Patrice Goueslard

Patrice Goueslard is a French former racing driver who was active from 1990 to 2013 and who achieved the most in sports car racing, scoring numerous wins and many national and international championship titles.

He was the French GT champion three times, Le Mans Series GT1 champion three times and FIA GT champion once. In greatest endurance races, he scored one class victory at Daytona 24 Hours and two class podiums at Le Mans 24 Hours.

Patrice Goueslard

Starting a career in 1990, Le Mans debut in 1994

Born in November 1965 in Caen, France, Patrice Goueslard started his racing career in 1990, entering the French Formula Renault Championship. He spent four seasons in the Formula Renault, finishing best in 11th place in 1993 when he scored one podium.

In 1994, Goueslard made a debut in the sports car racing, participating in the world's greatest race – the 24 hours of Le Mans. He was driving the #56 Porsche 911 Turbo for Elf Haberthur Racing, sharing a car with Olivier Haberthur and Patrick Vuillaume. Turbocharger failure forced them to retire after 42 laps.

Patrice Goueslard was active from 1990 to 2013

Three seasons in the Porsche Carrera Cup France

In 1994, Goueslard also made a debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup France, finishing fifth in the Class B. Driving the Porsche 993 Carrera in 1995, he won the Class B championship title and finished sixth overall in the Porsche Carrera Cup France. The champion was Christophe Bouchut.

Goueslard's  last season in a series was 1996 when he finished fourth in the overall standings. Bouchut was a champion again.

Joining Larbre Competition in 1996

In 1996, Goueslard joined Larbre Competition, the team with which scored his greatest results. His first competition with Larbre Competition's Porsche 911 GT2 was the BPR Global GT Series. His full-time co-driver was Andre Ahrle and they finished 21st in the points.

At Le Mans 24 Hours, they were sixth in the GT2 class, sharing the #82 Porsche 911 GT2 with Patrick Bourdais.

Patrice Goueslard in 1997

1997 - Daytona win, Le Mans podium, French GT champion

The season 1997 was an extra successful year for Goueslard. He started a season with a class victory at Daytona 24 Hours. He, Andre Ahrle, Claudia Hurtgen and Ralf Kelleners won the GTS-2 class in the #99 Roock Racing Porsche 911 GT2.

At Le Mans 24 Hours, Goueslard, Armin Hahne and Pedro Lamy finished fifth overall and the third in the GT1 class in the #33 Schübel Engineering Porsche 911 GT1.

That year, Goueslard participated full season in the French GT Championship with Larbre Competition's Porsche 911 GT2, showing an absolute domination by winning all ten races and taking the championship title. He also competed in the inaugural FIA GT Championship with three different teams in three races.

Third place overall at 1998 Daytona 24 Hours

In 1998, Goueslard had again great opening of the season, scoring third place overall at Daytona 24 Hours with Larbre Competition. He was sharing the #00 Porsche 911 GT1 with Christophe Bouchut, Andre Ahrle and Carl Rosenblad.

In the 1998 French GT Championship, Goueslard scored six wins with Larbre's Porsche to finish third in the points. He also had some attempts in the FIA GT Championship, not scoring points. At Le Mans 24 Hours, Goueslard, Jean-Luc Chéreau and Pierre Yver finished ninth in the GT class. The same trio returned to Le Mans in 1999, not being classified after 240 laps.

French GT vice-champion in 1999

In 1999, Goueslard won four races in the French GT Championship in the #2 Porsche 911 GT2, sharing a car with Jean-Claude Lagniez. They finished second in the points, losing a title to Jean-Pierre Jarier.

In 1999, Goueslard also participated in three FIA GT Championship races with Haberthur Racing, not scoring points. In all three races, his co-driver was Luca Cappellari.

In 2002, Goueslard (right) was the NGT class champion in the FIA GT Championship

NGT class FIA GT Champion in 2000

In 2000, Goueslard stayed with Larbre Competition but switched his focus on the FIA GT Championship, participating in all ten races and winning the title in the N-GT class. He won six races in the Porsche 911 GT3-R, sharing a car with Christophe Bouchut.

In the French GT Championship, Goueslard started five times in a Porsche and won one race. At 24 hours of Le Mans, he, Christophe Bouchut and Jean-Luc Chereau retired after 34 laps because of an accident.

2001 – debut at Sebring 12 Hours, a podium at Spa 24 Hours

In 2001, Goueslard started a year at Sebring 12 Hours, sharing the #00 Porsche 996 GT3-RS with Christophe Bouchut and Sebastien Dumez. They finished 5th in the GT class. Goueslard greatest success in 2001 was the second place in the French GT Championship after winning four races together with Philippe Soulan in the #5 Nourry Competition Porsche 911 GT2.

In the 2001 FIA GT Championship, Goueslard participated in nine races in the NGT class with Larbre's Porsche and one race in the GT class with Larbre's Chrysler Viper GTS-R. It was the Spa 24 Hours, where he, Sebastien Dumez and Sebastien Bourdais finished in the second place.

At Le Mans 24 Hours, Goueslard, Jean-Luc Chéreau and Sebastien Dumez finished tenth overall and fourth in the GT class in the #80 Porsche 911 GT3-RS.

Patrice Goueslard in 2003

Two consecutive French GT titles in 2002 and 2003

In 2002, Goueslard stayed with Nourry Competition in the French GT Championship, winning the title together with Philippe Soulan in the #2 Porsche 911 GT2. They were race winner four times. At 2002 Le Mans 24 Hours, Goueslard partnered Christophe Bouchut and Vincent Vosse in the #50 Chrysler Viper GTS-R, finishing fourth in GTS class.

For the 2003 French GT Championship season, Goueslard rejoined Larbre Competition and defended his championship title, sharing the #7 Chrysler Viper GTS-R with Didier Defourny. They were race winners two times to beat teammates by just one point. At 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours, Goueslard was again fourth in the GTS class, sharing a Chrysler Viper with Christophe Bouchut and Steve Zacchia.

2004 - a season with Ferrari 550 Maranello

In 2004, Larbre Competition switched to a Ferrari 550 Maranello. In the French GT Championship, Goueslard was sharing the #1 Ferrari with Olivier Dupard, not winning races and finishing 12th in the points.

In his first Le Mans 24h attempt in a Ferrari, Goueslard was fifth in the GTS class together with Christophe Bouchut and Olivier Dupard. Goueslard had a one-off appearance in the Le Mans Series, finishing second at the 1000 km of Spa.

2005 – last victory in the French GT Championship

In 2005, Goueslard returned to the Circuit de la Sarthe in a Ferrari but raced in a Chrysler Viper in the French GT Championship. He, Olivier Dupard and Vincent Vosse finished fourth in the GT2 class at Le Mans 24 Hours.

In the French GT Championship, Goueslard scored his final win in the series, winning the race at Nogaro. He ended a season tenth in the points.

2006 Le Mans podium in a Chevrolet Corvette

In 2006, Goueslard made a switch to Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, driving for Luc Alphand Aventures in the Le Mans Series. He was sharing the #72 car with Jerome Policand and Anthony Beltoise. Scoring three podiums, he finished fourth in the GT1 points. At 24 hours of Le Mans, Patrice Goueslard,  Luc Alphand and Jerome Policand finished on a podium taking the third place in the GT1 class in the #72 Corvette.

Goueslard remained with Luc Alphand in 2007, driving a Chevrolet Corvette C6.R and finishing third in the Le Mans Series GT1 classification. At Le Mans 24 Hours, a trio in the #72 Corvette finished 7th in the GT1 class.

Patrice Goueslard in 2010

Three championship titles in the Le Mans Series

In 2008, his third season with Luc Alphand Aventures, Goueslard managed to win the GT1 championship title in the Le Mans Series, scoring two wins in five races. His championship-winning partner in the #72 Corvette C6.R was Guillaume Moreau. At Le Mans 24h, Goueslard was sharing the #73 Corvette with Jean-Luc Blancheman and Laurent Pasquali, finishing sixth in the GT1 class.

The second consecutive LMS GT1 title followed in 2009 when Goueslard was sharing the #72 Corvette with Yann Clairay. At Le Mans 24h, Goueslard's crew retired after an accident on lap 99.

In 2010, Goueslard has won his third LMS title, driving a Saleen S7-R for Larbre Competition. He and Gabriele Gardel won four of five races to dominantly take the title in the #50 Saleen. In June 2010, Goueslard recorded his last participation at Le Mans 24 Hours, sharing the #73 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R with Xavier Maassen and Julien Jousse. They retired after 238 laps.

Patrice Goueslard ended a career in 2013

Three last seasons in a Ferrari

In 2011, Goueslard started a season in the Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series, competing in the opening two rounds with Ford Mustang. He didn't return to stock car racing, joining Sofrev Auto Sport Promotion (ASP) in the Blancpain Endurance Series. He was driving the #10 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 in four races, including Spa 24 Hours. His teammates were Jerome Policand and Julien Jousse.

In 2012, Goueslard stayed with Sofrev ASP in the Blancpain Endurance Series, finishing the season fourth in the GT3 Pro-Am Cup. His partners in the #20 Ferrari were Jean-Luc Beaubelique and Ludovic Badey.

Goueslard's last competitive season was 2013 when he raced with Sofrev ASP in the Gentleman Trophy class of the Blancpain Endurance Series. He won the with three victories from five races in the #20 Ferrari.

Photos: goueslard.com,