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| Stéphane Sarrazin | |
|---|---|
| Name | Stéphane Sarrazin |
| Birth date | 1975-11-02 |
| Birth place | Le Mans, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
Stéphane Sarrazin is a French professional racing driver from Le Mans, known for versatility across karting, single-seater racing, sports car racing, endurance racing, and rallying. He has competed in international series such as Formula One, 24 Hours of Le Mans, World Endurance Championship, FIA GT Championship, and World Rally Championship events, and has tested for teams like Toyota Gazoo Racing, Renault, and Venturi. Sarrazin's career spans appearances with manufacturers and teams including Peugeot, Porsche, Aston Martin, Opel, Audi, Nissan, Citroën, Peugeot Sport, Peugeot 908, and Oreca.
Born in Le Mans in 1975, Sarrazin began competitive karting like contemporaries such as Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen, and Lewis Hamilton, progressing through national events in France and European championships. He raced at venues including Circuit de la Sarthe, Circuit Paul Ricard, and Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, facing rivals from Germany, Italy, and Spain. Early success in junior categories brought attention from development programs run by Renault Sport, Peugeot Sport, and privateer outfits affiliated with Motorsport UK and Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
Sarrazin moved to Formula Ford and Formula Renault before competing in Formula 3000 and testing in Formula One. He raced against drivers who advanced to Formula One such as Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Heikki Kovalainen, and Robert Kubica, and competed at circuits including Silverstone Circuit, Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, and Hockenheimring. His single-seater tenure included stints with teams linked to ART Grand Prix, DAMS, and development ties with Renault F1 Team and Williams Grand Prix Engineering.
Transitioning to sportscars, Sarrazin drove for manufacturers like Peugeot Sport, Aston Martin Racing, Porsche AG, Nissan Motorsport, and Toyota Gazoo Racing in series such as the FIA World Endurance Championship, American Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, and IMSA SportsCar Championship. He won races at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring, and 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps while piloting prototype and GT cars including the Peugeot 908, Porsche 911 RSR, Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE, and Audi R18. Team partners included drivers from Audi Sport Team Joest, Team Penske, AF Corse, SMP Racing, and Rebellion Racing. His endurance career featured competition at circuits such as Circuit de la Sarthe, Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Beyond circuit racing, Sarrazin participated in World Rally Championship events and cross-country rallies linked to Dakar Rally; he drove machines prepared by Citroën Total World Rally Team, Ford World Rally Team, and private teams affiliated with PH Sport and M-Sport. He took part in gravel and tarmac stages at rallies like Rallye Monte Carlo, Rally Portugal, and Rally Finland, and competed in off-road endurance events organized by Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and regional bodies in Africa and South America.
Sarrazin served as a test and reserve driver for Panasonic Toyota Racing, Renault F1 Team, and other Formula One organizations, completing tests at circuits such as Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Silverstone Circuit, and Yas Marina Circuit. He also undertook development work in GP2 Series cars for teams connected to ART Grand Prix and DAMS, collaborating with engineers from Cosworth, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Sport, and Pirelli. His testing roles intersected with events organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and manufacturers prioritizing driver feedback for aerodynamics and hybrid systems integration.
Sarrazin's career highlights include class wins, podiums, and pole positions across international competitions: multiple entries and top finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a class victory in the FIA World Endurance Championship rounds, and strong results in the FIA GT Championship and European Le Mans Series. He earned accolades shared with co-drivers from Audi Sport, Porsche Werksteam, Toyota Gazoo Racing Team, and Peugeot Sport and raced against champions from Formula One, WRC, DTM, and IndyCar Series. His record lists collaborations with engineers and technical directors from Oreca, Dallara, Ligier, McLaren Automotive, and RML.
Off-track, Sarrazin has links to motorsport institutions like Fédération Française du Sport Automobile and mentoring roles with junior programs affiliated with Renault Sport Academy and private teams such as ART Grand Prix. He is part of a lineage of French drivers from Le Mans alongside Yvan Muller, Jean Ragnotti, and Olivier Panis, and is recognized at events hosted by ACO and FIA bodies. His adaptability across disciplines influences younger drivers in GT World Challenge, IMSA, and WEC paddocks, and his name appears in media coverage by outlets such as Autosport, Motorsport.com, and BBC Sport.
Category:French racing drivers Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers Category:1975 births Category:Living people