Phenomenal Talent, Fastest Lap, Hard Lessons at COTA
- Matt Forbush
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
Our first weekend at Circuit of The Americas with the Duqueine D09 was not simple, but it gave us a much clearer look at what this program can become.
Going into the IMSA Airbnb Endurance Challenge at COTA, we knew the timeline was tight. The car had just come from testing in Alès, France, and after some delays getting everything through customs, we had very little time to get it turned around before loading for Austin. In less than a week, we were working through driver fitment, IMSA-specific wiring, radio and cool suit systems, setup equipment, spares, trailer changes, tooling, and a full wrap.
It was a lot. Probably too much. But that was the reality of getting a new car, new platform, and new program to the track.
For me, the weekend carried a different kind of pressure. I was incredibly excited to welcome Jules Caranta, his family, and the Duqueine group to Texas. Jules was making his first race start in the United States, and having people travel from Europe to support the effort made the weekend feel bigger than a normal race. At the same time, I felt a real responsibility to make sure we represented the program well, kept the car on track, and gave everyone a weekend that reflected the amount of effort that went into getting there.
The support around us was one of the best parts of the weekend. We had vendors help get parts and supplies shipped directly to the track, and other Duqueine teams in the paddock stepped in with equipment, parts, and advice when we realized we were missing things. That kind of support says a lot about the paddock. Everyone is there to compete, but people still want to see cars on track and teams moving forward.
We started the weekend with a baseline setup. We had not tested the D09 at COTA, and with the compressed schedule, we knew we were going to have to learn quickly. Wednesday evening, we were able to do a track walk with Jules, Sébastien Breuil, Chris, and Jules’ parents. It was Jules’ first time seeing the circuit, and I was immediately impressed by how prepared and knowledgeable he was. He is only 17, but the way he studies the car, the track, and the details around setup is well beyond his age.
Practice did not give us the clean start we needed. The first session was cut short by a red flag, which cost us valuable track time, especially for me. I had driven COTA before in GT cars, but this was my first real time trying to get up to speed there in the D09. That matters. The way this car makes speed is different, especially in the high-speed sections where aero commitment is such a big part of the lap.
That was probably the biggest learning curve for me all weekend. In a GT car, and even in
some earlier prototype experience, there are places where slowing the car down feels like the safer thing to do. In the D09, especially at a track like COTA, going too slow can actually make the car feel worse because the aero is not working the way it needs to. The car wants commitment. That sounds simple, but it takes laps, trust, and data to really build confidence in it.
By qualifying, I had made progress, but I was still farther off than I wanted to be. The biggest gains came from looking at data with Jules, Sébastien, and Chris, especially around braking. I had picked up some habits from previous cars where I was cautious with the initial brake hit because of rear locking issues. The D09 has a completely different level of braking capability, and the data made it obvious where I needed to trust the car more.
The race started well. I was able to move forward early, avoid a few cars that spun ahead, and settle into the stint. I was still not where I needed to be on pace at the beginning, but as the stint went on, the car started to make more sense. By the end, I was much closer to where I needed to be, especially in the faster sections and braking zones.
We lost some time in the driver change with a belt issue, which is something we’ll clean up. Then Jules got in and did exactly what he had shown all weekend.
He was outstanding.
Jules drove a great second stint, moved us forward, and set the fastest P3 lap of the race at 2:01.352. We finished sixth overall and fourth in class, which was much better than I would have thought when the green flag dropped, given everything it took just to get to that point. With a caution at the right time, I think we would have had a real shot at a podium. That is not an excuse, just the reality of how strong his pace was and how much potential the car showed.
The result was encouraging, but the bigger takeaway is the path forward. We still have a lot to clean up. We need more time with the car, better organization around the new platform, cleaner pit execution, more setup work, and more laps for me to continue getting comfortable with what the D09 can do. But for the first time in a while, I feel like we have a clear path to competing for podiums at every race.
That is what makes this exciting.
COTA was not the finished product. It was a tough, messy, valuable first step with a new car and a new group of people around us. But it confirmed the potential of the Duqueine D09, the value of having Jules as part of the program, and the importance of continuing to surround this team with great people.
Now we have time to regroup, get our ducks in a row, and build toward Road America. The goal is simple: learn from COTA, prepare properly, and give ourselves a real chance to fight at the front.
Media below - Check out the killer video Emma (Jules' Mom) made!
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