The Richard Mille Racing Team, in association with the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, will be fielding the first-ever all-female line-up in the LMP2 category of the 2020 and 2021 European Le Mans Series, marking another great step for top female racers. With a Commission-supported crew already competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the goal of having females challenging for honours at the highest level, with professional racing teams, continues to gather momentum.
“This is an incredible opportunity with Richard Mille and his team,” said FIA Women in Motorsport Commission President, Michèle Mouton. “For the last few years we have been focussed on working with our own FIA commissions, independent teams and manufacturers to help provide some of the world’s most successful female racers with opportunities to show they have the talent to line up alongside the best and fight for the top positions. To have two all-female crews now doing this is huge progress and testament to the faith teams, and Richard, justifiably have in our racers.”
Katherine Legge will spearhead the Richard Mille Racing Team, the Briton bringing a wealth of experience to their two-year ELMS programme. Already a proven winner in sports cars and a successful racer in numerous categories, Legge will contest all six rounds at the wheel of the Oreca 07, Gibson-powered racecar run by Philippe Sinault’s Signatech team, the reigning FIA WEC Champion and 2019 winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMP2 category.
Colombia's Tatiana Calderón, currently one of the best performing women in single-seaters, and young German Formula 3 sensation, Sophia Flörsch, complete the line-up. Both Calderón, who is also set for her first season in the formidable Super Formula series in Japan, and Flörsch, bring an enormous amount of talent and experience to the team as it initially focuses on understanding the specifics of endurance racing. Long term, the goal is to fight for podiums and secure an invitation to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“Richard has a strong belief that access to our sport for women has its challenges, like it does for men, but he has taken concrete action with this project and shown belief in Katherine, Tatiana and Sophia,” added Mouton. “I can’t wait to see how the team progresses on this incredible journey, which hopefully will take them to Le Mans and beyond.”
The 2020 European Le Mans series kicks off with pre-season testing in Barcelona on 30/31 March before the contenders take on six events at some of Europe’s most iconic circuits:
· 4 Hours of Barcelona - 5 April
· 4 Hours of Monza - 10 May
· 4 Hours of Le Castellet - 19 July
· 4 Hours of Silverstone - 6 September
· 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps - 20 September
· 4 Hours of Portimão - 18 October
Image: Katherine Legge at the Indianapolis 500
