Winfield Volant – Julien Gilbert: “A big task, but spectacular progress”

Among all the experts at Paul Ricard for the Winfield Volant, no less than eight instructors enabled the young drivers to pass a special stage during the sessions, to be the best prepared for the official Qualifying and the Final.

A top-level driver in motorsport, Julien Gilbert has participated in the development of cars such as the GP2, GP3 and the Ligier LMP3, as well as the Mygale F4 used by the candidates for the Volant. He told us about the intense training programme being experienced by these young drivers.

“I know this car by heart and I used part of the first day to explain the characteristics and particularities of this F4. The goal was for them to feel at ease as soon as possible, to know how to adjust the braking distribution and to become familiar with all the buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel. I took the opportunity to give them advice on how to drive it, to gain efficiency.”

The next day, the drivers were expecting a lot from their instructors… “Not everyone arrived with the same experience of the car and the Castellet circuit. It was interesting to follow their progress, their reactions and the way they used our explanations. They had to assimilate the peculiarities of the circuit, where the gravel traps are replaced by large clearances. Drivers tend to push their limits, but not overdo it and especially not exceeding the limits of the track so as not be penalised. In addition, some sections have been redone and the grip is not yet optimal.”

After the various sessions, the instructors analysed their technique, their pace, their feelings, their lines, the times, the speeds, the braking points, the angles of turns, the improvements of reports and all the information put at their disposal by video and data acquisition. “Turn by turn, we pointed out all their faults and put them on the track to enable them to lower their lap times. In the end, everyone set their fastest lap in the last session of the day. It really was a day of beneficial work “.

As for the biggest weakness noticed by Julien Gilbert … “They tend to react as in a kart and crush the accelerator pedal at the end of the turn. They then slide the car and are inefficient. They have to find a happy medium!“

Info et Photo Kartcom