24h Le Mans
Mathieu Galoche is an amazing young man. At just 30 years old, he is the engineer responsible for one of the three Porsches that could win Le Mans this year. Self-effacing and shy, the Frenchman leads a busy life. Yet when it comes to talking about his job and motorsports, the young engineer is eager to chat.
Mathieu Galoche, you have a key role in motorsports. Have you always been a fan?
I’ve always been interested in sports cars and motorsports but not to the point of it being a vocation. I am definitely enthusiatic and my passion keeps me going: testing, developing, racing etc.
How do you get do be in charge of one of the favourites to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
I did Science ‘A’ Levels and then did a two-year preparation course to attend an elite engineering school. I was accepted at the ENSAM in Cluny and trained to be a general mechanical engineer and in the final year I specialised in terrestrial sport. At the time, motorsport was not particularly a goal.
What made you take the plunge?
When I was looking for an internship. I was flicking through the alumni directory looking for contacts in motorsports. I found Christophe Besse who was at Peugeot at the time. That was in 2008. The programme was quite new. I was appointed as assistant racetrack engineer. The role didn’t actually exist but was in the process of being set up. I was hired after my internship and I spent four years at Peugeot. In 2012, I went to Australia for a season of the V8 Supercar championships. During the winter of 2012/2013, I was asked to join the Porsche team. I came back to Europe, to Stuttgart to be precise.
You are young, you have an important job and you spend a lot of time working and travelling. Most people make the most of their leisure time at weekends. What keeps you going?
I saw the opportunity as a real chance and I really enjoy what I do. I wanted to carry on. We work on ultimate cars and our only aim is to seek performance. I couldn’t wish for a better job. I was also interested in travelling and in mixing with the people in motorsport world. Teams are multi-skilled, we learn a lot from each other. But there is a lot of work to do, that’s true. It’s pretty intense. I'l be taking a long holiday after Le Mans.
Read this article to find out more about Mathieu Galoche’s role as race track engineer.
Follow the n°18 Porsche’s progress on www.24h-lemans.com
Karine Avon/ACO - Translated from French by Emma Paulay
Photo: 2015 LE MANS 24 HOURS, 12 JUNE 2015. Mathieu Galoche in the Porsche hospitality area in the paddock.
