Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (born 19 November 2000) is a French racing driver who is competing in the Le Mans Cup as a factory driver for McLaren. He is the former champion of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup in the Silver Cup category, a title he achieved alongside Benjamin Goethe and Thomas Neubauer, driving for ROFGO Racing with Team WRT.

Early career

Karting Simmenauer first began karting in 2012 with Italian team Tony Kart. In 2015, he claimed the title in the French Karting Championship.

Toyota Racing Series In December 2016, it was announced Simmenauer would make his debut in single-seaters in the Toyota Racing Series, replacing reigning champion Lando Norris, following the latter's decision not to defend his title.

Formula Renault 2.0 In January 2017, Simmenauer joined JD Motorsport for the Formula Renault Eurocup. He went on to experience a disappointing campaign, failing to score points in a season he would end 27th in the standings.

Sportscar career

Porsche Cup

Simmenauer switched to sportscar racing in 2018, driving for Lechner Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany. With a best result of sixth at the Nürburgring the Frenchman ended up 12th in the standings, having missed one of the seven rounds. In the middle of the season, Simmenauer made his debut in the Porsche Supercup, driving in the Silverstone event. The following year, another season of PCCG would be in store for Simmenauer, who would start a further four races in the Supercup. Once again with Lechner Racing, his best individual placing improved to fourth at the Norisring, though a number of retirements dropped him to 15th in the championship.

GT World Challenge

For the 2022 season, Simmenauer joined Team WRT to compete in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup alongside Christopher Mies, whilst partnering Benjamin Goethe and Thomas Neubauer in the Silver Cup of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. Notable success would come in the latter, as the Frenchman won three races in his category, which included the 24 Hours of Spa, which meant that Simmenauer and his teammates were crowned Silver Cup champions with one round to spare. Despite WRT's manufacturer change to BMW ahead of 2023, Simmenauer returned to the team. He partnered 2022 Endurance Cup co-driver Neubauer in the Pro class of the Sprint Cup, and joined Calan Williams and Niklas Krütten in the Endurance Cup.

LMP2 Having made his prototype racing debut at the start of 2024, driving in the Abu Dhabi rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series with Duqueine Team, Simmenauer joined the team for a full season in the European Le Mans Series alongside James Allen and Niels Koolen. In addition, he would take part in that year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Racing record

Career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles Podiums Points Position 2017 Formula Renault Eurocup JD Motorsport 22 0 0 0 0 0 27th Formula Renault 2.0 NEC 7 0 0 0 0 47 15th Toyota Racing Series M2 Competition 15 0 0 0 0 253 19th NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Alex Caffi Motorsport 2 0 0 0 0 64 32nd NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - Elite 2 2 0 0 0 1 79 31st 2017-18 Porsche GT3 Middle East Championship N/A 10 0 0 0 0 124 10th 2018 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Lechner Racing 12 0 0 0 0 52 12th Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Benelux Team 85 Bourgoin Racing 2 0 0 0 0 NC† Porsche Supercup Momo Megatron Lechner Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 NC† 2018-19 Porsche GT3 Middle East Championship N/A 16 3 0 2 8 293 3rd 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Lechner Racing Team 15 0 0 0 0 42.5 15th Porsche Supercup Lechner Racing Middle East 4 0 0 0 0 NC† 2019-20 Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East N/A 12 1 1 1 8 237 2nd 2020 Porsche Supercup Lechner Racing Middle East 8 0 0 0 0 65 9th Porsche Carrera Cup France BWT Lechner Racing 10 1 0 2 5 152 4th 2021 Porsche Supercup BWT Lechner Racing 8 0 0 0 0 30 13th Porsche Carrera Cup France 12 0 0 0 1 120 5th 2022 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 10 0 0 0 0 22 9th 24H GT Series - GT3 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup ROFGO Racing with Team WRT50000135th GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Silver Cup3204125 1st Intercontinental GT Challenge Team WRT10000221st2022-23 Middle East Trophy - GT3 MS7 by Team WRT 2023 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Team WRT 10 0 0 0 1 12.5 11th GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 5 0 0 0 0 0 NC GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Gold Cup 5 0 0 0 3 78 5th Intercontinental GT Challenge10000428th Ultimate Cup Series Endurance GT-Touring Challenge - Porsche Cup Seblajoux Racing 1 0 0 0 0 24 15th2023-24 Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 Duqueine Team200012311th 2024 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Duqueine Team 6 0 0 0 0 20 16th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 DNF 2025 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Inter Europol Competition 6 0 0 0 0 23 12th GT World Challenge Asia Absolute Corse 2 0 0 0 0 NC†2026 Bathurst 12 Hour - GT3 Silver Volante Rosso Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 DNFLe Mans Cup - GT3SMC Motorsport 2 0 0 0 1 25* 4th*GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupCSA Racing † As Simmenauer was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points. * Season still in progress.

Complete Formula Renault NEC results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points 2017 JD Motorsport MNZ1 MNZ2 ASS1 ASS2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SPA1 SPA2 SPA3 HOC1 HOC2 15th 47

Complete Formula Renault Eurocup 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 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Pos Points 2017 JD Motorsport MNZ1 MNZ2 SIL1 SIL2 PAU1 PAU2 MON1 MON2 HUN1 HUN2 HUN3 NÜR1 NÜR2 RBR1 RBR2 LEC1 LEC2 SPA1 SPA2 SPA3 CAT1 CAT2 CAT3 27th 0

Complete Porsche Carrera Cup Germany 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 13 14 15 16 DC Points 2018 Lechner Racing OSC1 OSC2 RBR1 RBR2 NÜR11 NÜR12 NÜR21 NÜR22 ZAN1 ZAN2 SAC1 SAC2 HOC1 HOC2 12th 52 2019 Lechner Racing Team HOC11 HOC12 MST1 MST2 RBR1 RBR2 NOR1 NOR2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HOC21 HOC22 SAC1 SAC2 15th 42.5

Complete Porsche Carrera Cup France results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) YearTeam123456789101112PosPoints 2020 BWT Lechner RacingMAG1MAG2LMSLEC1LEC2LEC3SPA1SPA2CAT1CAT2 4th 152 2021 BWT Lechner RacingMAG1MAG2LEC1LEC2SPA1SPA2MNZ1MNZ2CAT1CAT2ALG1ALG2 5th 120

Complete Porsche Supercup 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 DC Points 2018 Momo Megatron Lechner Racing Team CAT MON RBR SIL HOC HUN SPA MNZ MEX MEX NC† 0† 2019 Lechner Racing Middle East CAT MON RBR SIL HOC HUN SPA MNZ MEX MEX NC† 0 2020 Lechner Racing Middle East RBR RBR HUN SIL SIL CAT SPA MNZ 9th 65 2021 BWT Lechner Racing MON RBR RBR HUN SPA ZND MNZ MNZ 13th 30 † As Simmenauer was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

Complete GT World Challenge Europe results GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pos. Points 2022 ROFGO Racing with Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Evo II Silver IMO LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H HOC CAT 1st 125 2023 BMW M Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Gold MNZ LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR CAT 5th 78 2026 CSA Racing McLaren 720S GT3 Evo Silver LEC MNZ SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR ALG NC 0

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup (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 9 10 Pos. Points 2022 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Evo II Pro BRH1 BRH2 MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 MIS1 MIS2 VAL1 VAL 2 9th 22 2023 BMW M Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 HOC1 HOC2 VAL1 VAL2 ZAN1 ZAN2 11th 12.5

Complete European Le Mans Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points 2024 Duqueine Team LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT LEC IMO SPA MUG ALG 16th 20 2025 Inter Europol Competition LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT LEC IMO SPA SIL ALG 12th 23

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2024 Duqueine Team James Allen John Falb Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 112 DNF DNF LMP2 Pro-Am 2025 Inter Europol Competition Nick Boulle Luca Ghiotto Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 363 27th 10th LMP2 Pro-Am 5th

Complete Le Mans Cup results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points 2026 SMC Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Evo GT3 BAR LEC LMS SPA SIL POR 4th* 25* * Season still in progress.

References

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