He had to wait two miserable years for it, but Bent Viscaal was able to make his way to the podium of honor again after an international race. The 24-year-old Dutchman finished second in the 4-hour race at Le Castellet.
“Now I want to move on. I’ve had to wait a long time for this success, but am incredibly hungry for more.”
Bent Viscaal – LMP2 driver at Proton Competition
As driver of the #77 Proton Competition LMP2, Viscaal will be part of the European Le Mans Series field of competitors in the 2024 season. The Tukker will share a car in the Pro/Am class with Italian Giorgio Roda and Austrian René Binder. During the season opener in Barcelona, the trio reached a somewhat disappointing fifth position after starting from first place on the grid.
For the four-lap race at Circuit Paul Ricard, the billiard track near the southern French town of Le Castellet, they were bent on revenge. The Proton trio understood where the problems in Spain came from and did want to finish with a podium finish this time. In the eight-car strong LMP2 Pro/Am field, that mission was not accomplished just yet. With several Hypercar drivers among the competitors, the competition is particularly fierce.
During the source qualifying on Saturday, Roda did everything within his capabilities: the Italian amateur driver placed the Proton car with start number 77 in first position, ahead of opponents from AF Corse, Nielsen Racing and Richard Mille by TDS Racing. Roda lost some ground at the start, but managed to limit the damage by never dropping lower than fourth place.
After the first driver change it was the turn of Binder, an experienced driver with, among other things, a class victory at Le Mans on his list of honors. The Austrian thirty-something delivered a very solid race, continuously keeping the leaders in sight and even briefly leading. However, Binder and his teammates were disrupted in their advance due to a drive through penalty, which was given following a foul by Roda.
Despite the shortcoming – and a deflating tire, which Viscaal had to have changed during his own stint – final driver Viscaal drove as one would expect from him. The Tukker flew to the front and overtook both the third and second classified cars shortly before the finish line. Thus, Viscaal’s team crossed the finish line in a handsome second place, which meant Viscaal’s first podium finish in exactly two years.
“I had almost forgotten what champagne smells like,” Viscaal jokes from the south of France. “In the past two years, there have been so many failures that it has given me a headache. The speed was never an issue, but there was always something – either strategic, mechanical or unforeseen circumstances on the track or with the weather. It wasn’t easy, but no doubt that had its reason.”
“When I walked in to Proton Competition I immediately had a good feeling. Christian Ried is a professional and I am very happy that he is my team boss. Together we strive for the very best, and the mutual contact is as if we have known each other for years. Giorgio and René are fine teammates who recognize many conditions thanks to their experience. It is fantastic to be part of this group and reward for work that we can already pick up a trophy in race two.”
“Now I want to move on. I’ve had to wait a long time for this success, but am incredibly hungry for more. I know a few things I’m not allowed to say out loud yet, but let’s say it’s been a very successful week. People will understand what I mean by this very soon. For now, I can only announce that I can’t wait until the next race,” Viscaal concludes with a wink.
Where and when those next races will take place will be announced this week.
