Seb’s 24-hour debut ends in a podium place

His Sean Creech Motorsport outfit claimed runner-up in the LMP3 class for the second year running and, being a 24-hour racing debutant, the Guernseyman coped admirably with the challenges faced in the No. 33 Ligier JS P320.

If the rigours of countless laps around a 3.56-mile circuit were not enough, drivers had to contend with freezing temperatures during the night hours. Tyre management proved critical.

From fifth when the race was green flagged in the early afternoon, veterans Joao Barbosa and Lance Willsey traded the seat for the first seven hours and managed to pace steadily in the top three.

Priaulx’s first stint soon followed and his unfamiliarity with this form of racing showed – he unwittingly ran the red light at pit out, resulting in a drive-through/plus 60sec. penalty.

Re-entering in third position, the 21-year-old Guernseyman was determined to gain his lap back – which he did in short order, retaking the lead with 14 hours remaining.

Priaulx’s eventual triple stint was even more impressive given that he was battling the effects of a stomach bug throughout, but he refused to let that impact his performance.

Multiple full-course cautions under freezing temperatures tested Sean Creech Motorsport and, despite some impressive stints from 18-year-old rookie Malthe Jakobsen, they had slipped to fifth with eight hours remaining.

Priaulx completed his remaining drive time successfully, with Barbosa and Jakobsen rotating over the last five hours before the latter held on through an extremely intense final 30 minutes to lock in a second-place finish.

The team covered 722 laps – one behind the class winners – and Priaulx called his 4hrs 38min. in the driver’s seat ‘tough’.

‘It’s as mentally hard as physically hard when you’re not well, but you have to push through it,’ he said.

‘It takes a lot out of you. I caught a bug and didn’t feel well under the safety car but you have to deal with it. I’m happy that we got through and that I was able to finish my stints.’

Amid the many trials and tribulations, Priaulx feels the team ‘gave it everything we had’.

‘It’s a privilege to be here – I appreciate the chance to race here.

‘The team did a great job, and to finish on the podium in my first Rolex, you can’t describe it. It does hurt a bit not to get that top step, but hopefully I can come back.’