Zacharie Robichon is over the moon after winning his first title victory after winning the IMSA Weathertech Sprint Cup last Sunday.
Robichon and Hargrove finished fourth in GTD in the IMSA Monterey Grand Prix at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, which was enough for Robichon to win the seven-race Sprint Cup.
“After a really tough race, here I am with my first title – that’s sensational," Robichon said. "Our first Sprint Cup race at Mid-Ohio didn’t go at all well, but since then we’ve made huge progress. Our Laguna Seca race is proof of that. We weren’t at all familiar with the racetrack, so it was a journey into the unknown.
The meticulous work of the team ensured that we could maintain a steady pace and achieve fourth place. That was the most we could do today, and it was enough to win the title for Porsche and for me personally. A dream has come true for me today.”
Robichon, who was the only driver in the #9 PFAFF Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R who was eligible to win the Sprint Cup, came into the final round at Laguna Seca with a one-point lead over the #86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo driven by the duo of Trent Hindman and Mario Farnbacher. But with the Acura having a nightmare race and finishing eighth, the fourth place finish for Robichon and Hargrove was enough to lock up the title with a six-point gap.
“We almost got that podium, but at the same time we did what we needed to do to secure the championship,” Robichon explained. “It’s not the way you want to do it. It looks like the Acura guys had a hard day, but we’ll take it. I’m very happy with what the Pfaff team has done this year.”
Robichon was the only full-time driver in the plaid-wearing Porsche this season, sharing the car with a number of different drivers along the way. Other than Hargrove, Robichon also partnered with Porsche Young Professionals Dennis Olsen and Matt Campbell, as well as endurance veterans like Lars Kern and Pat Long.
Robichon teamed with the latter when he took over Patrick Lindsey's seat at Park Place Motorsports during the Detroit Grand Prix, which allowed him to stay in contention for the title.
“I mean this year I’ve had the opportunity to share the car with a lot of quick guys and we’ve been able to learn from them,” Robichon explained. “Scott (Hargrove), Dennis (Olsen), Matt (Campbell), Lars (Kern), Pat Long as well. They have a lot more experience and I think that is what helped me get to this position. The beauty about endurance racing is you have your teammate and you work together.”
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