Free practice set the tone for the meeting and the #87 Toyota of Jan Duran and Hadrien David immediately confirmed its impressive performance by setting the second fastest Silver time (2:05.447), just two tenths from the quickest. The #99 of Gabriela Jílková and Cindy Gudet was sixth in Pro-AM. That represented a promising start on a demanding track where every tenth counts.
The picture became clearer during pre-qualifying, when a magnificent lap from Cindy Gudet in the #99, earned third overall and pole position in Pro-AM (2:04.784). The #87 was sixth overall, fifth in Silver, meaning both Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2s had reason to be optimistic for qualifying.
On Saturday morning, the battle for the top grid places was fierce. The first session set the grid for race one and Jan Duran put the #87 in fifth overall, fourth in the Silver Cup. Meanwhile, Gabriela Jílková (#99) set the seventh fastest Pro-AM lap.
In the second session, Hadrien David (#87), who performs particularly well at this track, took pole position for race two with a lap of 2:03.465. That marked Matmut Évolution’s first pole and a demonstration of the team’s strength against high-calibre competition. For her part, Cindy Gudet (#99), who excels on this circuit just as much as her teammate, secured a strong third in Pro-AM.
Race 1 – A double podium
Late on Saturday afternoon, the first race promised to be a close contest. The first corner, so often a flash point, was negotiated without drama as Jan Duran made a perfect start, moving up from fourth to second and taking the lead of the Silver class in the process. Gabriela Jílková maintained her seventh position in Pro-AM.
But at turn two, a collision back in the field brought out the safety car. Ten minutes later, when the race restarted, second-placed Jan Duran kept contact with the leader whilst coming under pressure from the chasing pack. The racing was tense, and no one conceded an inch. Gabriela Jílková fought hard to gain a place and reach sixth in Pro-AM.
As the laps went by, and after 18 minutes of racing, Jan Duran lost ground, dropping to fifth while the Pro-AM class battle intensified.
When the driver change window opened, Jan Duran handed over to Hadrien David (#87). After a quick pit stop, the Frenchman quickly found his rhythm and moved up to second. Cindy Gudet took over from Gabriela Jílková and held sixth place in Pro-AM.
The pace was relentless, both at the front and in the chasing pack when, with 10 minutes to go, a safety car period created new drama and opportunities. With only one lap remaining at the restart, Hadrien David kept pushing in the #87 and ended a solid race in second, less than one second behind the winner, for the crew's fourth podium of the season. A few hundred metres before the finish, an incident at the front of the Pro-AM field played into the hands of #99. Cindy Gudet kept a clear head and snatched third in Pro-AM for another podium, and 10th place overall.
Race 2 – Silver victory!
With 37 fiercely competitive rivals behind him on the grid, Hadrien David made a clean getaway from pole in his #87 car and quickly pulled away from the chasing pack. Cindy Gudet also got off to an excellent start in the #99, moving from third to the head of the Pro-AM field, 11th overall.
The Matmut Évolution Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 cars therefore led the Silver and Pro-AM categories, but the race was far from over. Firmly protecting their respective positions, the two leaders drove with precision and controlled pace at the front. When the #12 began closing in, Hadrien David increased his pace and extended the gap again, while Cindy Gudet put in a masterful drive, giving her rivals no opportunities.
At the halfway point, the driver changes came and went without disrupting the order and Jan Duran (#87) remained out front while Gabriela Jílková held a three-second advantage in Pro-AM.
With 23 minutes remaining, the race was neutralised by a Full Course Yellow then a safety car to remove a stricken car. The gaps vanished as the field regrouped for a restart and the chance to gain positions. But Jan Duran kept his cool and held his position at the front, quickly pulling away and establishing a significant lead. Gabriela Jílková, meanwhile, found herself under pressure from the #7 Aston Martin and, with only three minutes to go, she had to relinquish the lead despite dominating the Pro-AM race to that point.
The Duran-David duo finally clinched their long-awaited first victory of the season after a quick, clean and flawless drive, taking the flag with a 4.3secs advantage. The all-female crew of Gabriela Jílková and Cindy Gudet finished second in Pro-AM, 12th overall, for their second podium in two races. Fine results over the weekend therefore gave the whole team good reason to celebrate.
Now, sights are set on the 2025 season finale at Barcelona, Spain on 10-12 October, a track which has often seen success for Matmut Évolution in the past. Although its Silver Cup and Pro-AM title chances are over, the team can still end the season on a high.
