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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Sarrazin Joins Starworks’ WEC Assault
French star and former Peugeot driver completes U.S.-based team's LMP2 lineup for FIA World Endurance Championship...
Stephane Sarrazin has found a new home at Starworks Motorsport for the FIA World Endurance Championship. (Photo: LAT)
Peugeot's withdrawal from sports car competition has undoubtedly shaken up the endurance racing world, but its former drivers are wasting no time in landing rides for the coming season. The latest is Stephane Sarrazin, who has signed with Starworks Motorsport for the American team's FIA World Endurance Championship campaign.
The veteran Frenchman, a two-time European Le Mans Series champion and lead development driver of the now-defunct Peugeot 908 program, will join Scottish ace Ryan Dalziel and two-time Ferrari Challenge champion Enzo Potolicchio at the wheel of the team's HPD ARX-03b for the entire eight-round global championship.
"I spent a long time as a factory driver with Peugeot, but they decided to stop two weeks ago and I was lost without a program. So I was very happy when [team owner Peter Baron] called me," Sarrazin said. "I am sure it is a great opportunity for me with the team and this car. I believe that we can get some very good results.
"The team had an excellent result in Daytona and that gives me confidence for the season. I am also very excited to be doing the World Endurance Championship. It is a very high level. I know nearly all of the tracks. I have competed on them for the past five seasons. We will go forward together. I am looking forward to getting into the car and getting started.”
While the Peter Baron led-team had been evaluating other star drivers for the third seat in its new WEC program, the decision to go with Sarrazin, one of the world's most accomplished prototype drivers, came as a logical choice following Peugeot's pull-out. It has also positioned the team as one of the early title favorites for LMP2.
“The high downforce prototypes are a bit new to us, so it was crucial to get someone with experience of these types of cars and of the tracks that we will be visiting," Baron said. "It was unfortunate that the Peugeot program ended the way it did but that created an opportunity for Starworks and it was an easy decision for us once we knew that Stephane was available. We were very impressed with him from the very first talks.
"He was very excited about coming on board and is very motivated about what we are trying to do. We are convinced that Ryan, Enzo and Stephane will be one of the strongest and most competitive line-ups in the World Endurance Championship and we are delighted to have got our man.”
Baron told SPEED.com that Sarrazin has also been signed for the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona, where he'll presumably compete in one of the team's Riley Daytona Prototypes for the first time.
The team expects to take delivery and begin assembly of their new HPD ARX-03b this week, ahead of the season-opener at Sebring net month.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
The veteran Frenchman, a two-time European Le Mans Series champion and lead development driver of the now-defunct Peugeot 908 program, will join Scottish ace Ryan Dalziel and two-time Ferrari Challenge champion Enzo Potolicchio at the wheel of the team's HPD ARX-03b for the entire eight-round global championship.
"I spent a long time as a factory driver with Peugeot, but they decided to stop two weeks ago and I was lost without a program. So I was very happy when [team owner Peter Baron] called me," Sarrazin said. "I am sure it is a great opportunity for me with the team and this car. I believe that we can get some very good results.
"The team had an excellent result in Daytona and that gives me confidence for the season. I am also very excited to be doing the World Endurance Championship. It is a very high level. I know nearly all of the tracks. I have competed on them for the past five seasons. We will go forward together. I am looking forward to getting into the car and getting started.”
While the Peter Baron led-team had been evaluating other star drivers for the third seat in its new WEC program, the decision to go with Sarrazin, one of the world's most accomplished prototype drivers, came as a logical choice following Peugeot's pull-out. It has also positioned the team as one of the early title favorites for LMP2.
“The high downforce prototypes are a bit new to us, so it was crucial to get someone with experience of these types of cars and of the tracks that we will be visiting," Baron said. "It was unfortunate that the Peugeot program ended the way it did but that created an opportunity for Starworks and it was an easy decision for us once we knew that Stephane was available. We were very impressed with him from the very first talks.
"He was very excited about coming on board and is very motivated about what we are trying to do. We are convinced that Ryan, Enzo and Stephane will be one of the strongest and most competitive line-ups in the World Endurance Championship and we are delighted to have got our man.”
Baron told SPEED.com that Sarrazin has also been signed for the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona, where he'll presumably compete in one of the team's Riley Daytona Prototypes for the first time.
The team expects to take delivery and begin assembly of their new HPD ARX-03b this week, ahead of the season-opener at Sebring net month.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
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