Since its creation, the Richard Mille Racing Team has shaken up predetermined ideas with an all-female trio challenging for the top positions on the European and then world stage. Always quick to break from convention, the team now begins a new era in its adventure by opting for a mixed driver line-up in the FIA WEC LMP2 category.
- Launched in 2020, the Richard Mille Racing Team is ready for its third season in the fiercely competitive world of endurance racing.
- For its second campaign in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), the team will rely on a new mixed driver line-up combining ambition, experience and talent.
- Lilou Wadoux, a rising star in motorsport, will be joined by Charles Milesi, reigning champion and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner in the LMP2 category, and eight-time world rally champion Sébastien Ogier.
“Our initial aim was to call attention to the lack of opportunities for women. It was important for us to start with an all-female team to make our intentions known, compel people to think and challenge biases. We have had two great years with three women who have proven themselves in an LMP2 prototype in ELMS and then WEC. However, all the female drivers say they want more inclusivity by finding their place in mixed teams. Their dream comes true when men want to drive alongside them in the same team, and this is now our case with a trio promising a fulfilling season both from a human and sporting perspective.” says Amanda Mille.
The team is replacing its driver line-up with a new trio that will offer new challenges while keeping a close eye on the performances of Beitske Visser, Sophia Flörsch and Tatiana Calderón as they pursue their respective careers.
Lilou Wadoux made a name for herself in one-make racing series, becoming the first female race-winner in the Alpine Elf Europa Cup. After an unconventional career path where she excelled in saloon cars and GTs, she is now focusing on prototypes. “I would like to thank Richard Mille for this opportunity, which follows my first outing with the team at the Bahrain rookie tests, explains the twenty-year-old Frenchwoman. It’s a big step, but I’ve learnt a lot in a short time, especially in areas I didn’t know about, such as downforce, refuelling and driver changes. LMP2 is different to anything I have ever experienced, so I am preparing myself physically and mentally for the challenge. I’ve always been interested in endurance racing because of the team spirit and I will be teamed with two standouts in the sport, which should help to accelerate my learning curve.”
“We have a great challenge ahead of us. As last year, I’m joining a new team with two Endurance ‘rookies’. I am confident that we’ll learn from each other to perform well despite the increasingly high level of the LMP2 category. Lilou has demonstrated a knack to adapt wherever she has been and it is an honour to be teamed up with Sébastien after I met him at the Bahrain rookie test with Toyota. Despite coming from a different discipline, his record is simply astonishing. No one wins eight world titles with three different constructors without having above-average technical feedback. The technical staff also have a lot of experience and we are in a cocoon that will help us improve. I look forward to an extremely rewarding season!”, adds the 20 year-old French driver.
A member of the Richard Mille family since 2016, Sébastien Ogier completes the line-up for his Endurance debut after establishing himself as one of the greatest rally drivers in history. Looking for a fresh challenge, the Frenchman joins another form of motorsport in which he has everything to learn, with humility.
“I know it’s a big challenge, but I have been looking for a programme that motivates me more than the easy option. Up until now, I have focused on my rally career, but it has been on my mind for a long time that endurance racing could be a good challenge. All drivers tend to be a bit self-centered, but there comes a time you want to share more when you are lucky enough to have had a successful career. LMP2 is a fantastic category and the best way for me to reach the highest level of endurance racing and improve in this discipline. I am a novice for sure, but I want to enjoy myself while assessing what’s possible and seeing how close I can get to the best. Everyone is excited about it. Charles, Lilou and I come from three different worlds, and it will be interesting to combine our different experiences with Richard Mille, who has been by my side for several years now. This adventure is enticing, but I am aware that I have a lot to learn and a lot of experience to gain. I have always had a good capacity to adapt in rallying, so I hope that this will also be true on race tracks!”, says Sébastien Ogier.
The six-round FIA WEC calendar will see the fiery-red #1 Oreca-Gibson car kick off its campaign at Sebring before three events at iconic European circuits with the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, 24 Hours of Le Mans and 6 Hours of Monza. The team will then head to Japan before the season finale at the 8 Hours of Bahrain.
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