Jules Gounon goes airborne over kerb in wild four‑wide battle at Paul Ricard

Jules Gounon stunned spectators at Paul Ricard when he launched his Mercedes‑AMG over a kerb on the Mistral Straight, going airborne as he fought for second. The dramatic four‑wide moment went viral, but he was later diagnosed with food poisoning, prompting a swift medical check after the race.

Why it matters:

• The jump underscored GT racing’s high‑octane excitement while raising safety questions about kerb design and car stability at extreme speeds.
• Gounon’s food‑poisoning episode spotlights driver health risks, reminding teams that performance can be compromised by illness even in top‑tier motorsport.

The details:

• In the opening GTWC round at Paul Ricard, Gounon, Juncadella and Lulham ran for Mercedes‑AMG; Gounon clipped a high‑kerb while dueling Maxime Martin for second, briefly airborne before yielding to Thomas Preining.
• Post‑race medical staff diagnosed severe food poisoning; Gounon spent hours under observation before being cleared to travel to Austria for a DTM test at the Red Bull Ring.

What's next:

• Gounon’s DTM test at the Red Bull Ring on Tuesday will be his first drive back, offering a quick gauge of fitness; Mercedes‑AMG will monitor his recovery closely while fans replay the airborne footage.