Promising trio for Duqueine Team for 2024 in ELMS

On the eve of the team's 19th anniversary, Duqueine Team's ambitions remain high for its seventh season in the LMP2 class. On the strength of a 2023 season marked by its first ELMS victory, and having been in contention until the end for the title, Gilles Duqueine's team aims to build on this solid foundation.

The Gard-based outfit will once again field the Oreca 07 with the traditional number 30, and will be relying on an all-new trio, with a strong emphasis on youth.

But youth does not mean inexperience, as James Allen, ELMS 2023 champion, joins the team alongside Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer, whose track record and performance in GT racing are well established. Both will support Carl Bennett, who raced for Duqueine this winter in the Asian Le Mans Series and has extended his relation with the team to 2024.

« We are proud to have this line-up, says Team Principal Max Favard. James we all know his performance through the past season. Carl, it’s a real pleasure to continue our collaboration in Europe. He will be for sure a gameplayer in the team performance after his LMP2 debut in Asia. Jean-Baptiste knows perfectly the spirit of endurance racing, by performing in GT last season. All the team will put all the effort to achieve good results. »

Crowned champion on the continental stage in 2023, James Allen has been a regular force in LMP2 and ELMS since 2017. On the final podium in the european championship in his first season, he also put a strong performance in the Asian Le Mans Series in 2022-2023 with a overall third-place finish. With his speed (pole position in Portimão for the final round of the ELMS season), the Australian will be a major asset for Duqueine.

James Allen : « I’m incredibly excited to be competing in the 2024 ELMS season for Duqueine. Duqueine have always performed at a high level and I am honoured they’ve asked me to be a part of their program for ELMS. Going into my 8th consecutive season, I really feel we’ve put together a package that can fight for the championship. I’m really looking forward to working with Carl, we’ve seen his talent start to shine through in the Asian Le Mans Series and I am sure will continue to do so. And JB coming from an endurance racing background already in GT I look forward to welcoming him to prototypes this season and I can’t wait to get started. »

Coming from single-seater, and keen to give a new direction to his career, Carl Bennett made his LMP2 debut with Duqueine at Sepang earlier this month in Asian Le Mans Series, and is already showing great promise behind the wheel. The young driver will now be able to take advantage of the experience he will gain in the winter series to take to the start of the ELMS with more knowledge.

Carl Bennett : « I am thrilled to announce that I will driving with Duqueine in LMP2 for the upcoming ELMS season in 2024. I am looking forward to competing alongside my fellow drivers James Allen and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer. Together, we form a formidable team that is ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead. I am grateful for this incredible opportunity and I am determined to give it my all on the racetrack. With the support of Duqueine, I am confident that we will have a great result in the championship. »

Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer will be starting a new chapter in his motorsport career as a « rookie » for its LMP2 debut. Widely recognized for his performances in GT3 in recent years, with the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup title in the Silver Cup class in 2022, the Frenchman knows the demands of top-level long-distance racing and will bring this experience a fresh perspective to Duqueine Team. Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer : « I’m thrilled to start this new challenge. It’s great to join the championship in an experienced team and a strong lineup. I’m grateful for the opportunity and ready for the challenges ahead. I’m looking forward to the first event. »