Stephane Richelmi

Stephane Richelmi is a racing driver from Monaco who achieved the most in the sports car racing, reaching the top of the world in 2016 when he was FIA WEC champion in LMP2 class with the Signatech Alpine team. In the same year, he also won LMP2 class at 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Earlier in a career, Richelmi was active in single-seater competitions but without any notable result, finishing best as a vice-champion in the Italian F3 Championship in 2010.

Stephane Richelmi

Starting a career with Thierry Boutsen's team

Born in March 1990 in Monte-Carlo, Stephane Richelmi spent several years in karting competitions before switching to Formula Renault in 2006 with Thierry Boutsen Racing team. His first car racing championship was the Formula Renault 1.6 Belgium and then Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup in 2007.

In 2008, he was combining Formula Renault Eurocup and West European Cup with Formula 3 Euro Series, completely switching to Formula 3 in 2009. That year, he raced both in the British and Italian Formula 3 championships. He was more successful in the Italian championship, scoring three podiums and finishing sixth in the points.

In October 2009, Richelmi made a one-off guest appearance in the French GT Championship, driving a Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Z06 for Selleslagh Racing Team at Circuit Paul Ricard. He was sharing a car with Eric Cayrolle, winning one race and finishing second in another race.

Stephane Richelmi early in a career

Italian Formula 3 vice-champion in 2010

In 2010, Richelmi competed only in the Italian Formula 3 Championship, driving a Dallara-Fiat for Lucidi Motors. He was a race winner four times, finishing the season second in the points, losing a title to Brazilian Cesar Ramos.

In 2011, Richelmi moved to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, driving the #15 car for International Draco Racing. He was in the points just once, finishing 26th in the final classification. He also joined Trident Racing in the final round of the GP2 Series at Monza and GP2 Final at Yas Marina Circuit.

Stephane Richelmi as DAMS driver in the GP2 Series

Three seasons in the GP2 Series

For the 2012 GP2 Series season, Richelmi joined Trident as the full-time driver in the #16 car. The highlight of the season was the third place at Hockenheimring and he finished 18th in the points.

Next year, Richelmi joined DAMS in the GP2 Series and climbed on a podium once, finishing second at Silverstone. At the end of the season, he was 8th in the points. In 2014, his second year with DAMS, Richelmi scored his only GP2 victory, winning the Sprint race in his hometown Monte-Carlo. At the end of the season, he was ninth in the final standings.

Stéphane Richelmi started to race with Team WRT in 2014

Racing with Team WRT in the Blancpain GT Series

In 2014, Richelmi also started his GT racing career by joining Belgian Audi Club Team WRT in the Blancpain Sprint Series (two rounds) and Blancpain Endurance Series (one round). He and Stephane Ortelli finished third in Baku sprint race.

In 2015, Richelmi left GP2 Series and focused on GT racing, driving Audi R8 LMS for Team WRT full season both in the Endurance and Sprint Series. He scored one endurance podium at Silverstone and one sprint victory at Nogaro. He and Stephane Ortelli finished sixth in the Sprint Series points.

Stephane Richelmi in 2016

Le Mans 24h winner and world endurance champion in 2016

In 2016, Richelmi joined Signatech Alpine in the FIA World Endurance Championship and it turned to be a good decision as he scored both the victory at Le Mans 24 Hours and became the world champion. He was sharing the #36 Alpine A460-Nissan LMP2 prototype with Gustavo Menezes and Nicolas Lapierre.

After the fourth place in the season-opening round at Silverstone, they scored three consecutive wins at Spa, Le Mans and Nurburgring. The second place in Mexico followed and one more win at Circuit of the Americas in the US. Until the end of the season, the #36 crew was on a podium at Fuji and Bahrain, dominantly winning the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 drivers.

Stephane Richelmi in 2017

Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 champion in 2018

Despite winning world's crown, Richelmi didn't stay with Signatech in 2017, rejoining Team WRT in the Blancpain GT Series and driving for Castrol Racing Team in the Audi R8 LMS Cup. He scored no wins or podiums in the Blancpain GT Series. In the Audi R8 LMS Cup, he was on a podium once, finishing 10th in the points.

Between October 2017 and February 2018, Richelmi was driving the #8 Oreca 05-Nissan LMP2 prototype for Jackie Chan DC Racing Jota in the Asian Le Mans Series, scoring three wins in four races and taking the championship title. His championship-winning co-drivers were Thomas Laurent and Harrison Newey.

Richelmi stays with Jackie Chan DC Racing in the 2018-2019 FIA WEC super season, sharing the #38 Oreca LMP2 prototype with Ho-Pin Tung and Gabriel Aubry. In eight races, they scored three wins and three more podiums, including second place in the LMP2 class at 2019 Le Mans 24 Hours, finishing second in the championship..

Photos: Stephane Richelmi, Audi,