Léo Roussel
{{short description|French racing driver}}
{{Infobox racing driver
| name = Léo Roussel
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = {{flagicon|FRA}} French
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|8|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = Marcoussis, France
| racing licence = 12px FIA Silver
| current series = GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
| first year = 2022
| current team = Emil Frey Racing
| car number = 19
| former teams =
| starts = 5
| wins = 0
| podiums = 0
| poles = 0
| fastest laps = 0
| prev series = GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup
FIA World Endurance Championship
European Le Mans Series
Formula Renault 2.0 Alps
Formula Renault Eurocup
V de V Challenge Endurance Proto
| prev series years = 2021
2017–2018–19
2015–2017, 2019
2013
2012–2013
2011–2015
| titles = European Le Mans Series – LMP2
| title years = 2017
| updated = 27 November 2022
}}
Léo Roussel (born 31 August 1995) is a French racing driver who competes in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup for Emil Frey Racing.{{cite web|url=https://www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com/driver/2860/leo-roussel|title=Leo Roussel, 2022 – Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS|website=gt-world-challenge-europe.com|accessdate=10 April 2022}}
Career
=Early career=
Roussel began his motorsport career at the age of 7, competing in local karting competitions in his native France.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/09/25/leo-roussel-my-goal-is-to-remain-in-lmp2.html|title=Leo Roussel: "My Goal is to Remain in LMP2"|website=dailysportscar.com|first=Mat|last=Fernandez|date=25 September 2016|accessdate=10 April 2022}} At the age of 14, in 2009, he scored second-place honors in the Bridgestone Cup and Trophée de France, alongside registering a fourth-place finish in the French Karting F3 Championship.{{cite web|url=https://leo-roussel.com/early-career|title=EARLY CAREER|website=leo-roussel.com|accessdate=10 April 2022}} Roussel attended the 24 Hours of Le Mans often as a child, and uncle Patrice had previously competed at Le Mans and in Grand-Am, leading Roussel to mention that his heart was set on endurance racing rather than the junior formula ladder. In 2011, he began competing in the V de V Challenge Endurance, driving a Norma M20 F for his uncle's team, Extrême Limite. Roussel would continue in the series until 2015, taking a win and two podiums throughout his five years of competition in the series.
=Junior formulae=
In 2012, Roussel embarked upon a dual campaign in the Formula Renault Eurocup and Formula Renault 2.0 Alps series.{{cite web|url=http://www.renaultsportitalia.it/art/news_20120131_alps_eng.html|title=F.Renault 2.0 ALPS synonimous of quality with top team and drivers ready to roll in 2012 season|website=renaultsportitalia.it|date=31 January 2012|accessdate=10 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019093224/http://www.renaultsportitalia.it/art/news_20120131_alps_eng.html|archive-date=October 19, 2013|quote=Also confirmed the names of the drivers which will compete with Arta Engineering. Three of them are also Frenchmen: Tristan Papavoine, Leo Roussel and William Vermont...}} He would return to Formula Renault Eurocup in 2013, but it would mark his final season in single-seater competition. Across 41 races in Formula Renault 2.0, Roussel would score just 13 points, all of which were tallied in his lone season in the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps series.
=Sports car racing=
==Prototypes==
After several years of racing Group CN-level prototypes, Roussel made his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014, driving for Pegasus Racing in the LMP2 class. Despite suffering a heavy crash in qualifying,{{cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/lemans/video/massive-shunt-for-leo-roussel-le-mans-2014/40289/|title=Massive Shunt For Leo Roussel - Le Mans 2014|website=us.motorsport.com|date=12 June 2014|accessdate=10 April 2022}} the team finished 10th in class, 20 laps behind the class-winning Jota Sport entry. In 2015, Roussel began competing full-time in the European Le Mans Series with Pegasus Racing.{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/cheng-fong-complete-pegasus-lineup/|title=Cheng, Fong Complete Pegasus Lineup|website=sportscar365.com|first=John|last=Dagys|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=5 February 2015|accessdate=10 April 2022|quote=Cheng and Fong will share the wheel of the French squad’s Morgan LMP2 EVO Nissan with Leo Roussel in the five-round championship, which kicks off at Silverstone in April.}} Roussel returned to the team for the 2016 season, before joining G-Drive Racing for 2017. He and co-driver Memo Rojas would go on to take the LMP2-class championship that season, finishing no lower than fourth and scoring podiums at Silverstone, the Red Bull Ring, Paul Ricard, and Spa, adding a victory at Monza.{{cite web|url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/leo-roussel-oreca-it-hasnt-sunk-in-yet-that-we-are-the-elms-champions-47613|title=LÉO ROUSSEL (ORECA): "IT HASN'T SUNK IN YET THAT WE ARE THE ELMS CHAMPIONS."|website=24h-lemans.com|date=25 October 2017|accessdate=10 April 2022}} Following the European Le Mans Series season, Roussel took part in the final two races of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship, replacing Pierre Thiriet.{{cite web|url=https://www.fiawec.com/en/news/leo-roussel-to-replace-pierre-thiriet-at-g-drive-racing/5542|title=Léo Roussel to replace Pierre Thiriet at G-Drive Racing|website=fiawec.com|date=26 October 2017|accessdate=10 April 2022}}
For 2018, Roussel joined CEFC TRSM Racing's Ginetta LMP1 entry into the WEC for the 2018–19 season.{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/stoneman-roussel-added-to-manor-lineup/|title=Stoneman, Roussel Added to Manor Lineup|website=sportscar365.com|first=John|last=Dagys|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=5 April 2018|accessdate=10 April 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ginetta.com/news/welcome-to-the-ginetta-family-leo-roussel-and-dean-stoneman|title=Welcome to the Ginetta Family, Leo Roussel and Dean Stoneman|website=ginetta.com|first=Stephen|last=Kilbey|date=5 April 2018|accessdate=10 April 2022}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} With the program's closure before the 2019 season, he returned to the European Le Mans Series, signing with Inter Europol Competition.{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/roussel-added-to-inter-europol-lmp2-lineup/|title=Roussel Added to Inter Europol LMP2 Lineup|website=sportscar365.com|first=Daniel|last=Lloyd|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=22 March 2019|accessdate=11 April 2022}} However, Roussel broke his back during a practice crash at Monza,{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/winslow-to-replace-roussel-at-inter-europol/|title=Winslow to Replace Roussel at Inter Europol|website=sportscar365.com|first=John|last=Dagys|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=25 May 2019|accessdate=11 April 2022}} forcing him to miss the remainder of the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
==GT==
Roussel returned to professional motorsport in 2021, joining Saintéloc Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup alongside co-driver Christopher Haase.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2021/03/sainteloc-racing-confirm-two-car-entry-for-gt-world-challenge-europe/|title=Saintéloc Racing confirm two car entry for GT World Challenge Europe|website=thecheckeredflag.co.uk|first=Vince|last=Pettit|date=24 March 2021|accessdate=11 April 2022}} The duo claimed two podiums, at Misano and Valencia,{{cite web|url=https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/podium-for-sainteloc-racing-and-another-gt-world-challenge-europe-title-for-team-wrt-14266|title=Podium for Saintéloc Racing and another GT World Challenge Europe title for Team WRT|website=audi-mediacenter.com|date=27 September 2021|accessdate=11 April 2022}} finishing 11th in the overall standings. For 2022, Roussel stepped up to the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, competing in the Pro class for Emil Frey Racing alongside Giacomo Altoè and Arthur Rougier.{{cite web|url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/101180-leo-roussel-emil-frey-racing-le-monde-du-gt-ma-de-suite-plu|title=Léo Roussel (Emil Frey Racing) : "Le monde du GT m'a de suite plu !"|trans-title=Léo Roussel (Emil Frey Racing): "I immediately liked the GT world!"|language=French|website=endurance-info.com|date=13 March 2022|accessdate=11 April 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/gtwc/world-challenge-europe/emil-frey-enters-gt-masters-alongside-endurance-cup/|title=Emil Frey Enters GT Masters Alongside Endurance Cup|website=sportscar365.com|first=Daniel|last=Lloyd|publisher=John Dagys Media|date=28 February 2022|accessdate=11 April 2022|quote=The No. 19 Emil Frey Lamborghini will be shared by Leo Roussel, Arthur Rougier and factory driver Giacomo Altoe in the Pro class of Endurance Cup...}} The team endured a difficult season, retiring in three of the five races and failing to score championship points.
Racing record
=Career summary=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"
! Season ! Series ! Team ! Races ! Wins ! Poles ! F/Laps ! Podiums ! Points ! Position |
| 2011
|align=left| V de V Challenge Endurance Moderne - Proto |align=left| Extreme Limite Aric | 1 | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | 9 | 40th |
|---|
| rowspan=3| 2012
|align=left| Formula Renault 2.0 Alps |rowspan=2 align=left| ARTA Engineering | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 21st |
| align=left| Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup
| 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40th |
| align=left| V de V Challenge Endurance Moderne - Proto
| align="left" | Extreme Limite Aric | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| rowspan="3" | 2013
|align=left| V de V Challenge Endurance - Proto |align=left| Extreme Limite Aric | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 47.5 | 22nd |
| rowspan="2" align="left" | Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup
|align=left| ARTA Engineering | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | rowspan="2" | 0 | rowspan="2" | 32nd |
| align=left| Manor MP Motorsport
|4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| align="left" | V de V Challenge Endurance - Proto | align="left" | Extreme Limite | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 61 | 14th |
| align="left" | 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2
| align="left" | Pegasus Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 10th |
| rowspan="3" | 2015
| align="left" | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | rowspan="2" align=left| Pegasus Racing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 16th |
| align="left" | 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 9th |
| align="left" | V de V Challenge Endurance - Proto
| align="left" | Extreme Limite | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27.5 | 26th |
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| align="left" | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | rowspan="2" align="left" | Pegasus Racing | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 21st |
| align="left" | 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| align="left" | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | rowspan="2" align="left" | G-Drive Racing | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 110 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" | 1st |
| align="left" | FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 24th |
| 2018
| align="left" | 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP1 | align="left" | CEFC TRSM Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 5th |
| 2018–19
| align="left" | FIA World Endurance Championship |align=left| CEFC TRSM Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 38th |
| 2019
| align="left" | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | align="left" | Inter Europol Competition | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 35th |
| 2021
| align="left" | GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup | align="left" | Saintéloc Racing | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 23.5 | 11th |
| rowspan="2" | 2022
| align="left" | GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup | rowspan="2" align="left" | Emil Frey Racing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| align=left| Intercontinental GT Challenge
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1* | 19th* |
* Season still in progress.
=Complete Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 results=
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Year ! Entrant ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! DC ! Points |
| 2012
!rowspan="2"| ARTA Engineering | style="background:#cfcfff;" |ALC | style="background:#cfcfff;" |ALC | style="background:#cfcfff;" |SPA | style="background:#efcfff;" |SPA | style="background:#cfcfff;" |NÜR | style="background:#efcfff;" |NÜR | style="background:#cfcfff;" |MSC | style="background:#cfcfff;" |MSC | style="background:#cfcfff;" |HUN | style="background:#efcfff;" |HUN | style="background:#efcfff;" |LEC | style="background:#cfcfff;" |LEC | style="background:#efcfff;" |CAT | style="background:#efcfff;" |CAT ! 40th ! 0 |
| rowspan="2"|2013
| style="background:#cfcfff;" |ALC | style="background:#ffffff;" |ALC | style="background:#cfcfff;" |SPA | style="background:#cfcfff;" |SPA | style="background:#cfcfff;" |MSC | style="background:#cfcfff;" |MSC | style="background:#cfcfff;" |RBR | style="background:#cfcfff;" |RBR | style="background:#cfcfff;" |HUN | style="background:#cfcfff;" |HUN | | | | !rowspan="2"|32nd !rowspan="2"|0 |
| nowrap|Manor MP Motorsport
| | | | | | | | | | | style="background:#cfcfff;" |LEC | style="background:#cfcfff;" |LEC | style="background:#cfcfff;" |CAT | style="background:#cfcfff;" |CAT |
|---|
= Complete Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Series results =
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Year ! Team ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! Pos ! Points |
| 2012
!nowrap| ARTA Engineering |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MNZ |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MNZ |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| PAU |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| PAU |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IMO |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMO |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RBR |style="background:#DFFFDF;| RBR |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MUG |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MUG |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAT |style="background:#FFFFFF;"| CAT ! 21st ! 13 |
=Complete GT World Challenge Europe results=
==GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup==
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;" |
| Year
! Team ! Car ! Class ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! Pos. ! Points |
|---|
| 2022
! Pro |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| IMO |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LEC |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HOC |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAT ! NC ! 0 |
* Season still in progress.
==GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup==
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;" |
| Year
! Team ! Car ! Class ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! Pos. ! Points |
|---|
| 2021
! Pro |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAG |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAG |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ZAN |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ZAN |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MIS |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIS |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| VAL |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| VAL ! 11th ! 23.5 |
=Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |
| Year
! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class |
|---|
| 2014
|align="left"| {{flagicon|DEU}} Pegasus Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|CHE}} Nicolas Leutwiler |align="left"| Morgan LMP2 | LMP2 | 336 | 18th | 10th |
| 2015
|align="left"| {{flagicon|DEU}} Pegasus Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|CHN}} David Cheng |align="left"| Morgan LMP2 | LMP2 | 334 | 19th | 9th |
| 2016
|align="left"| {{flagicon|DEU}} Pegasus Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Rémy Striebig |align="left"| Morgan LMP2 | LMP2 | 292 | DNF | DNF |
| 2018
|align="left"| {{flagicon|CHN}} CEFC TRSM Racing |align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Charlie Robertson |align="left"| Ginetta G60-LT-P1 | LMP1 | 283 | 41st | 5th |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.fiawec.com/en/driver/328 Léo Roussel] at FIA World Endurance Championship
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|title=European Le Mans Series
LMP2 Champion|before=Simon Dolan
Giedo van der Garde
Harry Tincknell|years=2017|with=Memo Rojas|after=Andrea Pizzitola
Roman Rusinov}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roussel, Léo}}
Category:French racing drivers
Category:Formula Renault 2.0 Alps drivers
Category:Formula Renault Eurocup drivers
Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
Category:European Le Mans Series drivers
Category:FIA World Endurance Championship drivers
Category:GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup drivers
Category:Manor Motorsport drivers
Category:MP Motorsport drivers
Category:G-Drive Racing drivers
Category:Emil Frey Racing drivers
Category:Karting World Championship drivers
Category:Saintéloc Racing drivers
Category:Lamborghini Squadra Corse drivers