ELMS – Paul Loup Chatin and Gary Hirsch complete the Team Endurance Challenge

It?s finalized. The last crew of the Team Endurance Challenge has just been revealed, as the first official tests of the European begin this Tuesday Le Mans Series (ELMS) on the Paul Ricard circuit. The Frenchman Paul Loup Chatin, 21, and the Swiss Gary Hirsch, 25, were selected. The Franco-Swiss tandem will make its debut in endurance aboard an Oreca-FLM 09 entered in the LM PC category. They will support Alex Loan and Matthieu Lecuyer, as well as Soheil Ayari and Anthony Pons made official two weeks ago.

Recently appointed junior and reserve driver of the Signatech team-Alpine, Paul Loup Chatin has just found a complementary program here in order to quickly climb a level for next year. “I am looking forward to starting the season with a program that combines perfectly with my role as reserve driver at Signatech-Alpine » explains the Frenchman. “I will be able to prepare for my goal which is to ride with this team next year. Joining the Team Endurance Challenge is the opportunity to evolve in a professional team and discover endurance. I'm going to gain strength, but I want to aim for victory in the first race. »

“I think that with Gary we have the means to play for the first places”, continues the member of the 2012 French Circuits Team. “ I want to show that I am capable of being fast without making mistakes, while accumulating experience in a discipline that is new to me. The presence of experienced drivers such as Nicolas Minassian, the team's godfather, will be a positive contribution at this level. » “My goal is to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014, I hope with a team managed by Oreca”, confesses for his part the Genevan Gary Hirsche. ?The support provided by the team is conducive to optimal learning of this new discipline, which is excellent news! I am convinced that the duo we form with Paul Loup will allow us to aim for the top step of the podium”, concludes the Swiss.

Note that if three Oreca-FLM 09s are entered in ELMS, only two are currently participating in official tests at Paul Ricard.