JB DUBOURG: “I KNEW I HAD TO FINISH JUST BEHIND YANN EHRLACHER TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP”

Racing right down to the wire, this year’s e-Trophée Andros was settled with just seconds to go, with title leaders Jean-Baptiste (JB) Dubourg and Yann Ehrlacher equal on points at the end of the session at the final race of the season in Super Besse. With Dubourg pulling into the lead because he had the greatest number of victories over the year, we caught up with the newly crowned champion when he returned to the pits. 

I feel so good. It’s unbelievable. What a season and what a final race. Earlier in the season, I thought we had lost the trophy. We weren’t on top, and we had to find the performance. We decided to have a test session and it was a very good idea. After that we won the last two races and were back in the game for the final victory.  

The Superpole was hard. And I felt so bad. Because of one tenth of a second or something like that, I thought I had lost the trophy and I was very disappointed. But the race is never over until you cross the flag. 

The key for the final was the start. I wasn’t in a good position. But my start was good. After that my spotter told me that Pierre-Louis Loubet had the fastest lap and after that I knew I had to finish just behind Yann Ehrlacher to win the championship. 

He might be new to Trophée Andros, but he’s a two-time world champion and he has a very strong head. With his team and their experience in Trophée Andros, one day he could be a winner.  

It’s always a very nice feeling to beat a two-time world champion [laughs]. 

I can’t tell you what we’re doing, but we applied some more balance to the car and small details that made a big difference in the end. The car was easier to drive and had more performance.  

It was not advantageous to have that much extra weight in the car. At that track, the ballast is on the left side and the track’s turns are 90% on the right. But I don’t think about that. I just want to drive fast. 

I’m not sure yet. I will enjoy this sixth title. It’s a very special moment and we will see later what we can do. We are talking with Renault about doing more.