Stéphane Richelmi will drive the new H24 Hydrogen/ Electric protoytype in the Michelin Le Mans Cup during the 2021 season, the car now set to make its racing debut at Round two of the Seres after suffering technical problems in pre-season testing which will prevent its entry for next weekend’s Barcelona season opener.
Richelmi was 2016 WEC LMP2 Champion with Signatech Alpine, a season that also saw him win the class at Le Mans. He went on to win the 2017-2018 Asian Le Mans Series, again in LMP2, this time with Jackie Chan DC Racing x Jota, Richelmi moved with the team back to the WEC finishing as runner up in LMP2 in 2018/19.
While waiting for the car’s first entry into the race, Stéphane will be participating in the H24 performance development program with Norman Nato and Stoffel Vandoorne during the private test programme carried out on several French circuits.
Jean-Michel Bouresche, Operations Manager of MissionH24 and Team Principal of H24Racing: “I am happy that Stéphane is joining our racing team. Experienced driver, already victorious in Endurance in several categories and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, both a very good driver and passionate about development, he brings us his experience and his high standards, which are added to those of our two other drivers, Norman Nato and Stoffel Vandoorne. Step by step, the H24Racing team is helping to achieve the objectives of the MissionH24 program: to prepare for the arrival of electric-hydrogen propulsion prototypes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024 “.
Stéphane Richelmi, H24Racing Driver: “A very promising technology, a new sporting challenge, a hyper-motivated team, permanent challenges to take up, with MissionH24 I am starting the most exhilarating adventure of my sporting career. This week I got behind the wheel of the LMPH2G and the new H24 for the first time this week and discovered two things: first, the peculiarities of driving a prototype equipped with a fuel cell; second, I was able to assess the progress made between the old car and the new one. The step taken is already very impressive in terms of weight and power, and the development potential is very important. Finding more and more performances is what we are going to work on, Norman Nato, Stoffel Vandoorne and me before the H24 starts in competition. I can appreciate the privilege we all three have of paving the way for all the drivers who, in 2024, will be at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the wheel of electric-hydrogen prototypes: we are their scouts. We are writing a new page in motorsport ”.
