Chatin Impressed by Signatech Progression Upon Reunion

Paul-Loup Chatin says he is impressed by how Signatech has ‘moved forward’ since he last worked with the organization six years ago, ahead of a reunion as part of Richard Mille Racing Team’s driving squad.

Chatin has joined the Richard Mille LMP2 outfit for the final three rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, replacing eight-time FIA World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier who vacated his spot in the lineup after the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In 2014 Chatin won the European Le Mans Series title with Signatech, which runs the Richard Mille-backed LMP2 program, and raced full-time for the team in WEC the following year. This weekend marks his first race meeting with Signatech since 2016.

Prior to sharing the No. 1 Oreca 07 Gibson with Charles Milesi and Lilou Wadoux, the Frenchman said that he enjoyed seeing how the Signatech operation has evolved after six years, and how several of his old crewmates have stayed on and gained promotions.

In addition to being Richard Mille Racing Team’s technical partner, Signatech also races in the Hypercar class with Alpine. 

“It’s nice because there are a lot of faces that I already know from my experience with Signatech Alpine in 2013, 2014 and 2015,” Chatin told Sportscar365.

“But on the other side, the team has increased a lot. I can see a lot of differences everywhere in each department. It is much more professional.

“It’s nice for me to see how [team principal] Philippe Sinault and these guys have been able to go a step higher in the professionalization of the team.

“There are a lot of similar faces, but everybody has moved a bit.

“Thomas Tribotte, who is the chief engineer of both cars, was my data performance engineer when I was with Signatech Alpine. It’s nice to see everybody moving forward.”

Chatin received the call to replace Ogier in the Richard Mille lineup on the Thursday after Le Mans, which he contested with his ELMS team IDEC Sport.

He said that Richard Mille waited to observe the outcome of the LMP2 race at Le Mans to determine which driver would join Milesi and Wadoux for the rest of the year.

The deal gives Chatin his first multi-race WEC program since 2016 when he joined Baxi DC Racing Alpine for the final three rounds, in a similar fashion to this year.

“Thanks to IDEC Sport, we did a great job at Le Mans, even if the result was not perfect because we lost a wheel at the start,” he said.

“But the pace of the car was really strong. It gave me the possibility to show my potential there, and I think it helped them to take this decision.

“And also I was racing with them many years ago. For sure they know me and what I can bring to the team.

“Maybe they had some drivers on the paper, but I’m lucky that it’s me.”

Chatin has the target of enabling the Richard Mille squad to “make another step” with its LMP2 effort after gradually improving its results over the opening three WEC rounds.

Its best performance of the year so far came last time out at Le Mans where Ogier, Milesi and Wadoux finished ninth in a 27-car class.

Furthermore, Chatin won LMP2 Pro-Am at last year’s 6 Hours of Monza with Racing Team Nederland and last weekend won the four-hour ELMS race at the same track.

“The beginning of the season was a bit difficult for them,” Chatin said regarding Richard Mille Racing Team’s early season form.

“My target is really to help the team to continue in the same way, in the same shape they’ve had since the beginning of the season.

“My goal is to continue to help them to make another step and fight more at the front.

“And also to help Lilou: I think she’s amazing and gets faster and faster each race, but she still has potential to show.

“I would be happy this weekend if we are able to be close to P5. And then be ready to help the team to catch a podium later in the season.”