Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has lashed his team after they dropped him from their 24 Hours of Le Mans driver line-up without telling him.
The Canadian has subsequently pulled out of this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship in protest.
Villeneuve, who famously won the 1997 Formula 1 world championship, was set to contest the 24-hour endurance race in France with the Floyd Vanwall Racing Team.
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However, just a few weeks out from the race, the team announced Frenchman Tristan Vautier would drive the Vanwall Vandervell 680 instead. Vautier will join countryman Tom Dillman and Argetina’s Esteban Guerrieri in the No.4 car.
The brutal snubbing came just as his wife was in labour, giving birth to their daughter late last month.
Villeneuve said he only found out about the driver line-up change when the team made its announcement.
“To date, I have not received any official communication from the team, which is even more surprising given that I am still under contract to participate in the Le Mans 24 Hours,” Villeneuve said in a statement.
“The timing of the release strangely coincided with my impending arrival at the hospital for the birth of our baby daughter, which had been planned for May 26th.
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“ByKolles was well aware of this personal family event, rendering me unable to respond or address this sudden announcement.
“As a racing family, we have always successfully balanced our personal lives with our professional careers, with racing always holding a prominent place.
“In fact, my preparation for the Le Mans 24 Hours event was meticulous and well-organised.”
This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was to be the first competitive appearance for Villeneuve in the race since he finished runner-up in 2008 with Peugeot.
Villeneuve, the son of the late Gilles Villeneuve, expressed his disappointment in the team’s decision he labelled unfair.
“Considerable time and effort were dedicated to achieving peak physical and mental readiness for this extraordinary challenge that I was really looking forward to,” he said.
“Following victories in the Indy 500, IndyCar and the F1 championship, the Le Mans 24 Hours holds special significance for me.
“Consequently, I am deeply disheartened that the opportunity to participate has been unjustly and arbitrarily denied.”
Villeneuve was named for the 6 Hours of Monza, which follows the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but has decided he will not compete with the ByKolles-run team.
“Under these circumstances, I have made the decision to abstain from participating in the remainder of the WEC season with ByKolles,” he said.
“Instead, I will redirect my focus and energies towards preparing for a more successful and professionally fulfilling 2024 racing season.”
This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which takes place across June 10-11 at Circuit de la Sarthe, marks 100 years sine the inaugural race in 1923.
Stan Sport will carry exclusive coverage of practice, qualifying, and the 24-hour race live and ad-free.
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