Lilou Wadoux
Wadoux at Le Mans in 2022
NationalityFrance French
Born (2001-04-10) 10 April 2001
Amiens, France
FIA World Endurance Championship career
Debut season2022
Current teamRichard Mille AF Corse
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number83
Former teamsRichard Mille Racing Team
Starts9 (9 entries)
Wins1
Podiums2
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish12th (LMP2) in 2022
Previous series
2020–2021
2019
2019		Alpine Elf Europa Cup
Clio Cup France
TCR Europe Touring Car Series

Lilou Wadoux-Ducellier (born 10 April 2001) is a French professional racing driver who currently races for Richard Mille AF Corse in the GTE Am class of the FIA World Endurance Championship. She is an Alpine Elf Europa Cup race winner, Renault Clio Cup podium finisher, and has previously competed in the TCR Europe Touring Car Series. Before signing for Ferrari as a factory driver in 2023, she raced in the WEC for Richard Mille's Signatech-run LMP2 team.[1][2][3]

Career

Early career

Though her father Cédric was briefly a rally driver, Wadoux spent her youth competing in tennis. She only started karting, mostly for fun, at the late age of 14.[4][5] Aided by fellow Amiens racing drivers Julien and Florian Briché, she made the jump to competitive circuit racing two years later, in 2017.[6][7] Starting out in the French lower-division one-make saloon car championships, Wadoux encountered success from early on, with an 8th place (runner-up in the junior class) in the Peugeot 208 Racing Cup followed by 3rd overall the following year.[8][9][10] Her 2018 season also included four top-ten finishes from four guest starts in the superior Peugeot 308 Racing Cup, as well as an appearance in a two-day test organised by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission in Navarra for 15 female racers.[11][12]

2019 would see Wadoux make the step up to the TCR Europe Touring Car Series with a Peugeot 308 TCR from Briché's JSB Compétition team. However, her season was cut short due to a crash in the third round of the season at Spa-Francorchamps. She was hit by Qatari driver Abdullah Ali Al Khelaifi, who had lost control of his Cupra León TCR after an off at turn 16, and her car rolled several times before it finally came to a stop.[13][14] She was unharmed, but the financial difficulties following the crash meant she was not able to return to the championship.[15][16] She returned to racing in October that year, with a one-off appearance in the Clio Cup France at Circuit Paul Ricard that yielded a podium finish.[17][18]

Alpine Elf Europa Cup

In 2020, Wadoux switched to the one-make Alpine Elf Europa Cup, driving an Alpine A110 for Autosport GP.[19] She had a consistent debut season, finishing all ten races in the top ten with eight junior podiums, but had to settle for 7th in the overall standings.[20][21]

2021 would prove to be Wadoux's breakthrough year.[22] Continuing in the Alpine Elf Europa Cup with Autosport GP, she finished eight of the 12 races on the overall podium and was part of a three-way title fight with reigning champion Jean-Baptiste Mela and single-seater graduate Ugo de Wilde that went down to the wire.[23][24][25] She won one race at the season finale in Portimão and eventually finished third overall, second in the junior standings.[26][27]

A highlight of Wadoux's 2021 season came at the Circuit de la Sarthe in August. Racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans-supporting round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge France, in a car and circuit she was new to, Wadoux set pole position by a full three seconds and dominated the race from lights to flag.[28][29]

Endurance racing

In November 2021 Wadoux, as well as W Series drivers Jamie Chadwick and Alice Powell, was invited by the all-female LMP2 Richard Mille Racing Team to take part in the post-season FIA World Endurance Championship rookie test at Bahrain.[30][31][32] She impressed the most, and was signed for the 2022 season as part of the team's switch to a mixed lineup, alongside ELMS champion Charles Milesi and WRC legend Sébastien Ogier.[33][34][35] The trio completed the opening three rounds of the season together, ending with sixth place at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, before experienced LMP2 racer Paul-Loup Chatin took over from Ogier. Chatin served a mentoring role for Wadoux, guiding her during their time as teammates and also helping the team reach new heights.[36][37] At the fourth round in Monza, the trio were running in third place with just over two hours to go when Prema's Robert Kubica lost control of his car into the first corner and sent Chatin into a spin. The incident damaged the Richard Mille car's gearbox, dropping the team from podium positions to outside the points.[38] After eighth place in the final two events at Fuji and Bahrain, Wadoux and Milesi finished 12th in the standings with 30 points.

In late 2022, Wadoux was named as one of four drivers to be invited by the WEC to take part in the post-season rookie test at Bahrain. She drove the title-winning Hypercar, that being the Toyota GR010 Hybrid, and thus became the first woman to drive a top-class prototype since Vanina Ickx in 2011.[39][40]

In 2023, the Frenchwoman made history by becoming the first ever female Ferrari factory driver. Moving over from prototypes to GT cars but remaining in the WEC, Wadoux signed for the Richard Mille-backed AF Corse team. She is set to race a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo in the LMGTE Am category alongside bronze-rated Luis Pérez Companc and fellow factory driver Alessio Rovera.[41][42] The campaign started out in disappointing fashion, as teammate Companc crashed spectacularly in the opening laps of the 1000 Miles of Sebring, forcing the team to retire.[43] This would be followed up with a redemption however, as Wadoux proved to be an instrumental part of the team's next performance at the 6 Hours of Portimão, taking the lead during the second hour, before a charging stint from Rovera led the #83 crew to finish second, mere two tenths behind the leading #33 Corvette of Nicky Catsburg.[44][45] Two weeks later, during the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Wadoux once again demonstrated an impressive drive, as she became the first female driver to win a race in the FIA World Endurance Championship when Rovera crossed the line after a dominant display.[46]

Personal life

In her early teenage years before taking up racing, Wadoux competed in tennis. She says her idols are tennis player Rafael Nadal and Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna, who her father, an amateur rally driver, admired in the 90s.[47]

Racing record

Racing career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2017 Peugeot 208 Racing Cup N/A  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ? 8th
2018 Peugeot 208 Racing Cup N/A  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ? 3rd
Peugeot 308 Racing Cup JSB Compétition 4 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2019 TCR Europe Touring Car Series JSB Compétition 5 0 0 0 0 0 44th
Clio Cup France GPA Racing 2 0 0 0 1 0 NC†
2020 Alpine Elf Europa Cup Autosport GP 10 0 0 1 0 65 7th
2021 Alpine Elf Europa Cup Patrick Roger Autosport GP 12 1 0 1 8 156 3rd
Porsche Sprint Challenge Le Mans CLRT 1 1 1 1 1 N/A 1st
2022 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 Richard Mille Racing Team 6 0 0 0 0 30 12th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 9th
2023 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am Richard Mille AF Corse 7 1 0 0 2 56 8th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 AF Corse 1 0 0 0 0 250 30th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Silver 1 0 0 0 1 15 17th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Bronze 1 0 0 0 0 8 27th
GT World Challenge America - Pro Conquest Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2024 Super GT Series - GT300 PONOS Racing

† As Wadoux was a guest driver, she was ineligible to score points.
* Season still in progress.

Complete Alpine Elf Europa Cup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Points
2020 Autosport GP NOG
1
7		 NOG
2
6		 NOG
3
8		 MAG
1
4		 MAG
2
4		 LEC
1
7		 LEC
2
5		 LEC
3
7		 POR
1
4		 POR
2
7		 7th 65
2021 Patrick Roger Autosport GP NOG
1
3		 NOG
2
2		 MAG
1
5		 MAG
2
3		 SPA
1
4		 SPA
2
3		 CAT
1
2		 CAT
2
4		 LEC
1
6		 LEC
2
2		 POR
1
1		 POR
2
2		 3rd 156

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rank Points
2022 Richard Mille Racing Team LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SEB
12		 SPA
8		 LMS
6		 MNZ
14		 FUJ
8		 BHR
8		 12th 30
2023 Richard Mille AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SEB
Ret		 PRT
2		 SPA
1		 LMS
Ret		 MNZ
6		 FUJ
9		 BHR
9		 8th 56

* Season still in progress.

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2022 France Richard Mille Racing Team France Charles Milesi
France Sébastien Ogier		 Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 366 13th 9th
2023 Italy Richard Mille AF Corse Argentina Luis Pérez Companc
Italy Alessio Rovera		 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTE
Am		 33 DNF DNF

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rank Points
2024 Richard Mille AF Corse LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY SEB WGL MOS ELK IMS ATL

Complete Super GT results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC Points
2024 PONOS Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 GT300 OKA
 FUJ
 SUZ
 FUJ
 SUZ
 SUG
 AUT
 MOT

* Season still in progress.


References

  1. ↑ Bosset, Fabrice (8 June 2022). "À toute vitesse, Lilou Wadoux, 21 ans, aux 24 Heures du Mans". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux, la jeune pilote à surveiller de près..." Endurance-Info.com (in French). 3 October 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  3. ↑ Casaurang, Medhi (3 February 2022). "Lilou Wadoux, une ascension hors catégorie". AutoHebdo (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux, ascension express". Motors Inside (in French). 9 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  5. ↑ "Learning Step by Step – Interview with Lilou Wadoux". Paddock Sorority. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "Lilou fait fondre l'asphalte". Conseil départemental de la Somme (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux, de Fresnoy-au-Val, pilote depuis ses 14 ans". Courrier Picard (in French). 27 September 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  8. ↑ "VIDÉO - Lilou Wadoux, 17 ans, grand espoir du sport automobile". RTL (in French). 24 October 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  9. ↑ "Rencontres Peugeot Sport : Lilou Wadoux, encore plus haut !". FranceRacing.fr (in French). 17 May 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "Milesi, Ogier, Wadoux: Richard Mille Racing Team". watchilove.com. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "Quién es quién en el test femenino de la FIA". Car and Driver (in Spanish). 18 September 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  12. ↑ "2022 WEC Newbies Go for It!". FIA WEC. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  13. ↑ Brunsdon, Stephen (10 June 2019). "Lilou Wadoux "lucky" to avoid serious injury after Race 1 crash at Spa". Touring Car Times. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  14. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux, dure au mal et au mâle". Dicilà (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  15. ↑ Granger, Boris (1 July 2019). "Lilou Wadoux, jeune espoir amiénoise du sport automobile, à la recherche de financements après son accident". France Info (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux, future grande pilote française ?". La Fléministe (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Lilou WADOUX, née avec un volant !". M4Wofficial.com (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  18. ↑ "300 chevaux AU VENT". Amiens Métropole (in French). 10 March 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "AUTO : Lilou Wadoux et Adeline Lourenço, l'une au volant et l'autre à la data-performance". Gazette Sports (in French). 23 November 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  20. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux". Speedqueens. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  21. ↑ "AUTO : Avec son Alpine, Lilou Wadoux impressionne encore, en Ultimate au Castellet". Gazette Sports (in French). 7 December 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  22. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux always a little more in history". lookcharms.com. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "AUTO : " Je sais que je peux aller chercher le titre en Alpine Elf Europa Cup ! " affirme Lilou Wadoux". Gazette Sports (in French). 2 September 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  24. ↑ De Azevedo, Alexis (8 June 2022). "24 Heures du Mans. Lilou Wadoux, l'ascension supersonique". Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  25. ↑ "AUTO : Lilou Wadoux " J'ai déjà pas mal prouvé " en Alpine". Gazette Sports (in French). 2 October 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  26. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux wins first race in Alpine Europa Cup, Rdest ends season with double P6". Racers - Behind the Helmet. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  27. ↑ "24 Heures du Mans : Lilou Wadoux toujours un peu plus dans l'histoire". RTL (in French). 9 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  28. ↑ "Porsche Sprint Challenge France – Victory for Lilou Wadoux!". 24 Hours of Le Mans. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  29. ↑ "AUTO : Lilou Wadoux sur la plus haute marche en Porsche !". Gazette Sports (in French). 21 August 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  30. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux aux tests WEC à Bahreïn". FFSA (in French). 9 November 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  31. ↑ "Endurance. Trois jeunes femmes vont tester l'Oreca du Richard Mille Racing". Maville (in French). 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  32. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux joins Powell, Chadwick in WEC rookie test". Racers - Behind the Helmet. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  33. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux (Richard Mille Racing): "Endurance attracts me for the team spirit"". Endurance-Info.com. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  34. ↑ "24 Hours of Le Mans - Lilou Wadoux: "It's a great idea to have a mixed team"". 24 Hours of Le Mans. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  35. ↑ "24 Heures du Mans. Lilou Wadoux, " un ovni " en apprentissage avec le Richard Mille Racing". Ouest-France (in French). 7 February 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  36. ↑ Vateoni, Catherine (6 November 2022). "Richard Mille Racing Team: "Time trial" questions for a trio". FIA World Endurance Championship. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  37. ↑ "Endurance. Daytona, IDEC... Programme chargé pour Paul-Loup Chatin". Ouest-France (in French). 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  38. ↑ Delorme, Vincent (10 July 2022). "AUTO – LMP2 : Lilou Wadoux pas vernie à Monza". Gazette Sports (in French). Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  39. ↑ "FIA WEC – Bahrain official rookie test drivers named". 24 Hours of Le Mans. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  40. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux: from Alpine Cup to Hypercar test in one year". Racers - Behind the Helmet. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  41. ↑ "Lilou Wadoux, first female Ferrari Competizioni GT driver". Ferrari. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  42. ↑ Goodwin, Graham (16 January 2023). "Lilou Wadoux Named As First Ever Female Ferrari Factory GT Driver". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  43. ↑ "Toyotas lead at Sebring after first hour after big crash for GTE Ferrari". Motorsport Week. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  44. ↑ Euwema, Davey. "Rovera Was "Struggling With Traction" in Catsburg Battle – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  45. ↑ "Automobile. 6 Heures de Portimao: Lilou Wadoux s'offre un premier podium". Courrier picard (in French). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  46. ↑ "6H Spa-Francorchamps: Post-Race Paddock Notes | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  47. ↑ "Wadoux: "When I put my helmet on I dream of Le Mans"". Ferrari. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
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