In a thrilling night race under challenging conditions at Circuit Magny-Cours in France on 29 October 2023, the promising young Swiss driver, Sacha Clavadetscher, aged 18, from Féchy VD, secured the championship title in the Endurance Proto CN category of the European Ultimate Cup series. The race took place last Saturday, featuring a demanding 4-hour endurance event with windy and wet conditions.
Sacha Clavadetscher started and finished the endurance race in a remarkable first place (P1) despite the slippery and difficult track conditions. Notably, the CN prototypes used in this category do not feature ABS or TC (traction control) and share the track with faster NP02 and LMP3 prototypes, well-known for their presence at the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours race.
Sacha's exceptional performance throughout the season, with four wins and only one Did Not Finish (DNF), has rightfully crowned him as the champion before the eagerly anticipated super finale scheduled to be held at Le Castellet on November 25th and 26th. Sacha attributes his success not only to his talent but also to the outstanding teamwork with his co-drivers, Iko Segret, who participated in three races, and Philibert Michy, who joined for the final race. Their impressive strategy of sharing driving duties, each taking the wheel for two hours, demands both physical fitness to endure the high G-forces in fast corners and unwavering focus at speeds reaching up to 250 km/h.
The year 2023 marked Sacha Clavadetscher's first full season in sportscars, following his transition from karting in 2022. ANS Motorsport team founder and multiple French mountain champion Nicolas Schatz praised Sacha's exceptional development, saying:
"Sacha showed a big learning curve since last year. The step from karting into fast prototypes with lots of Downforce is a big challenge, and you need to gain confidence in the car's impressive capabilities. Sacha is mature for his age and applied fast what we corrected with data and debriefings. He showed fast pace, astonishing regularity and made no mistakes as a rookie - a big plus in Endurance racing."
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, the future for Sacha Clavadetscher in prototype racing holds immense excitement with the introduction of new constructors such as Lamborghini, Alpine, Aston Martin, and potentially Audi entering the Hypercar category in the legendary 24-hour race of Le Mans. This ambitious endeavor remains Sacha's dream and his ultimate goal.
Supercar Sharing®, proud partner of Sacha Clavadetscher, expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming season in 2024. Sacha's parents continue to support his motorsport journey, provided that he maintains a diligent focus on his studies alongside his passionate racing pursuits, a balancing act that many Swiss pilots face.