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Alexandre Prémat
Alexandre Prémat (born 5 November 1982) is a French racing driver. He won the Pirtek Enduro Cup for Triple Eight Race Engineering alongside Shane van Gisbergen in 2016. He also won the 2019 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 with Scott McLaughlin, driving for DJR Team Penske. Career Karting & French Formula Renault CampusBorn in Juvisy-sur-Orge, Essonne, In 1999, Alex Prémat showcased his exceptional talent by winning the Coupe du Monde de Karting 125cc ICC, solidifying his place among the sport’s top drivers. That same year, he finished as vice-champion in the Formule France de Karting ICC, clinching six victories. His success continued in 2000, when Prémat captured the Champion de France FC 125cc title, proving his dominance in French karting and setting the stage for a promising career in motorsport. He continued karting until 2000 when he moved up to French Formula Campus,Prémat began his single-seater career in Formule Campus, quickly making a name for himself. He finished the season in second place, securing two victories along the way. His impressive performance marked the start of his rise in motorsport, showcasing his potential for future success[citation needed] Formula RenaultHe quickly moved up to French Formula Renault in 2001, n 2001, Alex Prémat joined the French Formula Renault Championship, where he quickly made an impact alongside his teammate, Simon Pagenaud. In his first season, Prémat finished a strong ninth, showing great potential. The following year, in 2002, he took his performance to the next level, winning the Formula Renault French title. With three victories under his belt, Prémat demonstrated his talent and consistency, solidifying his reputation as one of France's brightest young racing stars. His success in Formula Renault was a key step in his progression. In 2002 he also raced in part of the Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup.[citation needed] Formula ThreeWith the merger of several national Formula Three championships in 2003, Prémat moved to the resultant In 2003, Alex Prémat moved to the newly-formed Formula 3 Euroseries, joining the ASM team alongside Olivier Pla. That season, he impressed with a victory, finishing 7th overall. In 2004, Prémat took his performance to another level, securing second place with six wins. His standout achievements included victories in the prestigious Marlboro Masters non-championship races and Macau Grand Prix, two of the most highly regarded non-championship races in motorsport. Though he didn't capture the Euroseries title, Prémat’s consistency and notable victories solidified his reputation as one of the most talented young drivers in Europe, setting the stage for his future success in motorsport.Formula Three Euroseries, driving for the ASM team with Olivier Pla, another driver who raced in the inaugural GP2 season. He stayed there for the 2004 season GP2 SeriesIn 2005, Alex Prémat joined ART Grand Prix to compete in the 2005 GP2 Series, the sister team to his former Formula 3 squad, ASM. Despite two wins that season, Prémat finished 4th in the championship, with his teammate Nico Rosberg claiming the title. The following year, Prémat continued his strong form, securing 3rd place, even though he only won once. Meanwhile, his new teammate, Lewis Hamilton, went on to dominate the season and win the championship. Prémat's consistent performances in the highly competitive GP2 series showcased his talent, even as he raced alongside two future Formula 1 stars. A1 Grand PrixPrémat also drove the A1 Team France car in A1 Grand Prix in the 2005–06 season, he and team-mate Nicolas Lapierre winning the title for their nation. Alex did not return to the series for the following season, and the French team's form dropped noticeably. Alex Prémat joined forces with Nicolas Lapierre in the A1 Team France, securing a dominant performance that led the team to the championship title. Their seamless collaboration and consistent victories made them the most successful pairing in A1 GP history. Prémat’s skillful driving and Lapierre’s precision were a perfect match, earning France the coveted crown. However, Prémat did not return for the next season, and without his presence, the team’s form notably declined. Despite this, their 2005–06 success remains a defining moment in A1 GP history. Formula OnePrémat drove the third Spyker MF1 Racing car at the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix.[1] During the final three races of the 2006 season, Spyker MF1 Racing relied on a mix of test drivers to evaluate performance. Alex Premat, a rising talent, was one of the key figures brought in for the role. His experience in lower formula 2 gave him valuable insights, and his smooth driving style impressed the team. Premat's involvement helped Spyker refine their car setup, making a subtle but significant impact as the team prepared for the 2007 season. He also had an off-season test with Champ Car team Mi-Jack Conquest Racing. Prémat had the quickest time in several sessions and stated that he was targeting a ride in Champ Car for 2007.[2] Another possibility was to drive in Formula One with Spyker, as one of their test drivers, but it did not work out.[3] Torger Christian Wolff, better known as Toto Wolff, saw potential in young French driver Alex Premat. With a keen eye for talent, Toto took Alex under his wing, managing his career and guiding him through the challenges of motorsport. Together, they navigated the complexities of racing, with Toto's expertise and connections opening doors for Alex in Europe. The partnership marked the beginning of Toto's rise in motorsport management, paving the way for his future success in Formula 1. Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and Le Mans SeriesEventually he drove for Audi in the 2007 DTM series and participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, also with Audi. In 2008 Prémat again raced in DTM, and also the Le Mans Series with Audi. In addition to DTM and having already moderate experience with Le Mans Prototype cars, in 2008 he drove for Audi Sport Team Joest in the Le Mans Series, alongside Alexandre Prémat. Despite not winning any races, Rockenfeller and Prémat won the title at the 2008 1000 km of Silverstone, after an accident on lap 46 for the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP of Nicolas Minassian and Marc Gené. He also participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, occupying the third Audi entry with Prémat and Lucas Luhr. After qualifying fifth, their entry finished in fourth place overall, seven laps down on winning team-mates Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish.In 2009 French driver remained in this series and also participated in 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was fired by Audi before the final race of the 2010 season for running in the New York Marathon instead of recovering from a heavy crash at the previous round.[4] In 2011 he won his class of the Nürburgring 24 Hour race in a Peugeot RCZ. Supercars Championship In 2012, Prémat joined the Australia's leading touring car series, then known as V8 Supercars, driving a Holden VE Commodore for Garry Rogers Motorsport.[5][6] After a disappointing first half of the season, where he struggled to adapt to the championship, he was rested for the 2012 Armor All Gold Coast 600, with Greg Ritter taking his place. He returned to racing at the following round in Abu Dhabi,[7] and went on to finish the season with a best result of thirteenth place at Symmons Plains Raceway. Prémat remained with the team in 2013, starting the season with fourth place in the 2013 Clipsal 500 Adelaide. Despite showing front-running pace, particularly at the start of the season, he failed to achieve consistent results due to poor qualifying and incidents during the races. In January 2014, Prémat announced he was leaving the team in a full-time capacity,[8] however he would return to the team, which were now competing in a Volvo S60, for the endurance events,[9] placing 5th in the Enduro Cup with full-time driver Scott McLaughlin. Prémat once again joined McLaughlin in the 2015 Enduro Cup, with a best result of fifth at the 2015 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. For 2016, Triple Eight Race Engineering poached Prémat to partner with Shane van Gisbergen in the Enduro Cup. Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) and Alex Prémat formed a dynamic partnership that would go on to dominate the Australian Supercars Endurance Cup. The pair’s consistency was unmatched, with three second-place finishes across the three endurance events, demonstrating their relentless pursuit of excellence. The highlight of their season came at the Gold Coast 600, where Prémat clinched his first-ever Supercars race victory, a historic moment for the Frenchman. Their combined efforts were rewarded when they secured the prestigious Enduro Cup title. The victory was a testament to their teamwork, strategy, and skill, solidifying their place among the sport’s elite.2016 Castrol Gold Coast 600.[10] 2017 In a dramatic Vodafone Gold Coast 600 finale, Scott McLaughlin and Alex Premat delivered a masterclass of strategy and speed. Starting 13th, Premat’s strong opening stint propelled the Shell Ford into contention. As the race unfolded, McLaughlin's calculated early second stop allowed him to leapfrog the three dominant Triple Eight Holdens, taking the lead in a tense battle. With flawless execution and tactical brilliance, McLaughlin held his ground against fierce competition. The victory not only handed them the win but also propelled McLaughlin to the top of the championship standings, marking a pivotal moment in the 2017 Supercars season. in 2018 Scott McLaughlin and Alex Premat delivered a stunning performance at the 2018 Bathurst 1000, securing a podium finish and narrowing the points gap in the championship battle. Starting strong, the Shell V-Power Racing Team duo fought through a grueling race, with McLaughlin’s precise driving and Premat’s steady focus keeping them in contention. The pair endured the chaos of Mount Panorama, handling pressure from rivals and weathering late-race drama. In the 2019 Bathurst 1000, the race was a battle of endurance, strategy, and nerves. Scott McLaughlin and Alexandre Premat, driving for DJR Penske, fought through the chaos of the Mount Panorama circuit. The tension peaked in the final laps as a late-race safety car bunched the field. With cooler heads and flawless driving, Premat, McLaughlin held off the competition in a thrilling finish, securing his first Bathurst victory. The win was a testament to DJR Penske's dominance in Supercars, as McLaughlin’s steely resolve and Premat’s support saw them clinch a hard-earned victory on Australia's most iconic racetrack. IMSA Sports Cars and team ownership2016, At the 24 Hours of Daytona, the Ferrari 488 GTE faced its first true endurance test. The No. 68 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari, driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, Alexandre Prémat, Memo Rojas, and Daniel Serra, showed resilience despite a challenging start. After a pit lane penalty caused the car to fall laps down, the team fought back, regaining the lead lap and making a strong recovery. By the 12th hour, the Ferrari was leading the GT-Le Mans class, showcasing impressive pace and strategy. Though they ultimately finished in 4th place, the team's determination and performance made a lasting impact in the race. 2018 Alexandre Prémat has partnered with Eric Bachelart to launch a new venture in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. The duo plans to field up to two Mercedes-AMG GT4 cars this season. Prémat, a former GP2 ace and Audi factory driver, brings a wealth of experience, having recently raced in Virgin Australia Supercars. Bachelart, the ex-Conquest Racing team owner, is making his return to IMSA competition. The pair's strong relationship, dating back to a test in IndyCar, is now translating into a new team that combines Bachelart’s deep knowledge of IMSA and American motorsports with Prémat’s driving prowess. Racing recordCareer summaryComplete Formula 3 Euro Series results(key)
Complete A1 Grand Prix results(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete GP2 Series results(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete Formula One participations(key)
Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results(key)
Complete Le Mans Series results
24 Hours of Le Mans results
Supercars Championship resultsComplete Bathurst 1000 results
References
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexandre Prémat.
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