliver has driven at Le Mans many times over the past decade and Jules comes from a French racing family and has raced in plenty of endurance races including an overall win at Spa 24 Hours in 2017.
“We expect good results from our trio. I’m looking forward to the race and wish to thank Jean for his support in our combined effort.”
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