Last week, IDEC SPORT announced its partnership with Hyundai Motorsport for the arrival of Genesis Magma Racing in endurance racing. At the same time, the team confirmed the entry of two LMP2 Oreca 07 cars in the European Le Mans Series for 2025. The #18 trio, supported by Hyundai, consists of young French talent Mathys Jaubert, British driver Jamie Chadwick, and former Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant.
With strong driver lineups, IDEC SPORT demonstrates its ambition to compete at the front in a championship with an increasingly high level of competition.
Now it’s time for the IDEC SPORT lineup to be announced. The #28 will be driven by the spearhead of the French team: Paul Lafargue. The 36-year-old driver has been with the team since its inception and boasts extensive endurance racing experience, including eight participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (podium in 2024) and the European championship title won in 2019.
Job Van Uitert, who was already part of the team in 2024, remains with the French squad for another season. He made a strong impression on track and integrated seamlessly into the team. As one of the best LMP2 drivers on the grid, he proved his talent last season with a pole position at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, a podium at the 4 Hours of Spa, a second-place finish in qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and a podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The driver completing the trio is none other than Paul-Loup Chatin, Alpine Hypercar driver and former IDEC SPORT racer for seven seasons. As a reminder, PLC brought glory to IDEC SPORT with multiple victories, two pole positions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2018 and 2023), and the European championship title in 2019.
With these two crews, IDEC SPORT clearly demonstrates its ambition: to fight at the front. Though the challenge won’t be easy, given the highly competitive level of the ELMS.
Paul Lafargue : “Next year, with two cars entered, the team will have major challenges to tackle. But honestly, I think we have the right lineups to succeed. On my side, I’m really happy to be teaming up with Job again. We get along really well, both in terms of car setup and off the track. He’s a teammate who always brings solutions and helps the team move forward.
And having Paul-Loup back in the team is truly satisfying. We spent seven years racing together, securing victories and an ELMS title in 2019. I know his talent, his ability to get the best out of the car, and our strong bond is a real asset. Seeing him return to the team motivates me even more for this season. I know we’ll have to work hard to turn this into results, but with this team, I’m confident. We have a solid foundation, a real drive to perform well, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
Job Van Uitert : “I’m simply thrilled to stay with IDEC SPORT for another year. The chemistry within the team is excellent. The car was fast and reliable last season, so I believe we can replicate that and fight for the championship. I want to thank Patrice and Nico for this opportunity.
I’m happy to be sharing the car with Paul again—he was missed in the second half of 2024. And I already know Paul-Loup from the paddock and from the great battles we’ve had on track. I know he’s part of the IDEC SPORT family, so I’m sure everything will go smoothly. Plus, aside from scoring points, I get another year to improve my French !”
Paul-Loup Chatin : “It’s pure joy to be back with IDEC SPORT. After seven incredible years together from 2017 to 2023, I’m lucky to be rejoining the team for the 2025 ELMS season alongside my WEC program with Alpine. I’d like to thank Patrice, Paul, and Nicolas for welcoming me back into the IDEC SPORT family.
Reuniting with Paul, who beyond being my teammate, is a friend makes it even more special. I know all his strengths as a driver and have complete trust in him. As for Job, beyond his raw speed, he’s someone with all the right values, making this a great experience for the three of us, both on and off the track.
We’re lucky to have such a strong lineup, and it’s up to us to make the most of it. We can also count on the #18 car, which will be highly competitive. Having two cars is a great advantage, allowing us to work together even more efficiently. All the ingredients are there to make 2025 an incredible season.”
