Jean-Denis Deletraz to Make GT Racing Return in WRT Audi

Former 24 Hours of Spa winner Jean-Louis Deletraz will make his GT racing return this weekend driving a Team WRT-prepared Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo in the Road to Le Mans.

Deletraz, 57, has been confirmed by WRT as the Bronze-rated co-driver to Charles Weerts in the Belgian team’s No. 72 car for the pair of 55-minute races on Thursday and Saturday.

The Road to Le Mans forms part of the Michelin Le Mans Cup season and occupies one of the support slots for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Aug. 21-22.

The Swiss sports car racing veteran and three-time Grand Prix starter is the father of Louis Deletraz, who is contesting the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Team WRT in LMP2.

Jean-Denis Deletraz won the LMP675 class at Le Mans in 2001 and 2002, both times driving Volkswagen-powered Reynards, and finished fifth overall on the first of those two outings.

He also triumphed at the 24 Hours of Spa in 2007, sharing a Carsport/Phoenix Racing Chevrolet Corvette C6.R with Marcel Fassler, Fabrizio Gollin and Mike Hezemans.

His GT racing drives in the late 1990s and early 2000s largely focused on the FIA GT Championship but also included the FIA GT3 European and Le Mans Endurance Series.

In recent years Deletraz has competed in historic racing events, while his last appearance in an up-to-date category came nine years ago in the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship with LMP2 outfit Gulf Racing Middle East.

“After taking part in the development of the first Audi R8 GT3 in 2009, I am looking forward to having a go in the latest version of the car and see how it has evolved,” said Deletraz.

“I want to say a big thank you to Team WRT for their offer and trust in me.

“It’s a pleasure for me to drive again on this mythical track and together with such a prestigious team. I’m counting on my young and talented teammate Charles to teach me all the secrets of this Audi R8.”

Weerts is the reigning Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup champion and also leads the current season’s points standings alongside Dries Vanthoor.

WRT’s other Audi for Road to Le Mans, which features a 46-car entry of LMP3s and GT3s, will be driven by the father-son pairing of Roald and Benjamin Goethe.