Former Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve released an angry statement after being dropped by his team weeks before the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Canadian won the 1997 F1 title in just his second season in the sport. He remained racing in that category until 2006, winning 11 races and securing 23 podiums in total. Since then, he has tried his hand at several other series including NASCAR and Formula E.
Villeneuve finished second at Le Mans in 2008 with Peugeot and tested a hypercar late last year in a bid to return to the World Endurance Championship with Vanwall. He landed that spot and has taken part in three races so far this year.
The 52-year-old was due to take part in the Le Mans race in June, but has now been replaced by Tristan Vautier. In a public statement, he claimed he only found out he had been removed from his seat when he saw the press release from the team.
VIlleneuve said: "I am deeply disappointed to have learned of my replacement for the upcoming Le Mans 24 Hours, through a public announcement released by the Vanwall Racing Team ByKolles on May 25th, 2023. 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.
"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. 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. Considerable time and effort were dedicated to achieving peak physical and mental readiness for this extraordinary challenge that I was really looking forward to.
"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 went on to announce he would be withdrawing from the rest of this year's WEC campaign. "Instead, I will redirect my focus and energies towards preparing for a more successful and professionally fulfilling 2024 racing season," he added.
