FE points leader Vergne to contest 2018 ELMS

Ex-Formula 1 driver Jean-Eric Vergne will contest a full European Le Mans Series with G-Drive Racing. 

The Frenchman, who leads the 2017/18 Formula E standings following his victory in Santiago, will race a TDS Racing-run Oreca 07 alongside G-Drive team boss Roman Rusinov and Matthieu Vaxiviere in the six-round ELMS, which gets underway on April 15 with the 4 Hours of Le Castellet. 

Vergne is expected to share the car with Rusinov in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, despite G-Drive opting not to to race in the WEC this season. The team will instead field a two-car entry in the ELMS on a full-time basis, with the second car shared by Jose Gutierrez, James Allen and Enzo Guibbert in a partnership with Graff Racing.

The G-Drive squad has been granted an exception to the rule that requires all ELMS crews to run at least one silver driver, after Rusinov was promoted to gold status after the 2016 season. 

The 2018 campaign will be Vergne’s second season in LMP2, after racing with Manor in the WEC last year, in which he managed a best finish of third place during the 6 Hours of Mexico.