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Treluyer may sit out 2017 running of Le Mans

Benoit Treluyer says he may sit out this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, as he has yet to receive an offer from a winning team to contest the French classic.

Benoît Tréluyer, Audi Sport Team Joest

Benoît Tréluyer, Audi Sport Team Joest

Audi Communications Motorsport

Benoît Tréluyer, Marcel Fässler, Audi Sport Team Joest
#7 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18: Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer, Benoit Tréluyer
LMP1 Podium: second place #7 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18: Marcel Fässler, Andre Lotterer, Benoit Tréluyer
#7 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18: Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer, Benoit Tréluyer
Benoît Tréluyer, Audi Sport Team Joest
Benoit Tréluyer
#1 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, Audi R8 LMS: Will Stevens, Dries Vanthoor, Frédéric Vervisch
Benoit Tréluyer

The 40-year-old, who has contested the La Sarthe classic 12 times, was one of the victims of Audi’s withdrawal from sportscar racing at the end of last season, having been part of its LMP1 programme since 2010.

Only Toyota still has seats available for this year’s Le Mans in the LMP1-H class, the Japanese marque yet to confirm who will partner Stephane Sarrazin in its third car.

While Ryo Hirakawa is likely to be one of the Frenchman’s teammates, Treluyer is thought to be an outside contender for the third seat, although an LMP2 berth is considered a more likely option should he wish to race.

However, speaking to Motorsport.com, Treluyer said he had not had an offer to compete in a winning package, and therefore may skip the event for the first time since 2006.

“Not for the moment,” he said when asked if he had plans to contest Le Mans this year.

“It’s not that I don’t want to do Le Mans, but if I do, it has to be to win. For now, that opportunity hasn’t presented itself.

"Maybe I will take a year off from Le Mans.”

GT, Rallycross plans taking shape

While Le Mans may not be on his agenda, Treluyer says he wants to spend 2017 racing in GTs with Audi, and make a foray into rallycross.

Although he was eager to stress nothing has been confirmed, he expressed a particular interest in continuing with the WRT team he is currently contesting the Andros Trophy ice racing series with.

“For the moment, I don’t know about it,” said Treluyer of his 2017 plans. “I’m still rather in the dark. I remain an Audi driver, and I want to do some GT, and at least some tests in a rallycross car.

“I would really like to do some GT with the WRT team, if possible – or with another team, if the opportunity arises, but in any case with an Audi.”

On his rallycross ambitions, he added: “This is part of my wish, but for now nothing is decided.

“For now, I am progressing slowly with what I would like to do. Whether I’ll do a complete programme or not, that’s another matter."

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