Paul-Loup Chatin and Matthieu Vaxivière, two Equipe de France drivers, join Tech 1 Racing

Paul-Loup Chatin and Matthieu Vaxivière, two Equipe de France drivers will defend the Tech 1 Racing colours in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup. Chatin, last season’s revelation, is aiming for the title. French F4 Champion Vaxivière’s first mission is to learn and quickly become one of the front-runners.

It is Tech 1 Racing’s third season in the championship, and it is aiming to clinch the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup. To achieve this, the team will run four cars with four drivers capable of winning. Among them, the two Equipe de France aces will be closely watched.

It is Chatin’s second year in the championship and he has remained faithful to Tech 1 Racing. The young Frenchman, who is also a ski instructor, is one of this season’s title favourites. Last year he finished ninth in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and third in the Formula Renault ALPS making constant progress throughout the season. He won three races in the ALPS, set one pole and bagged one victory in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup, experience at the wheel of the Formula Renault 2.0 single-seater that should prove very useful to him in 2012.

“Paul-Loup drove some very impressive races last year,” analyzes Simon Abadie, the Tech 1 Racing team manager. “He kept on improving and was among the front-runners at the end of the season. He showed his potential and his straightforward approach. We have great faith in him and this season he’s a logical title contender. His start to the year will be crucial and he’ll have to be on the pace at Motorland Aragon. He knows this and he’s preparing for it.”

Matthieu Vaxivière will have to learn the ins and outs of the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and the Formula Renault ALPS. The F4 French Champion is moving up to another level in 2012 by joining Tech 1 Racing, but he will soon have to be in a position to aim for victory.

“We had our first test with Matthieu even before he won his title,” says Abadie. “He immediately showed good potential and he got on well with the whole team straight away. The Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup is a very competitive championship and luck plays no part in winning it. The best drivers shone in this championship but they had to learn the ropes first of all. Matthieu knows this. He’s done an awful lot of work this winter and we have a very busy programme between now and the start of the season. He’s a conscientious and disciplined bloke and he’s got what it takes to succeed. We’re delighted to welcome him to our team and we’re convinced that he won’t need much time before he’s in the top five, after which he’ll be aiming for the podium and then victory. He has to set himself higher targets at each race. It’s only his second season in single-seaters and he’s already won a major title. It’s always interesting for us to take on a driver who’s making his debut, especially when he listens to his engineers and other drivers like Matthieu does.”

Paul-Loup Chatin (F)
Born: 19^th October 1991 (20) in Dourdan

2011: Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup, 9^th: 1 victory, 1 pole position, 2 podiums
2011: Formula Renault ALPS: 3^rd, 3 victories, 3 pole positions, 9 podiums, 3 fastest laps
2010: F4 Eurocup 1.6: 3^rd, 2 victories, 2 pole positions, 4 podiums, 4 fastest laps

Winner of the Euroformula Volant in 2010 and FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.

Member of the FFSA Equipe de France Circuits

Matthieu Vaxivière (F)
Born 3^rd December 1994 (17) in Limoges

2011 French F4 Champion
2010: Mitjet Series, 9^th and 2^nd Rookie Classification
2009: Andros Trophy

Member of the FFSA Equipe de France Circuits.