Michelin 12H MUGELLO | 2026
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Michelin 24H BARCELONA | 2026Michelin 12H MUGELLO | 2026Michelin 12H SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS | 2026Michelin 12H PAUL RICARD | 2026Michelin 12H NÜRBURGRING | 2026Michelin 24H BARCELONA | 2026
Driver – Olivier Gomez
Team – Vortex V8 (#701)
2021 GTX Teams’ ‘Europe’ champion
Driver – Arnaud Gomez
Team – Vortex V8 (#701)
2021 GTX Teams’ ‘Europe’ champion
Arnaud: “Our first race, it was in 1994. Before Vortex, we have driven for a lot of teams together, in France and Spain, including Formula France [which Arnaud won in 1998] and [Championnat de France] Formule Renault.”
Olivier: “At three years old, we started driving.”
Arnaud: “In karting, yes.”
Olivier: “And we’ve been doing it ever since.”
Arnaud: “We’ve done the [Hankook] 24H DUBAI maybe 10 or 11 times, and for me, the best moment was when we took pole position in 2016.”
Olivier: “For me, our best race was the [Hankook] 24H BARCELONA, when we finished in 1st place… I don’t know which year that was.”
Arnaud: “2013?”*
Olivier: “Yes! I wasn’t driving that year, but that was very special.”
*Before the debut of ‘Vortex V8’ in 2016, Arnaud and Olivier ran purpose-built, GC 10 V8 silhouette cars as ‘GC Automobile Factory.’ Not only did the French team take its first series win in Barcelona in 2013, but also its first 1-2 finish in the SP2 class.
Two of the most significant moments for the Gomez brothers: SP2 victory at Barcelona in 2013…
…and class pole position at the Hankook 24H DUBAI in 2016. Both were accomplished with Vortex’ predecessor, the GC Automobile GC 10.
Arnaud: “I think it’s Spa-Francorchamps”
Olivier: “Same!”
Arnaud: “I’ve never driven in Australia, and in a few months, we will go to Bathurst with Philippe [Bonnel] and Lionel [Amrouche]. It will be great to finally compete at the Bathurst 12 Hours. It’s been a dream to be a part of that race. Before that, two years ago, we went to Sebring [for the inaugural Hankook 24H SEBRING], and that was amazing.”
Olivier: “I would like to drive on an English track, like Brands Hatch: it’s old, it’s small, and it has a lot of history. I think I’d like to try Zandvoort too.”
With long-time Vortex V8 teammates Philippe Bonnel and Lionel Amrouche at the 2023 Hankook 12H KUWAIT.
Arnaud: “He’s a very experienced driver, and he’s one of those drivers who can prove his experience behind the wheel. That’s very important for our customers. It means they can learn a lot from him. When you look at the data and [onboard] lap videos, he’s very competitive.”
Olivier: “Strategy and Logistics! He’s the main guy that ‘drives’ the team. Arnaud is also a very experienced driver and is very natural behind the wheel.”
[There’s a quick discussion in French as the brothers compare notes…]
Arnaud: “We’ve done a lot of races. We’ve driven together for 30 years and there’s a lot of experiences there...” – Just as Arnaud gets going, Olivier, with a smile, starts another quick aside in French. He’s thought of something! – “Ah! We are not the best when we are the mechanics during a pit stop! One time, our driver came into the pit box – I don’t remember which race this was – and when we changed the rear tyre, we put the same tyre back on! So the driver ended up doing two stints on the same tyre!”
Olivier: “I have a few stories away from the track! But honestly, I can’t think of one during a race.”
- 12 Hours, or 24 Hours?
Olivier – “24.”
Arnaud – “24. Driving at night is fun!”
- Coffee, tea or Red Bull?
Olivier – “Nothing. No tea, no coffee, no Red Bull.”
Arnaud – “Same.”
- Petrol or electric?
Both answer together – “Petrol!”
- Pineapple on pizza: yes or no?
Olivier – “Yes.”
Arnaud – “No.”
- Max, Lewis, Charles or Fernando?!
Arnaud – “Fernando.”
Olivier – “Fernando!”
Arnaud: “Competent!”
[This may sound like damning with faint praise, but there’s clearly a lot of affection behind this answer.]
Olivier: “Same. Also, ‘fast’!”*
* Speaking of which…
Arnaud: “Ah, well, today, it’s Olivier. I’m struggling to get a good laptime!”
Olivier: “Yes, same. But it is dependent on the track. In Barcelona, he’s faster than me. Spa too. But me? I like Le Castellet. He doesn’t beat me too often there!”
CREVENTIC caught up with Arnaud and Olivier shortly after Free Practice at the Hankook 12H KUWAIT. The Gomez brothers finished a trying, but largely positive, first race with the new Vortex ‘2.0’ on the podium alongside Philippe Bonnel and Lionel Amrouche. This was the third consecutive GTX podium for Vortex in 2023, a season that started with class victory in Mugello.
Images – Nico Mombaerts / Petr Frýba / Eric Teeken
You can also check out this article in our magazine for the 2024 Hankook 24H DUBAI, available for download below.
