Racing Spirit of Léman
| Founded | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Patrick Barbier Herminie Barbier |
| Base | La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute-Savoie, France |
| Current series | FIA World Endurance Championship European Le Mans Series Le Mans Cup Ultimate Cup Series GT4 European Series |
| Former series | FFSA GT Championship Prototype Winter Series |
| Current drivers | FIA World Endurance Championship 10. Eduardo Barrichello Derek DeBoer Valentin Hasse-Clot European Le Mans Series: 31. Marius Fossard Jean-Ludovic Foubert Jacques Wolff 59. Erwan Bastard Valentin Hasse-Clot Clément Mateu Le Mans Cup: 10. Sebastian Schmitt Dominik Schraml |
| Teams' Championships | 2022 LMC LMP3, 2023 LMC GT3, 2024 French GT4 Silver |
| Drivers' Championships | 2022 LMC LMP3, 2023 LMC GT3, 2024 French GT4 Silver |
Racing Spirit of Léman is a French-Swiss sports car racing team that currently competes in the LMGT3 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The team was founded in 2019 by Patrick Barbier.[1][2]
Notable accolades include the 2022 and 2023 Le Mans Cup drivers' and teams' championships in the LMP3 and GT3 categories respectively.[3][4]
Contrary to popular belief the teams' name has no relation to the headline WEC event of Le Mans, but comes from the French name for Lake Geneva, 'Lac Léman', which the team is based near in La Roche-sur-Foron, France.[5]
History
Originally, Racing Spirit of Léman ran the operations for Cool Racing (now CLX Motorsport). In late 2020, after Nicolas Lapierre became a majority shareholder in Cool Racing, he decided to split from Racing Spirit of Léman and take the operation of the team in house.[6][7] The team formed an alliance with Aston Martin and entered into the 2022 GT4 European Series with two Aston Martin Vantage GT4s.[8]
FIA World Endurance Championship
2019–20
The 2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship season started strong with a win for the #42 Cool Racing entry at the 2019 4 Hours of Silverstone.[9] They would win as a pair, Antonin Borga and Nicolas Lapierre, due to an injury Alexandre Coigny sustained during the European Le Mans Series race the day prior.[10] Four further point finishes and a second podium at the 6 Hours Spa-Francorchamps saw the Racing Spirit of Léman run, Cool Racing entry finish sixth in the LMP2 class.[11][12]
2025
On November 22, 2024, the team announced they would be entering the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship as one of the two Aston Martin LMGT3 teams.[13] Drivers for the season are French Aston Martin factory driver, Valentin Hasse-Clot, American Derek DeBoer and Brazilian Eduardo Barrichello, son of former Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello.[14]
European Le Mans Series
2023
In 2023, following the LMP3 double championship in the Le Mans Cup, the team entered into the LMP3 class with a Ligier JS P320. Drivers for the season were Antoine Doquin, Jacques Wolff, Fabien Michal and Jean-Ludovic Foubert.[15][16] The team would finish on the podium on their debut in the series at the 4 Hours of Barcelona.[17] They then followed that up with a win at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet.[18] At the end of the season, the team would finish fifth in the LMP3 class.
2024
Racing Spirit of Léman expanded to the LMGT3 class with an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo with drivers Derek DeBoer, Valentin Hasse-Clot and Casper Stevenson, while continuing to operate a Ligier JS P320 in the LMP3 class.[19][20] The team secured their first LMGT3 class podium at Le Castellet, en route to a third place finish in the championship,[21][22] while the LMP3 entry finished in 7th.[23]
Racing record
FIA World Endurance Championship
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | No. | Chassis | Engine | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Cool Racing | LMP2 | 42 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | Antonin Borga Nicolas Lapierre Alexandre Coigny |
SIL 1 |
FUJ 5 |
SHA Ret |
BHR 6 |
COA 4 |
SPA 2 |
LMS 4 |
BHR | 6th | 103 |
| 2025 | Racing Spirit of Léman | LMGT3 | 10 | Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo | Aston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 | Eduardo Barrichello Derek DeBoer Valentin Hasse-Clot (rounds 1–4, 6) Anthony McIntosh (rounds 5, 7–8) |
QAT 9 |
IMO 11 |
SPA 6 |
LMS 9 |
SÃO 3 |
COA 11 |
FUJ 17 |
BHR 14 |
15th | 32 |
| Source:[24] | ||||||||||||||||
* Season still in progress.
24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | Entrant | No. | Car | Drivers | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Cool Racing[25] | 42 | Oreca 07-Gibson | Antonin Borga Alexandre Coigny Nicolas Lapierre |
LMP2 | 365 | 12th | 8th |
| 2025 | Racing Spirit of Léman | 10 | Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo | Eduardo Barrichello Derek DeBoer Valentin Hasse-Clot |
LMGT3 | 336 | 45th | 13th |
European Le Mans Series
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | No. | Chassis | Engine | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Racing Spirit of Léman | LMP3 | 31 | Ligier JS P320 | Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 | Antoine Doquin Jacques Wolff Fabien Michal (round 1) Jean-Ludovic Foubert (rounds 2–6) |
CAT 3 |
LEC 1 |
ARA Ret |
SPA 8 |
POR 8 |
ALG 7 |
5th | 54 |
| 2024 | Racing Spirit of Léman | LMP3 | 31 | Ligier JS P320 | Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 | Antoine Doquin Jean-Ludovic Foubert Jacques Wolff |
CAT 7 |
LEC 6 |
IMO Ret |
SPA 2 |
MUG 4 |
POR Ret |
7th | 44 |
| LMGT3 | 59 | Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo | Aston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 | Derek DeBoer Valentin Hasse-Clot Casper Stevenson |
CAT 6 |
LEC 3 |
IMO 2 |
SPA 4 |
MUG 5 |
POR 9 |
3rd | 66 | ||
| 2025 | Racing Spirit of Léman | LMP3 | 31 | Ligier JS P325 | Toyota V35A-FTS 3.5 L Turbo V6 | Marius Fossard Jean-Ludovic Foubert Jacques Wolff |
CAT 7 |
LEC 7 |
IMO 2 |
SPA 9 |
SIL 8 |
POR 10 |
9th | 37 |
| LMGT3 | 59 | Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo | Aston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 | Erwan Bastard Valentin Hasse-Clot Clément Mateu |
CAT 7 |
LEC 6 |
IMO 7 |
SPA 1 |
SIL 6 |
POR 5 |
3rd | 64 | ||
| Source:[26][27][28] | ||||||||||||||
References
- ^ "Racing Spirit of Léman - Geneva International Motor Show". genevamotorshow.com. 16 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "RACING SPIRIT OF LEMAN - FIA World Endurance Championship". www.fiawec.com. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Lloyd, Daniel (26 September 2022). "Weekly Racing Roundup (9.26.22) – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (22 October 2023). "Virage, Spirit of Leman Crowned Champions In Rain-Soaked Finale". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ "Barrichello Completes Racing Spirit of Leman Lineup". sportscar365.com. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "Cool Racing prend son indépendance". Endurance Info (in French). 6 January 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ Bristol, David (30 January 2021). "Patrick Barbier : "On ne va pas se laisser abattre, nous faisons tout pour rebondir !"". Endurance Info (in French). Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ Goodwin, Graham (13 March 2022). "Racing Spirit of Léman Name First Aston Martin Driver Pairing". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (1 September 2019). "Toyota Finishes 1-2 In Thrilling Season Opener". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (1 September 2019). "4H Silverstone: Pre-Race Notes". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (15 August 2020). "#7 Toyota Takes Comfortable Win, Other Classes Provide Thrilling Action At Spa". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "2019-2020 LMP2 FIA WORLD ENDURANCE TEAMS TROPHY" (PDF). FIA WEC Alkamel. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ Plümer, Jonas (22 November 2024). "FIA WEC: Racing Spirit of Léman steigt ein". gt-place.com (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Parmentier, Morgan (23 December 2024). "Racing Spirit of Léman ready for WEC in 2025". Motors Inside. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Goodwin, Graham (6 February 2023). "European Le Mans Series Confirm 42 Car Full Season Entry". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (5 July 2023). "42-Car Entry For ELMS At Paul Ricard". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Barcelona Race Final Classification" (PDF). elms.alkamelsystems.com. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (16 July 2023). "Algarve Pro Wins 4H Le Castellet After Nail-Biting Finale (Updated)". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (4 December 2023). "43 Cars in Bumper Full Season Entry – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "2024 EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES - SEASON ENTRY LIST" (PDF). European Le Mans Series. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (5 May 2024). "Inter Europol Win Drama-Filled 4H Le Castellet – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "2024 EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES TROPHY - LMGT3 TEAMS" (PDF). ELMS Alkmel. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "2024 - EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES TROPHY - LMP3 TEAMS" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "FIA World Endurance Championship Standings 2025 | Motorsport Stats". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Parmentier, Morgan (10 June 2025). "« We'll try to fight at the front », Racing Spirit of Léman announces its ambitions at Le Mans". Motors Inside. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series Standings 2023". Motor Sport Stats. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series Standings 2024 | Motorsport Stats". Motor Sport Stats. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series Standings 2025". Motor Sport Stats. Retrieved 11 April 2025.