Twenty-four-year-old Côme Ledogar has just signed for British manufacturer, McLaren GT, as a works driver. Among his plans for 2016, it is confirmed that he will take part in the high profile Blancpain Endurance Series at the wheel of a McLaren 650S GT3. This announcement comes hot on the heels of the man from Lyon’s couple of brilliant seasons in circuit racing. In 2014 he won the Porsche Carrera Cup France championship title, and last year he finished second in the rookie classification in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and filled the runner-up spot in the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia.
For a young driver his first professional contract with a manufacturer is a crucial step in his career. In Ledogar’s case it is even more important as he is joining a prestigious, well-known company as the McLaren name evokes a sporting heritage of 20 world titles in Formula 1, outright victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours, a range of luxury high-performance supercars, as well as a firm whose advanced technology is well established in several markets.
The Frenchman tells us about how his contract with McLaren GT came about. “Since my decision to orient my career to grand touring car racing in 2012 I’ve only driven Porsches, except once when I raced a McLaren 12C GT3 in the 2013 Spa 24 hours with the Hexis Racing squad whose team manager was Philippe Dumas. We’ve known each other since I started driving single-seaters and we’ve become good friends. Philippe’s given me great support and advice and I think he trusts me. He’s proved just how good he is at working as a team manager and helping young drivers to improve. After my successful 2015 season at international level he reckoned that I was ready to take a step and become a works driver. So he put me in contact with McLaren GT and they invited me to take part in a test. First of all, I got to know the team and the 650S GT3 in Barcelona; then we had a three-day development session at Paul Ricard. I have to say how much I enjoyed working with a factory squad and to be able to bring them something, while also receiving a great deal from a personal point of view in return.”
Philippe Dumas is delighted that one of his protégés is joining a manufacturer with which he had a fruitful relationship in the past. “I’m obviously very proud to have supported Côme in his search to achieve the ultimate aim in motor sport, namely: to become a works driver, which is never an easy task. There are only a few dozen on the planet! It’s really great for him to find himself in this position at his age. He owes it to his talent, his strength of character and his entourage who’ve always believed in him. One chapter in his life has just closed and a new one’s opening. I’d like to thank Andrew Kirkaldy, the McLaren GT General Manager, for his trust. We’ve always had a lot of respect for each other since we started working together in 2011.”
To sum up, Ledogar wanted to thank all the people and teams that have supported him during his career, in particular those he raced for in 2015. “They helped me fulfil a dream. The Team Martinet by Alméras knows how to prepare drivers to become professionals. They’ve set up a nursery which works really well. Oleksandr Gaidai’s Tsunami RT squad was a great help and I loved working with them. What’s more it’s very positive for a French driver to show that he can win with a foreign team.”
About Côme Ledogar:
French, born 23 May 1991 in Annecy (Haute-Savoie, France), lives in Lyon (Rhône, France)
McLaren GT Works driver. FIA categorization: Gold.
2007: Winner of the ACO Racing School scholarship (Bugatti circuit, Le Mans).
2008: Formul’Academy Euro Series runner-up with 6 podium finishes including 4 race wins, 3 pole positions.
2009-10: Formula BMW Europe (3 podium finishes and 2 pole positions).
2010-11: Formula Renault 2.0 (2 podium finishes).
2012: Porsche Carrera Cup France runner-up (Pro GT by Alméras) with 9 podium finishes including 4 race wins and 2 pole positions, Porsche Motorsport International Cup Scholarship Program finalist.
2014: Porsche Carrera Cup France Champion (Team Martinet by Alméras) with 8 podium finishes including 6 race wins and 6 pole positions. Porsche Motorsport International Cup Scholarship Program finalist.
2015: 8th in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Rookie championship runner-up (Team Martinet by Alméras) with 1 overall podium finish and 3 rookie class wins, Porsche Carrera Cup Italia runner-up (Tsunami RT) with 11 podium finishes including 3 race wins.
15 victories in Porsche Cup so far.