Vautier Sees “Great Ingredients” With New Tower LMP2 Drive

Tristan Vautier’s announcement as Tower Motorsports’ new full-time driver came with a quick turnaround of a Sebring test last week. However, the French driver said he’s excited to get back into the LMP2 ranks.

Vautier’s campaign with Tower comes on the heels of Sebastien Bourdais stepping down from the seat after the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Bourdais is instead turning his full focus to the FIA World Endurance Championship with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA.

After Bourdais’s decision, Vautier said he contacted Tower owner/driver John Farano and expressed his interest. He also credited his relationship with Bourdais through their time as fellow countrymen racing in the IndyCar ladder forging a connection to the team.

“When it came out that Seb [Bourdais] was not going to be able to keep going for the rest of the year, I reached out to John [Farano],” Vautier told Sportscar365. “I had a previous relationship with John because we had discussions in the past.

“I’ve also had a long history and friendship with Seb, we’ve been teammates and friends for a long time. I know there were a lot of candidates on the list, so I’m grateful to John for for the trust in putting me to lead this program.”

“You’re in American open wheel championships, and there’s only so many French people, right? Everyone kind of looks out for each other, and he has always been great to me, so it makes things very natural.”

Tower spent the previous week testing its Oreca 07 Gibson at Sebring International Raceway. Vautier said he was impressed with the easy transition by the team from signing to track time.

“There’s a great atmosphere and spirit in the team,” he said. “I think we got great ingredients for a successful season.”

The 36-year old has extensive experience with LMP2 machinery, competing in both the European and Asian Le Mans Series.

But next month’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will be his first race in the class in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, despite having been a former overall Sebring winner, ironically, with Bourdais as a co-driver, at the wheel of JDC-Miller Motorsports’ Cadillac DPi-V.R.

“It’s going to be my first time in the [LMP2] in this configuration, which is basically high downforce, low power,” Vautier said. “So the Sebring test was kind of my first time adjusting to it.

“I think it’s more challenging than Hypercar and more challenging than GT because you have to deal with the Hypercars passing you and getting through the GT traffic, which is actually pretty awkward in this configuration.

“It’s for sure going to be a big topic especially in the closing stages of the race when you’re going to have to go for it.”

Vautier also has prior ties to Tower through his interactions with Sebastian Alvarez, who serves as the team’s Michelin Endurance Cup pilot.

The two raced on different teams but both under the CLX banner in the ELMS last year. Despite the tie-ins, Vautier is simply looking for a promising debut.

“I think it’s important to manage your expectations and just really focus on our process,” he said.

“I actually had the conversation with the team at the end of the test, and we’re all on the same page, but I just want us to start with a solid weekend in Sebring.

“You never show up at the track to finish fifth, but I think if we could leave Sebring with a top five, it will be a very solid foundation for the rest of the season. I expect to have a solid car underneath me.”