Vautier Aiming to Help Acura Secure GTP Manufacturers’ Title

Tristan Vautier says it’s his priority to help Acura secure the GTP manufacturers’ title in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as part of his call-up for this weekend’s Motul Petit Le Mans.

The Frenchman is set for his third WeatherTech Championship appearance of the season as the third driver aboard the No. 93 Acura ARX-06, joining full season duo Nick Yelloly and Renger Van der Zande.

Vautier takes the seat that was originally expected to be taken by Alex Palou. The Spaniard is in the UK High Court this week over a contract dispute with McLaren.

Meanwhile, Kaku Ohta, who drove the No. 93 car at the previous Michelin Endurance Cup round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has clashing Super Formula commitments in Japan.

Vautier, for his part, told Sportscar365 that “existing relationships” with both Van der Zande as well as Tom Blomqvist, who drives the No. 60 sister Acura, played a part in him getting the seat.

“I was on my way back to the U.S. after the Spa ELMS round and I had a message from Renger and also Mike Shank, so I figured something was up,” Vautier said.

“I have never worked with the team, never driven this car but I have existing relationships with some team members and especially the drivers.

“Renger and I were we were teammates at Mercedes-AMG. We finished second in the Spa 24 together in 2016.

“Tom is my teammate in ELMS and is a big part of this organization so I think that that that all helped make it happen.

“[I’m] grateful to to everyone involved for for putting me in this position. Really looking forward to it.”

Acura is entering the WeatherTech Championship finale still in significant contention for the GTP manufacturers’ title, trailing championship leaders Porsche by just seven points.

Vautier noted that he is fully aware of his responsibilities going into the ten-hour enduro at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, adding he says it is “going to be my job” to keep the No. 93 car in good shape to give Acura the best shot possible at claiming the title.

“That was one of the first things that they told me on the phone,” he said. “Mike [Shank] was like, ‘Hey, we’re going for the manufacturers’ championship, so there’s a lot at stake.’

“Basically my role is going to be to keep the car in contention, stay out of trouble and make sure the car is in a good enough position for Nick and Renger to have a good shot when it matters, right?

“It’s IMSA. You just got to kind of stay there and there’s going to be a lot going on, especially on this track. So it’s easy to get in trouble.

“It’s easier said than done to keep everything clean. So it’s going to be my job and yeah, I look forward to it.”

Vautier, who revealed he had a limited amount of testing experience with the ARX-06 prior to this weekend, has previously driven two other LMDh cars.

He raced Proton Competition’s Porsche 963 at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at the start of this year, while he served as Chip Ganassi Racing’s official reserve driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year and sampled the Cadillac V-Series.R as part of that role.

“These cars feel kind of in between a GT and a prototype and I’d say this has the one that has the closest feel to the old DPis, that feels the most like a prototype,” Vautier said about the ARX-06.

“Still obviously more weight less downforce more power so it’s different but yeah it’s the most prototype-feel like car.”