Graff LMP3 Crew Steps Up to Top Category

One of Graff’s LMP3 crews from last year’s European Le Mans Series will represent the French team in the top LMP2 division next season.

ELMS regular Graff has confirmed that Vincent Capillaire, Maxime Robin and Arnold Robin will drive its No. 39 Oreca 07 Gibson in the six-round 2021 campaign.

The team also plans to file an entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

Capillaire and the Robin brothers finished sixth in last season’s LMP3 standings and achieved their best race result of fourth in the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

The upcoming season, which is due to start at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in April, will mark the first in LMP2 for the Robins after they made their ELMS debuts last term. 

Graff’s new trio effectively replaces the lineup of James Allen, Alexandre Cougnaud and Thomas Laurent that took the team to fifth in last year’s top category.

“After three seasons in LMP3, we made the decision to move up [a] category,” said Arnold Robin, who is FIA Bronze-rated while his brother Maxime is ranked as Silver.

“To make this transition in the best possible conditions, we have chosen to renew our trust in Graff and Vincent Capillaire.

“This ELMS program in LMP2 represents a great challenge and we are preparing ourselves as well as possible to succeed.”

In addition to the continuation of its ELMS LMP2 program which has been running since 2017, Graff has confirmed that it will field two Ligier JS P320 Nissans in LMP3.

Last year the team ran a Ligier and a Duqueien D08 Nissan in the second-tier prototype class.

Sebastien Page and Eric Trouillet, who piloted Graff’s Duqueine in 2020, will return to one lineup alongside David Droux who represented Realteam Racing last season.

The team’s other Ligier LMP3 entry involves Matthias Kaiser and Rory Penttinen who claimed third place in last year’s Michelin Le Mans Cup standings driving for Graff.

“I think we have very good crews to play for victory every weekend and win the title in ELMS, in the LMP3 category,” said team manager Pascal Rauturier.

“I also have great hopes for our LMP2 crew to get the Pro-Am LMP2 title set up by the ELMS this year.”