Richelmi Completes Jackie Chan DCR Lineup

Stephane Richelmi has been named as the final member of Jackie Chan DC Racing’s driver lineup for the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship.

The 2016 LMP2 class champion will join the previously announced Gabriel Aubry and Ho-Pin Tung behind the wheel of the Jota Sport-run No. 38 Oreca 07 Gibson.

Richelmi partnered Nicolas Lapierre and Gustavo Menezes to Sigantech Alpine’s first WEC championship success two years ago, in a run that also included victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

After a year in GTs, the 28-year-old Monegasque signed with Jackie Chan DC Racing for the 2017-18 Asian Le Mans Series, clinching the title with Thomas Laurent and Harrison Newey.

Richelmi’s signing completes the outfit’s two-car lineup, with the all-Malaysian crew of Jazeman Jaafar, Weiron Tan and Afiq Ikhwan Yazid already confirmed in the sister Oreca.

“Knowing the #FortuneCat37 is in good hands this year with our returning Asian Le Mans crew of Malaysian drivers with Sepang International Circuit, equally we have a formidable #Mighty38 line-up returning from Asian Le Mans with Richelmi, Aubrey and Tung,” said Jackie Chan DC Racing co-founder David Cheng.

“Ho-Pin and Stephane both have Le Mans winning experience and has been teammates in sister cars in the past, and Aubry has shown great speed and mental fortitude with us.

“I’m confident in our team’s ability this year to challenge for top honors, and we look forward to kicking off the Super Season this weekend.”

Richelmi, who was a podium finisher in GP2 before his move to sportscars, added that he is looking forward to making his LMP2 return after spending 2017 in the Blancpain GT Series with Audi.

“I’m delighted to be part of the team for the WEC Super Season, he said. “I’ve been close to David and Ho-Pin since we met in Alpine two years ago, I really appreciate them.

“They work hard together with Jota Sport to become a reference in endurance races. I can’t wait to come back in this great championship after a difficult year in GTs, and endurance suits me well.”

Richelmi will join his new WEC teammates for the official pre-season test at Paul Ricard this weekend.