Le Mans / ELMS: S. Loeb Racing moves up a gear

After two years of existence, the Sébastien Loeb Racing finally achieves its ultimate objective by registering an Oreca 03 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans which will be played on June 15 and 16. The Alsatian team will therefore return to endurance races after having participated in the Test Day of the Sarthe event with the eponymous driver boss in 2012 and in the 2012 season of theELMS where the French team scored a podium at the 6 Hours of Castellet. “We have worked hard to set up this endurance program and being one of the guests at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a great source of pride”, assures Team Manager Dominique Heintz. “We have dreamed of Le Mans since the birth of Sébastien Loeb Racing and we are just a few weeks away from making this dream come true. This first participation will be a very important step for everyone. We know that the myth of Le Mans is unique, that it must be approached with great humility and wisdom. However, we want to be ambitious. We have proven equipment and we are going to put together a powerful trio. René Rast is the first of our pilots. Like us, he will discover the event, but he is young, fast and motivated. He represents the team’s values ​​well. »

The 27-year-old German distinguished himself by winning two titles in Porsche German Carrera Cup (2008 and 2012) and three in a row in the Supercup (from 2010 to 2012). However, the Minden native will have to get his bearings on the Oreca 03 since he has not yet driven a prototype. “Le Mans has always been one of my dreams. It is the largest and most important endurance race in the world », comments René Rast. “It is a pleasure and an honor to drive for a team like Sébastien Loeb Racing. I faced him last year and I was able to measure his professionalism. I think we will be able to count on a solid team and a very good crew. My first goal is to finish the race and it would be a dream to finish on the podium. This will be a first for me in prototype, but I rode in car and I know how a car works with aero downforce (with two seasons in Formula BMW ADAC in 2003 and 2004). I hope to adapt quickly. I have to learn but I am involved and determined to put in a great performance! »

Sébastien Loeb Racing will have a busy schedule this season as he will also enter an Audi R8 LMS ultra in the GTC category of the ELMS in addition to its registration in the French GT Championship with two cars. “With this car, we will therefore be present in a “sprint” series and another more endurance type,” adds Dominique Heintz. ?It?s interesting for the technical team, which will be able to complete its field of action, but also for our partners. And we know that the Audi R8 LMS ultra performs well in both of these styles of competition! The team?s third season of existence promises to be simply exciting. » The French team will also enter its Oreca 03 in the European Championship events to regain its marks before the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “The ELMS is a coherent choice in the construction of our overall program. We will be returning to the prototype, and we already know the ELMS having driven there in 2012. In addition to preparing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, we will have the opportunity to fight for victory in the general classification and our partners are mainly European. The championship also proved attractive last year, with some great battles on track”, concludes the Team Manager of the team who will reveal the crews of the two cars in the coming weeks.