Chatin Replaces COVID-Positive Van der Garde at Nederland

Paul-Loup Chatin has been drafted into Racing Team Nederland’s LMP2 driver lineup for the 6 Hours of Monza after Giedo van der Garde tested positive for coronavirus.

Van der Garde has been ruled out of this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship round due to his positive PCR test result, prompting the TDS-run Nederland squad to seek a replacement driver for its No. 29 Pro-Am entry with a Oreca 07 Gibson.

It marks the second recent COVID-related lineup change for Racing Team Nederland, which has already brought in Nyck de Vries to replace Job van Uitert who tested positive ahead of last week’s European Le Mans Series event at the Italian Grand Prix venue.

Double European Le Mans Series LMP2 champion Chatin will team up with de Vries and Racing Team Nederland boss Frits van Eerd for Sunday’s encounter.

“I’m absolutely gutted to say that I can’t drive in Monza this weekend because I have tested positive for COVID-19,” said van der Garde in a post on social media.

“It’s an absolute mystery to me, since I’m fully vaccinated and working my towards the race haven’t been to any social gatherings. That’s irrelevant for now though: I can’t race.

“The guys have found a great replacement in Paul [Loup] Chatin and I wish him, Frits, Nyck and the rest of Racing Team Nederland all the best for the race.”

Monza is set to mark Chatin’s first WEC appearance outside the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2016, when he completed the Asian leg of the season with Baxi DC Racing Alpine.

The Frenchman ran the full 2015 world championship season with Signatech Alpine, one year after winning his first ELMS crown with the French organization.

Chatin has focused on the ELMS in recent years and won a second title with IDEC Sport in 2019 alongside Memo Rojas and Paul Lafargue. He also took the LMP2 pole at Le Mans in 2018.