Max Verstappen’s GT racing outfit endured a dramatic and physically demanding outing at the six-hour endurance race at Circuit Paul Ricard, where his team-mate Jules Gounon reportedly collapsed after pushing through illness during a gruelling stint behind the wheel.
Gounon, who had previously teamed up with Verstappen in GT competition, was part of the No.3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO crew alongside Chris Lulham and Daniel Juncadella. The trio were competing in the GT World Challenge Europe event, marking Verstappen Racing’s debut in the highly competitive Pro Cup category after securing success in the Gold Cup last season. Despite the challenging circumstances, the team managed to bring the car home in ninth place overall, a respectable result given the adversity faced during the race.
The event also featured Lance Stroll, who was racing for the Comtoyou Racing team, although Verstappen himself was not participating in this particular round. However, the spotlight quickly turned to Gounon as concerns grew over his physical condition during the race.
While completing a demanding two-hour stint, Gounon was heard over team radio struggling significantly, with commentators later confirming that he had been suffering from food poisoning. Despite the team considering an earlier driver change to allow him to recover before returning later in the race, Gounon opted to remain in the car and complete his running in one continuous effort. His determination to push through the discomfort highlighted both his commitment and the extreme physical demands of endurance racing.
After finally stepping out of the car, the toll of the effort became clear. Reports indicated that Gounon passed out shortly after his stint and was taken to the circuit’s medical centre for evaluation. He remained under observation for a couple of hours before being discharged, having recovered sufficiently to leave on his own. Reflecting on the experience, Gounon described it as one of the toughest stints of his racing career, underlining just how physically draining the race had been under such conditions.
At the front of the field, the victory went to an Aston Martin entry driven by Mattia Drudi, Marco Sorensen, and Nicki Thiim. Their win came after a dramatic late safety car period disrupted the race, ultimately denying the No.48 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO crew—comprised of Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz, and Maro Engel—who had dominated much of the contest but had to settle for second place.
Further down the order, Verstappen Racing’s ninth-place finish translated to seventh in the Pro Cup standings, with strong competition throughout the field, including impressive performances from Gold Cup entries that also featured in the overall top ten.
Overall, the race proved to be a true test of endurance, resilience, and teamwork, with Gounon’s ordeal standing out as a stark reminder of the physical and mental challenges drivers face in long-distance GT racing.
