Zacharie Robichon
Robichon at Le Mans in 2022
NationalityCanada Canadian
Born (1992-05-31) May 31, 1992
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
IMSA career
Debut season2019
Current teamWright Motorsports
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number16
Former teamsPfaff Motorsports
Starts26
Wins7
Poles3
Fastest laps0
Best finish1st in 2021
Previous series
2018

2016–2017
2015
2015
2014
2013		Ultra 94 GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama
Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Canada
F2000
F1600
Can Am Cup
Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series - Class A
Championship titles
2021

2015		IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD
Can Am Cup

Zacharie Richard Robichon[1] (born May 31, 1992) is a Canadian sportscar racer, who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Wright Motorsports.

Career

Karting

Robichon got his passion for car racing growing up came from his father who raced Formula cars in the 70s and 80s.[2]

He began karting at 14 years of age and didn't enter a full season of competition until 2009 when he began racing in the Canadian National Karting Championships, Rotax Senior class.In September 2011, Robichon beat seven other karters to win the third "Hinchtown.com Canadian Karting Award" sponsored by IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe. The prize was a fully-paid, three-day "Wheel to Wheel" race licensing course at the Bridgestone Racing Academy.[3]

F1600

After competing for Canada in the annual Formula Ford Festival, Robichon moved to Formula 1600 after his father agreed to fund one season on the condition that he find sponsors to pay for subsequent years.[2] In 2014 he competed in both the Toyo Tires Formula Tour 1600 and 2014 Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Class A Series with BGR Team Grote, as well as two races in the 2014 F2000 Championship Series.[4] He took two podiums in four starts in the Formula Four and one win and three podiums in eight starts in the F1600 Championship Series.[5]

In September, Robichon won the Can-Am Cup in a photo finish, catching leader Tristan DeGrand at the last turn on the final lap and then out-dragging his rival to the finish line.[6]

In 2015, Robichon joined Brian Graham Racing and finished second overall in the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship "class A" Series, with three wins, eight podiums and five poles in eight starts.[5] While racing in F1600, Robichon also worked as an engineer and mechanic for other drivers.[2]

Porsche GT3 Cup

After three seasons of Formula 1600, Robichon made the switch to sportscars, racing in the Ultra 94 Porsche GT 3 Canada Series for Mark Motors Racing in Ottawa in 2016.[7]

He raced for three seasons in the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Canada finishing third overall in 2016, with two wins and 10 podiums in 12 starts. He also started two races in the 2016 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA scoring one podium for Mark Motors Racing.[8]

He returned to Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Canada with Mark Motors in 2017, taking second overall with 2 two wins, 11 podiums and one pole in 12 races.[8]

Robichon dominated the 2018 Ultra 94 GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama on his way to the title, taking 11 wins, 12 podiums and nine poles in 12 starts. In August, Robichon got an emergency call while participating in a ride along event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park from the Moorespeed team which needed a replacement driver for the Porsche GT3 Challenge USA race at Road America.[9] Robichon swept both races that weekend[10]

In all, he started eight Porsche GT3 Challenge USA races for Moorespeed in 2018, finishing taking home seven wins, seven podiums and eight poles. He finished 12th overall despite starting only half the races.[11]

IMSA SportsCar Championship

In 2019, Robichon teamed with fellow Canadian Scott Hargrove at Pfaff Motorsports in the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD class,[12] driving a Porsche 911 GT3 R to third overall, with wins in the 2019 Northeast Grand Prix and the 2019 Road Race Showcase at Road America.[13]

Although the plan for 2020 was to challenge for the GTD title, it got derailed due to COVID-19 pandemic.[14] Robichon's full-time teammates for the season were Lars Kern and Dennis Olsen. In addition, Patrick Pilet joining the squad for the 24 Hours of Daytona.[15]

Pfaff Motorsoport's Toronto base combined with border restrictions made competing in a full season impossible. In the end, Robichon only started two races in GTD, the pre-COVID 2020 24 Hours of Daytona where Pfaff started on pole but finished 13th. In its other start in 2020, the team finished 5th in the 2020 IMSA SportsCar Weekend at Road America.

With Pfaff Motorsport Porsche's plaid livery quickly becoming a fan favorite, the team arrived at the 2020 season opening Rolex 24 at Daytona with custom race suits that made the driver look like lumberjacks wearing plaid shirts and blue jeans.[16]

In 2021, Robichon welcomed new teammate Laurens Vanthoor at Pfaff Motorsports.[17] The pair struggled in the first half of the 10-race season, managing only one win in the first five starts, although the victory came in the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring.[18]

The Pfaff team began a comeback in the second half with a GTD win in the IMSA Sports Car Weekend and followed it with another in the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship. After a second in Long Beach, the pair were victorious again at the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR, setting the stage for a title showdown at the season finale.[19]

A second in the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta was enough to deliver the GTD team championship to Pfaff Motorsports and the drivers’ title to Robichon and Vanthoor. The podium in the season finale ended an impressive string of three victories and two second-place finishes in the second half. In all, the pair took four wins and six podiums in 10 starts to win the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD class title.[20]

With Pfaff Motorsport moving the GTD Pro in 2022,[21] Robichon joined Wright Motorsports in its Porsche 911 GT3 R GTD class entry.[22]

In 2022, Robichon Raced the four rounds of the Michelin Endurance Cup: 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring (Sebring), 6 hours at the Glen (Watkins Glen International), and Petit Le Mans (Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta). He admitted that moving into a part-time role brought concerns about fitting into the team and being a third wheel to the ouftfit's full-time drivers, Ryan Hardwick and Jan Heylen.[23]

In his first race with his new team, he took a class victory at Daytona with teammates Ryan Hardwick, Jan Heylen, and Richard Lietz.[24]

European Le Mans Series

On the heels of his victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona, Robichon joined with Proton Competition in the European Le Mans Series, racing Porsche 911 RSR-19 in the GTE class alongside the actor Michael Fassbender and Porsche factory driver Richard Lietz.[25]

In his first start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, Robichon finished a disappointing 16th in class[26] and 51st overall.[27]

Racing results

Complete IMSA SportsCar 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 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2019 Pfaff Motorsport GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
16		 SEB
10		 MOH
12		 BEL
2		 WGL
6		 MOS
5		 LIM
1		 ELK
1		 VIR
4		 LGA
4		 ATL
3		 3rd 262
2020 Pfaff Motorsport GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
13		 DAY
 SEB
 ELK
 VIR
 ATL
 MDO
 CLT
 PET
5		 LGA
 SEB
 35th 44
2021 Pfaff Motorsports GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
12		 SEB
1		 MDO
6		 DET
 WGL
7		 WGL
 LIM
4		 ELK
1		 LGA
1		 LBH
2		 VIR
1		 PET
2		 1st 3284
2022 Wright Motorsports GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
1		 SEB
10		 LBH
 LGA
 MDO
 DET
 WGL
6		 MOS
 LIM
 ELK
 VIR
 PET
4		 19th 1191
2023 Wright Motorsports GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 DAY
9		 SEB
6		 LBH
 MON
 WGL
3		 MOS
 LIM
 ELK
 VIR
 IMS PET
 23rd* 835*
2024 Heart of Racing Team GTD Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8 DAY SEB LBH LGA WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS PET

* Season still in progress.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
2022 Germany Proton Racing Australia Matt Campbell
Republic of Ireland Michael Fassbender		 Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Am		 329 51st 16th
2023 Germany Proton Competition United States Ryan Hardwick
Belgium Jan Heylen		 Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Am		 28 DNF DNF

Personal life

Robichon has degrees in business and finance.[2]

Outside of racing, he owns an event management company that runs all the driving related activities for Porsche Canada. The company has a 30 staff that offers driving experiences for Porsche owners, track days, and winter safety courses.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Pilote des 24 heures du Mans : Zacharie Richard Robichon". www.24h-en-piste.com (in French). Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Lenzo, Anthony. "Sharing Lunch With……OOE Race Car Driver Zach Robichon". Mainstreeter. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Pappone, Jeff (June 28, 2013). "Young racer didn't start young enough for the big leagues". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  4. ↑ Morgan, Jeff (8 February 2013). "BGR Team Grote Signs Canadian Karting Star Zacharie Robichon for 2013 Toyo Tires F1600 Championship". Inside Track Motorsport News. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Zach Robichon". Driver database. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  6. ↑ Auto123.com. "Zacharie Robichon wins Can Am Cup". Auto123.com. Retrieved 14 March 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "Zacharie Robichon". Mark Motors. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Zach Robichon". Driver Database. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  9. ↑ McDonald, Norris (7 August 2018). "All hail Zach Robichon". Toronto Star Wheels. Retrieved 14 March 2022. and stayed with Morrespeed for the rest of the season.
  10. ↑ Sinclair, Adam. "Robichon completes weekend sweep for Moorespeed". Speedway Digest. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "Moorespeed and Zach Robichon Ready to Wrap Up IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA". Automobilsport.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  12. ↑ Malsher-Lopez, David (13 December 2018). "Pfaff confirms full IMSA season with Hargrove, Robichon". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "Zacharie Robichon". Driver Database. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  14. ↑ Dagys, John (10 December 2019). "Olsen Joins Pfaff for Full Season Campaign". Sportscar 365. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  15. ↑ Dagys, John (10 December 2019). "Olsen Joins Pfaff for Full Season Campaign". Sportscar365. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  16. ↑ Makse, Brian (5 November 2020). "Canada's Pfaff Motorsports' Porsche was destined to wear plaid". IMSA.com. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  17. ↑ Malsher-Lopez, David (14 December 2020). "Vanthoor joins Robichon at Pfaff Motorsports in IMSA". Autosport. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  18. ↑ Malsher-Lopez, David (21 March 2021). "Pfaff helps Porsche to 100 wins in Twelve Hours of Sebring". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  19. ↑ Kelly, Godwin (27 October 2021). "GTD Title Fight Set for Three-Team Battle Royale at Motul Petit Le Mans". IMSA.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  20. ↑ Dagys, John (14 November 2021). "Pfaff Duo "Made Our Own Luck" En Route to GTD Title". Sportscar365. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  21. ↑ McDonald, Norris (22 January 2022). "Pfaff Motorsports moves up to IMSA pro class". Toronto Star Wheels. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  22. ↑ Kish, Ryan (7 December 2021). "Wright Motorsports calls on MPC champions for '22 GTD campaign". Racer. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  23. ↑ Euwema, Davey (16 March 2022). "Robichon Was "A Little Nervous" About Wright Endurance Role". Sportscar 365. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  24. ↑ Malsher-Lopez, David (31 January 2022). "Wright elated by first Rolex 24 win, redemption for Hardwick". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  25. ↑ Lloyd, Daniel (5 April 2022). "Robichon, Gidley in GTE Field for Paul Ricard Season-Opener". Sportscar365. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  26. ↑ "Porsche wins the GT class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans". Porsche Cars North America. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  27. ↑ Weiss, Jamie (14 June 2022). "Michael Fassbender's First Le Mans Doesn't Go According To Plan". Dmarge.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
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