Prémat and Reip bring experience and passion to EGT

The Electric GT Championship, the world’s first 100% zero-emissions GT Championship, is thrilled to announce Alexandre Prémat and Wolfgang Reip as the newest members of the EGT Drivers’ Club.

The duo, both of whom are former international endurance racing champions, come from very different motorsport backgrounds, but share EGT’s core beliefs in using alternative fuel sources to help protect future generations.

Prémat and Reip are the 16th and 17th members of the Drivers’ Club, joining racers such as Tom Coronel, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Oliver Webb, Tom Onslow-Cole, Olivier Lombard and Emma Kimilainen in entering the ‘Age of Light’.

Prémat, 34, from Juvisy-sur-Orge in France, has 17 years of motor racing behind him. A stellar single-seater career included beating Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to win the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in 2004, a dominant A1 GP crown for Team France in 2005/06, and a stint as test driver for the Spyker Formula 1 team.

A switch to sportscars was even more successful as he claimed the European Le Mans Series crown with Audi in 2008 and then moved to the DTM. Since 2012 he has competed in Australia’s Supercar Championship, winning the Enduro Cup last year, and recently signed a long-term deal with Team Penske. He has also been involved of the development of Formula E and Formulec electric racing cars.

Prémat said: "I’m thrilled to be racing the Electric GT Championship in 2017. Being a part of this exclusive project is perfect for me. I have a strong knowledge of electric racing cars after previously working with a number of companies to develop their vehicles. EGT is a very exciting championship and I can’t wait to be behind the wheel of their race-prepared Tesla Model S."

Reip, 30, from La Hulpe in Belgium, emerged from the GT Academy, beating 830,000 online racers to land a factory drive with Nissan in 2012. In his first full season he achieved multiple podiums in the Blancpain Endurance Series, World Endurance Championship and FIA GT.

Reip quickly established himself as a top driver, winning the Blancpain Endurance title and the Bathurst 12 Hours in 2015. The Belgian is also passionate about finding alternatives to fuel and drove the Le Mans 24 Hours’ first fully-electric lap 2014, posting a time quicker than the GTE cars.

Reip said: “My two biggest passions are racing and looking at renewable alternatives to petrol, so I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of the incredible EGT Championship. The organisers are ambitious and forward-thinking, so I believe the series will be very exciting, with races on the best European tracks.

“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel because I’ve seen how quick the Tesla Model S is and how well it handles! After completing the first fully-electric lap at Le Mans, I look forward to take part in the inaugural zero-emissions GT championship!”

Electric GT CEO Mark Gemmell said: “It’s great to have both Wolfgang and Alexandre on board, as they both share our values of environmental integrity. Wolfgang’s interest in alternative fuel usage, combined with his natural racing talent, makes him the perfect candidate for the EGT Championship. Alexandre has a huge amount of experience around some of the best drivers in the world and I can see him being one to watch in our first season!”

Electric GT