Sebastien Ogier will make his long-awaited move into sportscar racing this season, debuting in the FIA World Endurance Championship which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The rallying legend will join the Richard Mille Racing Team squad in the championship’s LMP2 category.
Ogier forms part of an all-French line-up for the Signatech-run team. He is joined by reigning LMP2 champion Charles Milesi and Liloux Wadou, who tested for the team at the Rookie Test in Bahrain.
The signing of Ogier and Milesi is a notable departure from the team’s previous philosophy to run a line-up entirely consisting of female drivers. In 2021, Beitske Visser, Sophia Floersch and Tatiana Calderon formed the full-season crew.
With the announcement, Ogier fulfils a long-held ambition to move into sportscar racing while his WRC career winds down.
The eight-time champion has already carried out two test runs with Toyota’s GR010 Hybrid and remains widely linked to a seat with the WEC squad. However, since Toyota will not enter a third car at Le Mans this year, Ogier will race in LMP2 instead.
“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,” said Ogier.
“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.”
Ogier has had some experience of circuit competition.
He entered two rounds of the Porsche Supercup, in 2013 and 2014, and also participated in DTM in a one-off appearance in 2018. He also got behind the wheel of Red Bull’s RB7 during a private test outing in 2017.
