When they created the outfit, the two owners - team principal Olivier Panis and driver Fabien Barthez - decided to entrust young French drivers recruited by the Sports Director of the Renaud Derlot team. By including Timothé Buret first and then Paul-Loup Chatin thereafter, the duo made its mark.

Though Buret will take the start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time, Chatin, who is also pursuing studies at Sciences Po, is familiar with the Le Mans podium since he claimed the third step on the LM P2 podium in 2014 at his first participation, with the Signatech Alpine team. It was also with the Philippe Sinault outfit that Chatin won in the LM P2 class at the end of the 2014 ELMS season, one year after winning in the now defunct LM PC class of  Formula Le Mans, identical prototypes for all competitors.

The French driver from single-seaters performed at the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans so highly he was given the Prix Jean Rondeau awarded to the best French newcomer after the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Olivier Panis, Team Principal: "Paul-Loup's arrival is a real asset gained by the team given his experience and positive results in the ELMS in recent seasons. He is a fast and focused driver who will contribute to the progress of the team."

Paul-Loup Chatin, driver: "Endurance is synonymous with adventure, both competitively and personally. After two years of high-level experience in LM P2, I am thrilled to bring my experience to the new Panis-Barthez Compétition outfit. Olivier Panis and Fabien Barthez are two figures who have made their marks on French motorsports by way of their performances as well as their personalities, so it's a huge bit of good fortune for me to have them as references this season. The challenge is high-level, but I'm sure with Timothé and Fabien, we have what we need to accomplish our goals. Let the adventure begin!"

The trio will debut in competition at the 4 Hours of Silverstone, opening round of the ELMS season on April 16th.

Cécile Bonardel / ACO (quotation from team press release) - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

PHOTO: LE CASTELLET (VAR, FRANCE), PAUL RICARD CIRCUIT, MONDAY MARCH 21 2016. Paul-Loup Chatin, at left in the photo, joins Fabien Barthez and Timothé Buret in the Ligier JS P2 of the Panis-Barthez Compétition outfit for the ELMS and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.