Vincent Capillaire and SO24! with Sébastien Loeb Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans !

Vincent Capillaire : « A child's dream and a grown-up's job ! »

Born in Le Mans and winner of the Volant ELF in 1996, Vincent Capillaire has raced in several disciplines, whether it be single-seaters, GTs or prototypes. After several races in Formula Le Mans and in the NASCAR Euro Series, he finished second in the Challenge Endurance – Proto VdeV last year, with six podium finishes and six pole positions. Like his teammates, René Rast and Laurens Vanthoor, he will be taking part in his first 24 Hours of Le Mans. « I was born in Le Mans, I work here and I live here. I'm realising a child's dream and grown-up's job. » admits Vincent, who is also a driving instructor at the Le Mans Circuit. « It's the coming together of an important goal thanks to the hard work of SARTHE OBJECTIVE 24 (SO24 !) and Sébastien Loeb Racing. For the past three years, highly motivated people have been bringing together a hundred enterprises as well as institutional or individual bodies, based in La Sarthe region, with the goal of having a Sarthe-native race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and maybe one day a 100% La Sarthe driver lineup. It's a great story. I'm lucky enough to have two professional drivers beside me who have an impressive track record. My goal is to accomplish my mission, without making mistakes, while being reliable and consistent, with the goal to get closer to being as fast as them. Taking part in the ELMS will allow me to prepare and familiarise myself with the car, before taking on this motor sport monument that I've dreamed of for so long. I'd like to thank Sébastien Loeb Racing and SO24! for their support. »

Franck Tiné : « We were taken by the passion and human element of SO24! »

It's with this number, full of symbolism, the No. 24, with a Le Mans native driving with support from a consortium of partners based in La Sarthe that Sébastien Loeb Racing will participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time. « From the start, we were taken by the passion and human element of the SO24 ! project which supports Vincent Capillaire » explains Franck Tiné, Sporting Director at Sébastien Loeb Racing. « Vincent has the ideal profile to race alongside René and Laurens. He has experience, a calme nature and a professional approach. We are convinced he will be up to the challenge. We have three drivers making their debut at Le Mans, and the team will be discovering the race as well. Therefore we are approaching this legendary event with a lot of humility. Our drivers and our technical team, led by Léo Thomas, have good qualities, and we have several positive ingredients, such as the Michelin tyres and ORECA chassis. The objective is clear : every person must give their all and we will see what the result is at the end. With a driver from Le Mans like Vincent Capillaire, SO24! project and the No. 24, our challenge is a real Le Mans story. That pleases us, and it's all the more reason that the 24 Hours of Le Mans hold a special place in the team's objectives in both the short and medium terms. »

Alongside René Rast and Laurens Vanthoor, Vincent Capillaire completed his first laps in the ORECA 03 Sunday and Monday during testing in Portugal. In addition to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which he will contest with his German and Belgian teammates, Vincent will race in the full European Le Mans Series with two other drivers whose names will be revealed at a later date.