Richard Mille Racing will field an all-women Katherine Legge, Tatiana Calderon and Sophia Floersch for 2020 European LeMans Series (ELMS).
With the 2020 ELMS entry list out, a new entrant in the form of Richard Mille Racing has got an all-women line-up of Legge, Calderon and Floersch in the LMP2 category, where they will share a Oreca 07/Gibson machinery using the Michelin tyres.
The team will have the support of Signatech, with the aim to make it into Le Mans 24 Hours. In fact, Richard Mille Racing is for the long haul as they have signed up not only for 2020 but also 2021 as the watch maker plunge into becoming a racing outfit.
Legge is the senior-most of the three drivers as she will bring experience from GT racing into the team to lead them as Calderon will dovetail her commitments while also competing in Japan’s Super Formula championship with Honda.
It is a switch for Floersch, though, as the youngster moves into endurance racing after competing in Regional F3 last year. It is unclear if she will continue in single-seaters or her full programme will be ELMS only – as there are seats still available in FIA F3.
The statement adds: “The team’s objectives for 2020 are to take the measure of specificitics related to endurance racing, notably tyre management and fuel consumption, and then to take advantage of competition at the highest levels to make headway towards the podium.”
“This is an incredible opportunity with Richard Mille and his team,” said FIA Women in Motorsport Commission President, Michele Mouton. “For the last few years we have been focussed on working with our own FIA commissions, independent teams and manufacturers to help provide some of the world’s most successful female racers with opportunities to show they have the talent to line up alongside the best and fight for the top positions.
“To have two all-female crews now doing this is huge progress and testament to the faith teams, and Richard Mille, justifiably have in our racers. Richard has a strong belief that access to our sport for women has its challenges, like it does for men, but he has taken concrete action with this project and shown belief in Katherine, Tatiana and Sophia.
“I can’t wait to see how the team progresses on this incredible journey, which hopefully will take them to Le Mans and beyond.” Here’s the entry list for the 2020 ELMS season with only Driver 1’s name: https://www.europeanlemansseries.com/assets/PDF/2020/Entry-List/ELMS2020_Season_entry-list_11022020.pdf