With eight starts in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Frenchman is now looking forward to getting behind the wheel at Monza alongside Charles Milesi and Lilou Wadoux
The team is ninth in its category at the halfway point of the season before the next meeting in Monza (Italy)
Following its excellent showing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a field that was more competitive than ever, the Richard Mille Racing Team is now focusing on the second half of the FIA WEC season. While the team is continuing on with Charles Milesi and Lilou Wadoux, Paul-Loup Chatin will join the two up-and-coming drivers from the next race. The Frenchman will replace Sébastien Ogier, who has decided to put his endurance commitments on hold.
"We knew Sébastien Ogier would not be able to run the full season with us due to his busy schedule and we will obviously miss him, says Amanda Mille. For this new line-up, we are delighted to welcome Paul-Loup Chatin to the team. He will be an asset to form once again an fascinating and competitive driver line-up".
After starting in single-seaters, Paul-Loup Chatin turned to endurance racing in 2013. Only one year later, he won the European title with Signatech-Alpine, the technical structure in which Richard Mille placed his trust in the management of his team. Third in the LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Paul-Loup Chatin also received the Prix Jean Rondeau awarded to the best French hopeful on the twice-around-the-clock classic.
"We are delighted to welcome Paul-Loup Chatin, added Philippe Sinault, Signatech Director and Richard Mille Racing Team Manager. We have an excellent relationship with Sébastien Ogier, with whom we have nothing but fond memories. He was kind enough to tell us ahead of time, and we respect his decision. We were able to anticipate our quest for his perfect substitute. Although he is about to wear the Richard Mille colours for the first time, we know Paul-Loup very well. His talent and adaptability enabled us to successfully defend our European Le Mans Series title in 2014 and provide a solid foundation for our first FIA World Endurance Championship campaign. Paul-Loup has always been fast in the LMP2 category, and we have no doubts about his integration. With Charles and Lilou, this new team looks very promising for the second half of the season!”
After a complete season in the FIA WEC with Signatech in 2015, Paul-Loup Chatin went on to excel with other teams and win his class in the 2021 24 Hours of Daytona. With eight Le Mans 24 Hours starts under his belt, the Frenchman is already looking forward to returning to Monza, where he finished third last year.
"I'm ecstatic to be joining the Richard Mille Racing Team, concluded the 30-year-old Frenchman. It's a fantastic opportunity and I'm extremely flattered that they thought of me. My target is quite simple. First and foremost, I want to serve the team and my teammates to reach the highest possible level. I also hope to help them with my LMP2 experience on three circuits that I know well. It would be awesome to be on the podium by the end of the season with Charles and Lilou, and we will give it our all to achieve this. It's also a real pleasure to begin a new chapter with the Signatech team, with whom I've already had a great time for three years."
