Prema, the year of great firsts

Dominant this season with four victories in six races, the Prema team won its first major title in Endurance with this coronation in ELMS in its first participation.

Published on 17/10/2022 à 11:26

Dorian Grangier

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Prema, the year of great firsts

The ELMS champion trio with Prema: Correa - Deletraz - Habsburg © Joao Filipe / DPPI

Barely arrived in the world ofEndurance that the Prema stable finds success. The Italian team, supported by Iron Lynx, won the championship ofEuropean Le Mans TV Shows (ELMS) from its first season! A first endurance crown for the Grisignano di Zocco (Italy) structure, arriving at the start of 2022 in LM P2 to prepare for the future in Hypercar, probably with Lamborghini.

And for a first, what a first! The No. 9 prototype won more than half of the events (4 victories in 6 rounds) in a very competitive LM P2 grid, dominating the season head and shoulders. The crew made up of Juan Manuel Correa, Louis Delétraz and Ferdinand Habsburg (without forgetting Lorenzo Colombo, present in the first 4 races) left only crumbs to their opponents. The last event of the season, in Portimão, was like their year 2022: a solid trio, unfazed despite the events and the weather and above all, very fast! 

At the finish of the final race of the season, the three newly titled drivers were over the moon. Juan Manuel Correa, victorious for the first time in ELMS, could not be happier. “It was a very good race, a really tricky race with mixed conditions, but we managed it well,” said the American driver. I'm really happy to get my first endurance win, and to do it with Prema is really special, because it also helped the team win the championship. That was my main goal, and we achieved it. I am very happy. A big thank you to the whole team and my teammates. It’s been quite an adventure! »

Delétraz and Habsburg take Prema to the top

Louis Delétraz and Ferdinand Habsburg, also titled among the drivers, managed to make their excellent season in Portugal a reality. The Swiss won his second consecutive ELMS crown, despite the pressure exerted by the Panis Racing team at the end of the event. “It was difficult because they gave me the car with a big lead. They told me, drove until the end, Panis Racing is 2nd and they will never catch up with us… but if I put her in the wall, we lose the championship! It was the longest hour of my life, admitted the winner of the day, relieved and happy. I really wanted this title, and I didn't take any risks. It was very intense because I didn't need to push, but that's where mistakes can happen. Overall, I really enjoyed the season. It was a lot of stress, a lot of work, and a lot of fun, and in the end we won four races. »

Now, Prema's eyes are on the final round of the season in WEC, in Bahrain (November 12). Out of the race for the team title in LM P2, the Italian team will still try to achieve a first victory in the world endurance championship.

ALSO READ > 4H of Portimão – Prema wins the race and the title

Dorian Grangier

A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.

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