Jules Gounon Driver Profile: The Endurance Ace Thriving With Alpine and Verstappen Racing in 2026
Jules Gounon: Fast Facts
- Full name: Jules Jean-Louis Gounon
- Date of birth: 31 December 1994
- Born in: Aubenas, France
- Nationality: French
- Discipline: Endurance and GT racing
The Jules Gounon driver profile tells a story of grit, reinvention, and world-class speed. Jules Jean-Louis Gounon was born on 31 December 1994 in Aubenas, France. A former Bentley factory driver, he currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Alpine and in various GT racing series for Mercedes-AMG. In 2026, he is one of the busiest and most respected endurance drivers on the planet.
Jules Gounon: Career Background and Family Legacy
Gounon is the son of former racing driver Jean-Marc Gounon, who finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1997 and raced in Formula One with Minardi and Simtek. Racing is clearly in his blood.
Gounon started karting in 2010 at the age of 15. He was crowned Rotax National French Champion in 2011, then clinched the X30 world title the year after. Starting in karting, he quickly transitioned to single-seaters, finishing as runner-up in the 2013 French F4 Championship, then moved to Formula Renault before switching to GT racing in 2015.
His path was not straightforward. After a difficult 2014 season, he was forced to work as a car cleaner for a time before a Porsche scholarship helped revive his career. That period clearly shaped his hunger.
In 2017, he secured the ADAC GT Masters title and won the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa. Despite running one lap down in the first half of the Spa race because of a mis-threaded wheel, Gounon and his teammates came back in front and created an 11-second gap to win. That comeback victory announced him as a top-tier talent.
Jules Gounon Driver Profile: Career Highlights and Major Victories
A leading figure on the international GT stage, Jules Gounon has built a solid record in the greatest endurance races. His achievements include two victories at the 24 Hours of Spa, three wins at the Bathurst 12 Hour, and a victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona in the GTD Pro category in 2023.
Across his career, Gounon has recorded 47 wins, 28 pole positions and 101 podiums across 375 races. Those are remarkable numbers for any driver.
As a reserve driver for the Alpine Endurance Team in 2024, Jules gradually discovered the world of Hypercars and the FIA WEC. Promoted to a full-time driver in the #36 Alpine A424 in 2025, he had a strong season highlighted by two podium finishes, demonstrating his ability to quickly adapt to the pinnacle of endurance racing. Building on this momentum, he was retained by Alpine for the 2026 season.
Also in 2026, Maro Engel and Jules Gounon drive for Winward Racing under the Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER banner in the DTM. Gounon drives the #48 Mamba again for Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER. He impressed in his debut DTM year with three podiums to finish ninth overall.
He also races for Verstappen’s GT team alongside Dani Juncadella, one of the strongest driver pairings in GT racing.
2026 Season: Nurburgring Heartbreak and WEC Campaign
The 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours was the biggest story of Gounon’s season so far. He drove a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Max Verstappen, Lucas Auer and Juncadella for the historic event. The #3 Mercedes held a lead advantage over the sister Winward car. Mercedes was the dominant force in the race from around the sixth hour.
After completing a double stint, Verstappen handed the car over to Jules Gounon, who managed to keep the #3 entry firmly in contention despite rain returning to the Nordschleife. However, Verstappen Racing’s hopes of victory came crashing down roughly four hours from the finish when a driveshaft failure struck the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3, forcing the team into retirement after leading for much of the race.
It was a painful result. The supreme job Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella and Max Verstappen did across the event was undermined by one of those mechanical failures that simply happen in a 24-hour race.
In the FIA WEC, Gounon races the #36 Alpine alongside Frédéric Makowiecki and Victor Martins. After three rounds, the Alpine #36 crew of Makowiecki, Gounon and Martins holds 4 points in the championship. The season continues with the 6 Hours of São Paulo next on the calendar.
What Makes Jules Gounon Unique
Gounon is defined by resilience. He went from cleaning cars to winning Spa. He raced through food poisoning at Paul Ricard in 2026, climbing into the cockpit despite lack of sleep and fluids, pressing on before passing out after climbing out of the car. He later described it as one of the hardest stints he had ever completed in racing.
Gounon was full of praise for his “amazing team-mate” Max Verstappen, claiming he is the perfect co-driver for endurance racing. That generosity of spirit reflects his character.
Off track, Gounon is a resident of Andorra and in 2023, after living in the country for two years, he applied for an Andorran racing licence. He is a global competitor who thrives under pressure. In 2026, Jules Gounon is living his best racing life, and there is plenty more to come.