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Algarve Pro, Aubry to Miss Spa after Positive COVID-19 Tests

Positive COVID-19 tests rule Algarve Pro team and Jackie Chan DCR driver Aubry out of 6H Spa…

Photo: MPS Agency

The Algarve Pro Racing team and Jackie Chan DC Racing driver Gabriel Aubry will miss the Total 6 Hours of Spa after recent COVID-19 tests came back with positive results.

Algarve Pro Racing’s Oreca 07 Gibson that was due to be driven by John Falb, Jon Lancaster and Simon Trummer, will not contest the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship after three team members tested positive for coronavirus.

Aubry also tested positive during a second test arranged by the WEC, following a positive result at the start of the week from a test that the French driver arranged himself.

Aubry’s initial positive resulted in the Algarve Pro squad, with which Aubry contested last weekend’s European Le Mans Series round, going into self-isolation.

They will remain in quarantine at their hotel following the positive tests of three team members, including one driver.

The WEC has confirmed that none of the three APR team members have shown coronavirus symptoms, while Aubry confirmed that he hasn’t shown symptoms either.

Sportscar365 understands that Ryan Cullen is set to replace Aubry, who is Silver-rated, in the No. 37 Oreca Gibson alongside Will Stevens and Ho-Pin Tung.

The car ran in Friday morning’s Free Practice 2 session with Stevens and Tung taking turns behind the wheel.

Aubry got himself tested at the start of the week after being informed by a friend, who he had previously been in contact with, that they had tested positive for coronavirus.

His test was originally inconclusive but he received notification that it had come back positive at the start of the Spa event.

This resulted in Jota Sport, which runs the Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca, notifying the WEC organization which arranged for a second test to be carried out.

Three members of the Jota Sport team, including Aubry’s race engineer, and 16 members of the Algarve Pro Racing squad were subsequently traced and tested.

The same action was also taken for three Goodyear staff members and a Rebellion Racing mechanic who had also been in contact with Aubry.

The Jota Sport, Goodyear and Rebellion PCR evaluations all came back with negative results, although those tested will be required to quarantine away from the circuit during the race weekend.

“Having been informed someone I had recently seen had contracted COVID-19 I immediately decided to undergo a test at my place in France,” said Aubry.

“Given that I’ve never had any symptoms, I then traveled back to Spa-Francorchamps. Shortly after arriving, I was informed the test had come back positive.

“The WEC, Jota and Algarve Pro were made aware immediately and I followed their safety procedures including a full lockdown in my hotel room. A second test has been carried out in Spa giving a similar positive result.

“I am deeply sad and sorry for my fellow teammates to not be able to fight alongside them this weekend.

“I wish them all the best for this race, and in the meanwhile, I will continue to follow the WEC procedure and hopefully I’ll be back for the next round of the ELMS.”

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

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