Racing Team Nederland LMP2 ace Giedo van der Garde will not be taking part in this weekend’s Six Hours of Monza after testing positive for COVID-19.
Van der Garde will be replaced aboard the #29 ORECA 07-Gibson by French driver Paul-Loup Chatin.
It marks the second time the Dutch squad has been forced to alter its line-up for the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Previously, Job van Uitert also tested positive. His replacement is Nyck de Vries.
Van der Garde has responded to the news, stating he is mystified by the positive test, having been fully vaccinated previously.
“Dear all, I’m absolutely gutted to say that I can’t drive in Monza this weekend because I have tested positive for COVID,” he said.
“It’s an absolute mystery to me, since I’m fully vaccinated and working my way towards the race haven’t been to any social gatherings. That’s irrelevant now though: I can’t race.”
“The guys have found a great replacement in Paul Chatin, and I wish him, Frits [van Eerd], Nyck and the rest of Racing Team Nederland all the best for the race.”
Chatin, an LMP2 regular, has previous seen action in the World Endurance Championship with Signatech Alpine and currently drives for IDEC Sport in the European Le Mans Series.
In January, he won the LMP2 class in the Rolex 24 at Daytona with Era Motorsport.
