“Sometimes it’s just terrible”: The failure that threw Jules Gounon out of DTM victory fight

Motorsport photo There was drama for Winward Mercedes driver Jules Gounon in Saturday's season-opening DTM race at the Red Bull Ring. The Frenchman was chasing race leader leader Thomas Preining and was even closing in on the “Grello” Porsche when, five laps from the end, a spectacular plume of smoke suddenly appeared from the right-rear wheel, forcing him out of the race - and leaving him extremely frustrated. “It's just annoying me because the last few years I didn't have much luck," he said.

"I don't believe in luck, but I worked super hard during the winter. I made a lot of decisions in my life that were difficult to take. “I changed a lot of stuff to try to come back.

” And indeed, victory was within reach for the 'Mamba' driver. “All the effort, all the sacrifices you make over winter, they are finally unfolding together. “Then I exited the last corner, the steering was to the left, and I was like, 'OK, I'm pretty sure it's done'.

” View this post on Instagram A post shared by DTM (@dtm. official) Gounon pointed to a suspension issue as the cause for his stoppage at Turn 1. “The day was amazing and then I had a suspension failure," he revealed.