Albert Costa (May 2, 1990, Barcelona) He said it all in the gesture he made before climbing to the top of the La Sarthe podium as new winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMP2 category. Entering that iconic podium area and seeing all the people invading the track, I began to assimilate what I had achieved. He put his hands on his head. I can not believe. He can’t even imagine what happened last weekend in the race of races. Above all, at its premiere in this mythical event, just a few months ago he did not know what his future would hold. From nothing I won Le Mans. But if that victory was special for the rider from Les Corts for one thing, it was because of all the suffering of the previous years. Albert went from being a young man with enormous projections, who came to watch F1, to see how he became the victim of a scam that left him without money, without a steering wheel and without dreams, on the verge of retirement. But he didn’t give up.
Many of the great motor specialists saw Albert as F1 fodder, one of the greatest talents this country has produced, when in 2009 he won the Eurocup 2.0 championship of Renault’s World Series. He beat Jean-Éric Vergne (later F1 driver with Toro Rosso), Antonio Félix Da Costa (later Formula E champion) in his second season in a category where Kevin Magnussen, who also reached F1, finished in 7th. All this, after the bankruptcy of his main sponsor in 2007 shook his career in 2007.
Later, in 2010 and 2011, he competed in Formula Renault 3.5. He was 5th in his first year and 4th in his second year, finishing 4th, fighting with drivers like Brendon Hartley (he came to F1 and is now a driver for the official Toyota team in the World Endurance World Championship), Vergne, Daniel Ricciardo (he came to Red Bull in F1) and many others. Costa has shown the necessary talent to be in F1. Going no further, Australian Ricciardo joined that ‘Great Circus’ in 2011 with HRT before jumping to Toro Rosso. Albert was looking at F1, he wanted to get closer to it by going through GP2 first, but he couldn’t achieve the budget. Of course, there was a moment when I thought I would reach.
At that time, there were people who wanted to help him. One in particular. He had a million dollar contract to run in GP2 on the table, along with several high level sponsors. But when I was at the airport waiting for the ride to sign, that man didn’t show up. He was lost, as he recounted years ago in a sad letter in which he asked for help through the networks. He was left with no money, no steering wheel and no dreams.
The sad letter written by Albert Costa in 2012
“I want to get the message out to the whole world I am completely free agent. During the winter many people came into my life with the promise that they would help me if they would be my representative. They’re talking to me about taking me to Formula 1. For the last two months, I’ve been working with someone who said they’ve found a big sponsor and everything is set up for me to continue in the World Series. We even called Carlin, and I told Trevor (Trevor Carlin, Carlin team boss) that I had a sponsor, but when it came time to talk about a contract, this guy said, ‘No, no. There’s a problem with the sponsor’, and he disappears. I was alone for a week, free, without a representative and without money.”said Albert, who at that time, in January 2012, was 21 years old.
“I know Jean-Eric (Vergne), (Daniel) Ricciardo and Charles Pic and sometimes I raced with these drivers. They were more or less the same year as me in the Renault World Series, but they now in F1 and at the moment it seems I will stay at home”added at that time.
“I tried to stay with the Renault 3.5, but I didn’t have the necessary budget and I had to leave it. I don’t have a representative, I don’t have a sponsor, I hope I can continue my career in any GT or Turismo series. It’s too late to agree, but I just want to race, whether in touring cars or in other categories. Really I don’t care if I make money, but it’s very bad for me if I spend this year at home. All these links I am sending are the explanation of the situation in which I find myself. Spread the word, friends!”
change of focus
Albert He went from looking at the opportunity of F1, to thinking about reinventing himself and continuing his career GT or passenger cars. At that time, I thought that if I didn’t get into F1, a possible dream would be the World Touring Cars, the World Endurance Championship, and above all, run the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But I didn’t know that some of those wishes would come true. After being scammed by that individual, he competed 2012 in the Eurocup Megane Trophy, competition in which he premiered the title. Despite this, the lack of financial support would cause him to leave the competition for the next 4 years, a time when he tried to help in his father’s helmet and motorcycle shop, Luis Costa. Until finally, four years later, he found a flyer with the team. Emily Frey.
He then went on to compete in GT3. In GT It will stand out, it will shine in its own light. And that’s how Lamborghini sees him. Albert became the brand’s official pilot to compete in competitions such as 24 hours of Daytona, the ADAC GT Masters and the blancpain.
last minute opportunity
however, Albert He made an important decision before the start of this season. Lamborghini did not announce him to the pilots of the program LMDh where it comes to Le Mans next year. And finally, the Catalan, does not feel the necessary confidence inside Lamborghini, decided to move the tab. His father asked him to think about that movement. I have something to pilot on ADAC GT Masters, but in the end it was not fulfilled. Albert was once again left without a steering wheel. But then an unexpected choice appeared: to compete in the World Endurance Championship with a very modest team, Inter Europol, in the LMP2 category, the silver class of the World Cup (WEC).
Albert Costa has made it clear what he is capable of in the second race of the year, with a spectacular relay to take his team to its first WEC podium. And two races later, they want to make history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It seems unthinkable that a group with so few resources, so young, can challenge outstanding teams such as Prema, WRT, United Autosport or Jota in the 24 Hours. In addition, the qualifying session became more complicated for him: Albert Costa’s car 34 started 13th in the race due to a ‘qualy’ in which they had very bad luck.
An exhibition in spite of poverty
That was then Albert warned. They say the rhythm is good and they should be in the match for everyone. I’m sure of it. And in the race it was confirmed. you didn massive first relay, took the car in 7th and left it in second position to his teammate Fabio Scherer, who could have taken the lead. And the equation was repeated on the night in another exhibition of the same, with Albert Costa enduring the pressure of a full Robert Kubica who never caught up to him.
But it won’t be easy: Scherer was hit by another car in the pits and had to drive for most of the race injured. Then came a penalty for the car at the last minute added to a problem with the door and the radio which could have made the final moments of the race even more poignant. But in the end, they got an epic victory. At the premiere of Albert Costa at Le Mans, the driver of Les Corts was crowned before the world. From steering wheelless, to being on the radar of many. Now look at the top class of the World Endurance Championship, the Hypercars class. He still has a bright future.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
