Stéphane Sarrazin leaves Toyota for SMP Racing

In accordance with our information dating back to n° 2153 ofCARhebdo, Stephane Sarrazin will wear the SMP Racing combination in LM P1 well in the World ChampionshipEndurance (WEC) as well as 24 Hours of Le Mans (Sarthe) in 2018. The 43-year-old Alésien will pilot one of the two BR1-AERs designed by Dallara but operated by ART Grand Prix.

Stéphane Sarrazin sees this transfer as “a new challenge and an excellent experience. With SMP Racing, I have known them for a long time – they are a strong and experienced team. And I am convinced that we will achieve all the objectives set by talking about the new BR1 car in the LMP1 category. To do this, I will put all my strength, all my positive attitude and my accumulated experience. »

From experience, the former official pilot Aston Martin in GT1 and Peugeot in LM P1 has it in spades. Author of pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times consecutively between 2007 and 2009, Stéphane Sarrazin became the linchpin of the return of Toyota in prototype in 2012. The Japanese manufacturer even issued a thank you statement Monday afternoon. “Stéphane has been one of our pilots since the first year. We have experienced countless emotions together. He greatly participated in the development of the team and hybrid technology. We thank him warmly and wish him well. », explains Hisatake Murata, president of Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Over the past six seasons, Stéphane Sarrazin has twice finished on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2014 and 2016) as well as in the WEC Drivers' World Championship. Within SMP Racing, Stéphane Sarrazin should find Vitaly Petrov, Mikhail Aleshin, Matevos Isaakyan and Egor Orudzhev, for what promises to be his 17th participation in the Le Mans classic, his 14th in the premier category.