TDS Racing (Top Drive Services, formerly known as Pouchelon Racing) is a French racing team, currently competing in the European Le Mans Series, FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

France TDS Racing
Founded2004
Founder(s)Xavier Combet
Jacques Morello
BaseSaint-Aunès, France
Team principal(s)Xavier Combet
Current seriesIMSA SportsCar Championship
European Le Mans Series
Former seriesFIA World Endurance Championship
Eurocup Mégane Trophy
Blancpain Endurance Series
Teams'
Championships
Eurocup Mégane Trophy:
2009, 2010
European Le Mans Series:
LMP2 2012, GTC 2015
Drivers'
Championships
Eurocup Mégane Trophy:
2008: Michaël Rossi
2010: Nick Catsburg
European Le Mans Series:
LMP2 2012:
Mathias Beche, Pierre Thiriet
GTC 2015:
Eric Dermont, Dino Lunardi, Franck Perera

History

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Eurocup Mégane Trophy (2005-2013)

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Nick Catsburg at 2010 Eurocup Mégane Trophy Brno round

In 2005, TDS Racing, founded and run by Xavier Combet and Jacques Morello, entered the Eurocup Mégane Trophy for the first time, competing under the Pouchelon Racing banner with Ludovic Badey and Matthieu Cheruy. In the next year the team changed name to TDS. After eight years of running in the Mégane Trophy, the team had scored titles in both drivers' and teams championships. The first championship title was clinched by Michaël Rossi in 2008, who won races at Spa, Hungaroring and Estoril. In 2010, Nick Catsburg became another championship winner.[1]

European Le Mans Series (2011-2016)

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Mathias Beche in Oreca 03-Nissan in Petit Le Mans 2012

In 2011, the team purchased Oreca 03-Nissan car to compete in European Le Mans Series with Mathias Beche, Jody Firth, Pierre Thiriet. The team retained Beche and Thiriet for 2012 and took titles with them in drivers' and teams' championship.[2] The team has competed in BMW Z4 GT3 in the GTC Class in 2015 with Eric Dermont, Dino Lunardi and Franck Perera. They became champions in both drivers' and teams' standings.[3]

Blancpain Endurance Series (2013-2015)

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From 2013 to 2015 TDS Racing competed in Blancpain Endurance Series, using BMW Z4 GT3. 2014 was their most successful season in the series, as the duo of Henry Hassid and Nick Catsburg won races at Circuit Paul Ricard and Nürburgring.[4]

 
François Perrodo in Oreca 07-Nissan at Silverstone 2018

FIA World Endurance Championship (2017-2021)

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TDS Racing purchased two Oreca 07-Gibson cars and will make debut in the LMP2 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2017.[5] Also the team will field one car under G-Drive Racing banner.[6]

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (2023-)

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TDS Racing announced on September 28, 2022 that the team would be making a full-time effort in the LMP2 class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023.[7]

Racing record

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24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Entrant No. Car Drivers Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2012   Thiriet by TDS Racing 46 Oreca 03-Nissan   Mathias Beche
  Pierre Thiriet
  Christophe Tinseau
LMP2 353 8th 2nd
2013   Thiriet by TDS Racing 46 Oreca 03-Nissan   Ludovic Badey
  Maxime Martin
  Pierre Thiriet
LMP2 310 DNF DNF
2014   Thiriet by TDS Racing 46 Ligier JS P2-Nissan   Ludovic Badey
  Tristan Gommendy
  Pierre Thiriet
LMP2 355 6th 2nd
2015   Thiriet by TDS Racing 46 Oreca 05-Nissan   Ludovic Badey
  Tristan Gommendy
  Pierre Thiriet
LMP2 204 DNF DNF
2016   Thiriet by TDS Racing 46 Oreca 05-Nissan   Mathias Beche
  Ryō Hirakawa
  Pierre Thiriet
LMP2 241 DNF DNF
2017   G-Drive Racing 26 Oreca 07-Gibson   Alex Lynn
  Roman Rusinov
  Pierre Thiriet
LMP2 20 DNF DNF
  TDS Racing 28   Emmanuel Collard
  François Perrodo
  Matthieu Vaxivière
213 DNF DNF
2018   G-Drive Racing 26 Oreca 07-Gibson   Andrea Pizzitola
  Roman Rusinov
  Jean-Éric Vergne
LMP2 369 DSQ DSQ
  TDS Racing 28   Loïc Duval
  François Perrodo
  Matthieu Vaxivière
365 DSQ DSQ
2019   G-Drive Racing 26 Aurus 01-Gibson   Roman Rusinov
  Job van Uitert
  Jean-Éric Vergne
LMP2 364 11th 6th
  TDS Racing 28 Oreca 07-Gibson   Loïc Duval
  François Perrodo
  Matthieu Vaxivière
366 8th 3rd
2020   G-Drive Racing 26 Aurus 01-Gibson   Mikkel Jensen
  Roman Rusinov
  Jean-Éric Vergne
LMP2 367 9th 5th
  Racing Team Nederland 29 Oreca 07-Gibson   Frits van Eerd
  Giedo van der Garde
  Nyck de Vries
349 19th 15th
2021   Racing Team Nederland 29 Oreca 07-Gibson   Frits van Eerd
  Giedo van der Garde
  Job van Uitert
LMP2 (Pro-Am) 356 16th 2nd
  Realteam Racing 70   Loïc Duval
  Esteban Garcia
  Norman Nato
356 17th 3rd
2022   TDS Racing x Vaillante 13 Oreca 07-Gibson   Mathias Beche
  Tijmen van der Helm
  Nyck de Vries[N 1]
LMP2 368 8th 4th
2023   Tower Motorsports[10] 13 Oreca 07-Gibson   René Rast
  Ricky Taylor
  Steven Thomas
LMP2 (Pro-Am) 19 DNF DNF
2024   Panis Racing[11] 65 Oreca 07-Gibson   Mathias Beche
  Scott Huffaker
  Rodrigo Sales
LMP2 (Pro-Am) 293 23rd 4th

Notes

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  1. ^ De Vries was drafted in as a late replacement for Philippe Cimadomo, who was prohibited from competing after causing multiple incidents in free practice. The change meant the entry was no longer part of the LMP2 Pro-Am subclass.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ "Renault Megane Trophy". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Thiriet by TDS Racing crowned European Le Mans Series champions". motorsport.com. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  3. ^ "ELMS Crowns Their Champions, Plus Special Awards For Robertson, Hignett & TDS". Dailysportscar. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Blancpain Endurance Series: Nurburgring 1000, Hour 6 Report". Dailysportscar. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  5. ^ Dagys, John (26 November 2016). "Collard, Perrodo Step Up to LMP2 With TDS Racing". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Rusinov seals WEC LMP2 return as G-Drive partners TDS". Motorsport.com. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  7. ^ "TDS commits to full season IMSA Program in 2023". sportscar365.com. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  8. ^ Euwema, Davey (10 June 2022). "De Vries Replaces Cimadomo at TDS Racing". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  9. ^ "List of Drivers, Cars, Competitors Allowed For 24 Hours of Le Mans Race" (PDF). Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 11 June 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Tower Motorsports to compete in Le Mans wth [sic] TDS Racing". Endurance-Info. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  11. ^ Goodwin, Graham (22 March 2024). "(Almost) All Change At Panis Racing For 2024". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
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