Hexis Racing has announced that the FIA GT race in Baku in November will be its final event, with the French team closing its doors at the end of 2013 after a dozen years of activity.
“The dream’s lasted for twelve years,” said the CEO of team owners Hexis Group, Michel Mateu. “When we started off we never expected to see the name Hexis reach the summits it has to the point of becoming European and World Champions. It’s been a difficult decision for me, but we now need all our resources to pursue the international development of the Hexis Group.”
But while the operational priorities have changed for Hexis Group, Mateu is hopeful that the team will be able to continue under new ownership; “The competence of the staff needs no further proof. This team has the ability to fight at a higher level, aim for greater challenges. It needs resources which we cannot provide today. If we manage to find a buyer who can supply them, the team is ready to continue with its management, its engineering, its staff, its premises and its close partnership with McLaren GT.”
Philippe Dumas, Hexis Racing Team Manager, stressed, however, that any potential new buyers would need to have ambition; “Above all else on behalf of all the people who’ve worked in this team, I’d like to thank Michel Mateu and Hexis to have enabled us to live this unique adventure. I want to continue; we all want to continue, but not at any price, that’s for sure. We’ve got the know-how and in-depth GT experience. Our aim is to carry on doing this great job in the best possible conditions, namely: to help top-level cars, drivers and manufacturers win.”
Since switching to GT racing in 2005, Hexis has amassed an enviable record of achievement:
• 2nd in the FFSA French GT Cup (Porsche, 2006, 5 wins)
• 3rd in the FFSA GT3 French Championship for Teams (Aston Martin, 2007, 2 wins)
• 3rd in the ADAC GT Masters Teams Championship (Aston Martin, 2008, 1 win)
• Runner-up in the Drivers and Teams’ FIA GT3 European Championship (Aston Martin, 2008, 1 win)
• FIA GT3 Teams European Champion and Drivers Vice-Champion (Aston Martin, 2009, 3 wins)
• Runner-up in the FIA GT1 World Championship for Teams and 3rd in the FIA GT1 World Championship for Drivers (Aston Martin, 2010, 3 wins)
• FIA GT1 Teams World Champion and 3rd in the FIA GT1 World Championship for Drivers (Aston Martin, 2011, 2 wins)
• Runner-up in the FIA GT1 Championship for Teams and in the FIA GT1 World Championship for Drivers (McLaren GT, 2012 5 wins)
• Blancpain Endurance Series : one race, one pole, one win (McLaren GT, 2012)
• City Challenge : pole and win (McLaren GT, 2012)
The team switched to GT Tour in 2013 and will complete the French season before attempting to bow out with a repeat victory in Azerbaijan. Hopefully a buyer will have come forward by then.
