Photo : Jean-René ROGER - ACO/Nikon

6 / 24 - Monday, 6th December - Stéphane Sarrazin solo

In 2010, the French town of Alès in the Gard region had two fine champions in endurance racing: Romain Dumas in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Audi, and Stéphane Sarrazin winning his second Le Mans Series.

At the 1000 km of Silverstone, Stéphane Sarrazin could not hide a twinge in his heart at the idea that the three rounds of the first Intercontinental Le Mans Cup would be his last race in the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. This is understandable as he has an impressive record in the car: three consecutive pole positions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and ten victories combined in ILMC, LMS and the American Le Mans Series, plus two Le Mans Series titles.

In 2007 he was one of the "musketeers" of Team Peugeot Total in the Le Mans Series, with Nicolas Minassian, Pedro Lamy and Franck Montagny. With them he conquered his first title in 2007, and in 2010, his mastery of the 908 earned him second at Spa on a works car, then a win in the Algarve with Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre in the Team Oreca Matmut Peugeot. Leader of the drivers' standings on his return from Portugal, he remain so, and on the evening of 1,000 km of Silverstone, he became not only the first double champion of LMS, but was also crowned the first solo champion.

No doubt, sooner or later a well-deserved victory at Le Mans will come to Stéphane Sarrazin, but until the new endurance challenge from Peugeot, he will defend the colors of the French marque in a 207 Super 2000 at the Monte Carlo Rally. We can be certain that being the Champion of France in that discipline (in 2004) and former Subaru World Rally Championship driver, he will compete with equal pace on the road and on track.

Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo: PORTIMAO (Portugal), 1000 Km of Algarve, 16th July, 2010. Stéphane Sarrazin (right) and Hugues de Chaunac, the director of Team Oreca Matmut, on the eve of their first win in the Le Mans Series in 2010.