Richard Mille crew joins WEC with all-female crew
Calderon, Floersch and Visser will drive an Oreca 07 scurry by Signatech underneath the Richard Mille Racing banner in the LMP2 class, a 365 days after competing as a trio in the European Le Mans Sequence for the identical crew.
All three drivers made their Le Mans 24 Hours debuts last 365 days, making Richard Mille the foremost outfit to field an all-female line-up in the French enduro’s prototype ranks since 1991, when Lyn St. James, Desire Wilson and Cathy Muller shared a Spice SE90C.
Richard Mille’s switch to the WEC additional bolsters an LMP2 class that has already considered a unusual addition in the form of Realteam, with Belgian squad WRT moreover eyeing an entry with an Oreca contender.
Even supposing Jackie Chan DC Racing will no longer remain in the series in 2021, JOTA Sport, the squad that ran its cars, has expanded to a 2nd entry to make amends for its departure.
A paunchy WEC entry checklist for the six-round 2021 season will almost certainly be launched on Thursday.
“We’re in actuality gratified to proceed the Richard Mille Racing Crew adventure!,” Philippe Sinault, director of Signatech Autos acknowledged.
“It’s an especially motivating mission as it transcends the carrying dimension by producing loads of emotion and enthusiasm.
“We’re taking a step forward in becoming a member of the FIA World Persistence Championship, nonetheless we are assured, given the skills and the educational curve of our three drivers.
“There will almost certainly be some unusual things to work out, notably with a peculiar package deal and an working steadiness completely different from last 365 days’s, given the guideline adjustments in LMP2, nonetheless we have confidence broad ambitions. We’ve all considered that a broad dynamic is increasing all throughout the crew and that motivates us the total extra to high-tail for the ideal that you just can mediate of outcomes.”
Calderon will dovetail her WEC commitments with a 2nd season in Japan’s Huge System series, where she’s going to remain at the one-vehicle, Honda-powered Drago Corse outfit.
‘I’m extraordinarily grateful for the chance to proceed with the Richard Mille Racing Crew,” she acknowledged.
“To bustle in the FIA World Persistence Championship in opposition to the ideal drivers on this planet will definitely be one more milestone in our careers. This 365 days will raise unusual challenges. The vehicle could well have confidence a little much less vitality and can scurry on Goodyear tyres. We could well have confidence to detect the vehicle in finding out as soon as that you just can mediate of, nonetheless the expertise we obtained last 365 days will benefit us no topic what.’
Visser turned into now not at the initiating due to drive for Richard Mille last 365 days, nonetheless turned into drafted by the outfit after its long-established signing Katherine Legge turned into sidelined following a wide break in finding out.
She went on to compete in four of the 5 ELMS rounds, plus Le Mans, and has now been signed for a paunchy WEC season.
Floersch currently acknowledged she’s wanting for one more twin programme in 2021, dovetailing her now-confirmed WEC commitments with a possible 2nd season in FIA System 3.