TDS, Graff to Run G-Drive Cars; Rusinov Lineup Receives Dispensation

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Graff Racing will take over operations of G-Drive Racing, which expands into a two-car LMP2 effort in the European Le Mans Series this year alongside the returning TDS Racing-run entry, also under the same banner.

The Russian-backed organization, which won the LMP2 championship with Leo Roussel, Memo Rojas and DragonSpeed in 2017, will defend its title with Roman Rusinov at the wheel of the TDS-run Oreca 07 Gibson.

TDS operated G-Drive’s FIA World Endurance Championship-entered car last year, which moves to full-time ELMS competition.

Rusinov will be joined by Jean-Eric Vergne and TDS regular Matthieu Vaxiviere, effectively creating an all-pro driver lineup, by the FIA driver ratings, in the pro-am enforced class.

It is one of two ELMS entries to have received “temporary dispensation” from the ACO that allows adjusted lineups on a case-by-case basis.

Both Rusinov and Vaxviere are Gold rated, while Vergne is Platinum. LMP2 requires at least one Bronze or Silver-rated driver per lineup.

The other exception made is the No. 8 DKR Engineering Norma M30 Nissan, which features the Silver pairing of Alexander Toril and Jean Glorieux, in a class that typically requires at least one Bronze-rated driver.

G-Drive’s second Oreca, to be run by Graff, will be driven by Jose Gutierrez, James Allen and Enzo Guibbert, in a more traditional pro-am lineup.

Graff is the sixth LMP2 team to partner with G-Drive in the last six years, with TDS and DragonSpeed the two most recent outfits last year, in the WEC and ELMS, respectively.

It’s understood Rusinov will not return to WEC competition this season, with the Russian businessman to focus his driving efforts exclusively on the ELMS and 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John