Matech Competition | Meet the drivers

Meet the drivers

Thomas Mutsch

Driver

Coming from the world of single-seaters, Thomas Mutsch excelled in Formula Renault 2000, Formula 3 and the German V8 Star series, finishing the championship twice within the top 3. Part of the Matech team since 2007, as Matech's Operations Manager and Driver, Thomas has been involved in the development of the new Matech Ford GT1. 2010 sees him paired with Richard Westbrook.
Richard Westbrook

Driver

35 year old Richard partners Thomas in car No.5, and brings a wealth of experience to the team. FIA GT2 Champion in 2009, as well as Porsche Supercup Champion in 2007 and 2006 and Porsche Carrera Cup GB Champion in '05 and '04, Richard is an expert in both sprint racing and endurance events, with a podium at Le Mans in June 2010 in a Porsche GT2.

Nicolas Prost

Driver

Nicolas Prost, 29, started motorsport in 2003 after studying economy in USA. He competed in Formula Campus, then in Formula Renault and few races in FFSA GT in 2004 and 2005. He finished 4th of the Spanish Formula 3 Championship in 2006 and 3rd in 2007. He then became Champion of Euro Formula 3000 in 2008. He competed the 24 Hours of Le Mans in GT1 in 2007 and then in LMP1 since 2009 with Neel Jani.
Neel Jani

Driver

Neel starting racing karts at 12 years old and progress up through single seaters. At just 16, he was Swiss Champion in Formula Lister Junior, winning 8 of the 12 races and coming 2nd in the other 4! Following wins in GP2 2005, Neel entered A1GP representing Switzerland, finishing 2nd in 2005, but winning the title in 2007/8 and runner up in '08/'09. Neel has also acted as test and third driver for F1 Team Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Olivier Panis

Driver

In 2010, he is involved in the FFSA GT Championship driving a Corvette, in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Le Mans Series with the Peugeot 908 HDI-FAP of the team Oreca-Matmut Team and also in the Trophée Andros during the winter. He drove for Matech during the French Round of the FIA GT1 World Championship at Paul Ricard.
Romain Grosjean

Driver

Joins Matech from Formula 1 where he raced alongside Fernando Alonso at Renault. Beginning in Go Karts at 14 years old and becoming Swiss Formula Renault Champion in both 2003 and French Champion in 2005. Champion again in the F3 Euroseries with Renault in 2007 and GP2 Series Asia Champion in 2008, Romain is paired with Thomas Mutsch for the 2010 GT1 World Championship season.

Cyndie Allemann

Driver

At only 13 years old, Cyndie started her winning streak, becoming Swiss Junior Champion for 2 years running. At 18 switching to Formula Renault and ran in Indy Lights 2008. Cyndie competed for Matech Competition up to the third round of FIA GT1 World Championship, to the 1000 km of Spa and was part of Matech's all female Swiss driver line up at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2010.
Rahel Frey

Driver

Rahel drove for Matech Competition in Round 3 of the GT1 World Champion-ship, and in the LMS 1000 Km of Spa where she finished on the podium in 3rd place with her co-drivers Cyndie Allemann and Yann Zimmer. Rahel also drove the Matech Ford GT1 No. 61 in the 24 hours of Le Mans 2010.

Jonathan Hirschi

Driver

Jonathan drove for Matech Competition in the Ford GT1 2009 specification, and also during the 24 hours of Le Mans in June 2010, alongside Thomas Mutsch and Romain Grosjean. The trio led their class for over 8 hours.
Natacha Gachnang

Driver

Natacha started her racing career at the age of 9. Natacha's first Championship came in 2001 as Swiss Junior Champion. Finishing 3rd in both the Spanish Formula 3 Championship and the Formula 2 Euroseries in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, she broke her leg in a huge car crash during the Round 1 of the GT1 World Championship at Abu Dhabi. Then she competed for Matech for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2010 and the Round 4 of the FIA GT1 World Championship.

Many thanks for all your kind words. Matech. - 3:51am - 8 Apr 2011
I posted 36 photos on Facebook in the album Round 10 FIA GT1 http://fb.me/MGtbygSs - 7:36pm - 8 Dec 2010
Thomas Mutsch finishes the season as vice-champion, thanks to a 2nd place today in the final race of the FIA GT1... http://fb.me/HMxqAr85 - 8:30pm - 5 Dec 2010