Photo: TCR Media

Sébastien Loeb Racing announces drivers for Peugeot’s debut

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Grégory Guilvert and Jimmy Clairet will be behind the wheel of two Peugeot 308 Racing Cup cars in Spa-Francorchamps, Sébastien Loeb Racing has revealed.

The car will make its debut to evaluate the performance of the car in the TCR International Series, ahead of further appearances in the VLN and the European Touring Car Cup at the Nordschleife. Both drivers come from the Peugeot family, with 34-year-old Guilvert a test driver for Peugeot Sport and Clairet a championship runner-up in 2014 in the 208 Racing Cup.

“As test driver of the 308 Racing Cup I am thrilled to drive the car in an actual race meeting,” said Guilvert, who took part in the technical development of several other cars such as the RCZ Racing Cup, the 208 T16 Pikes Peak and, more recently, the 308 Racing Cup car.

“We have to face a unique racetrack and a top-level championship, which makes me approach this task humbly, but with a lot of motivation because I very much wish to show the potential of the car in both, performance and reliability.”

Race wins in the French Supertourisme, the European GT Championship and the Blancpain Endurance Series, as well as a title in the 2009 Peugeot Spider Cup, made his CV a perfect fit for the car’s debut in Spa.

Although Clairet’s racing career only dates back to 2013, when he started in the 208 Racing Cup, the 25-year-old was a championship contender in the 2014 edition of the one-make series.

“I am excited by the opportunity of driving the 308 Racing Cup,” said Clairet. “Especially because it is a car entrusted directly by Peugeot Sport to Sébastien Loeb Racing. This is a prestigious step in my racing career. I can’t wait to race at Spa and I will do my very best to achieve a good result.”

“We are proud that Peugeot Sport has entrusted the two cars to our team for their maiden appearance in the TCR International Series,” added SLR sporting director Franck Tiné. “We are happy to take this responsibility, as our team is ambitious and always looking for delivering the best performance. Thanks to Peugeot Sport we may count on the experience of Guilvert who has developed the car. As for Clairet, he’s a young and fast driver, and very motivated. We have a strong pair of drivers that will help us to make a good job.”