Dillmann: “No Confidence Loss” After 2025 Back-Breaking Crash

Photo: Bruno Vandevelde/MPS Agency

Tom Dillmann insists he hasn’t lost any confidence in tackling Canadian Tire Motorsport Park after the high speed crash triggered by a mechanical failure took him out of the lead and left the Frenchman with two broken vertebrae last year.

Dillmann, who along with Nick Boulle claimed overall honors in the first-ever IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship LMP2 headline race at Mosport in 2024, was on track to score back-to-back wins in the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07 Gibson until the car encountered a stuck throttle in the closing moments of the race.

While undergoing surgery for the fractured vertebrae, Dillmann missed only one race, the following WeatherTech Championship round at Road America, amid a rapid recovery that also saw him complete the European Le Mans Series season.

When asked about his feelings on returning to the site of the accident, Dillmann, who recently notched his second consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 class win, said he doesn’t expect any extra challenges.

“The injury doesn’t change much… it was a car failure so there’s no confidence loss,” he said.

“As a driver, I think if you lose the car yourself, your confidence takes a step back. But when it’s a car failure, I don’t think it bothers you.

“And I was quickly recovered. I’m looking forward to going back.

“We had the test at Mosport last week, actually. It went very well, and Jeremy [Clarke, co-driver] was quick as well. So let’s see if we can win it again.”

Dillmann said there’s also no form of redemption needed from his part, but rather is excited for the prospects of tackling the first of two LMP2 sprint races with his FIA Bronze-rated co-driver Jeremy Clarke.

“I go to any race, and I want to win it,” he said. “It’s not because we had the issue last year that it changes.

“It’s the same points at every race. I think with Jeremy, we have a really good chance to win those sprint races, because he’s really strong, has won three poles out of the last four races.

“So as a combination, I think we have really high chance to capitalize in those two sprint races this year and to be able to fight for the title.

“It will be very important to have a very good result.

“It’s what happened in 2024 with Nick and me as well, winning in Mosport and then winning the championship.

“The main focus is to capitalize on the fact that Jeremy can put it on pole and potentially give it to me in the lead and me finish the job.”

Dillmann, who along with the Polish squad are also again undertaking a dual season ELMS program, believes there’s benefits by being more active in a LMP2 car despite the different specifications in the two series.

“I think it’s definitely an advantage to do a double championship,” he said. “Many drivers are doing it, WEC in Hypercar and IMSA or WEC and ELMS.

“In IMSA LMP2, most of the drivers are doing a double program.

“For me to be in an LMP2 car on a double program is great. We have different tires, different spec of cars, though. So, it doesn’t feel totally the same.

“Nevertheless, now it’s been three years that I’m doing the double program. I’m really one with the car, definitely, and with the team.

“We always learn. In IMSA we are doing a lot of testing, which is not the case in Europe.

“So, we always are able to try things on the on the setup and we can also bring it to Europe and vice versa.

“It’s beneficial for the team as well.”

With no calendar clashes between the WeatherTech Championship LMP2 rounds and the recently released 2027 ELMS schedule, Dillmann anticipates another double-duty year will be in store next year.

“Absolutely, it’s the plan,” he said. “Unless I manage to be in a Hypercar, I think most likely I will be doing that and probably with the same team as well.”

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