Loeb Racing signs Charouz for ELMS

Sebastien Loeb Racing has signed former European Le Mans Series title winner Jan Charouz for its return to the series in 2014.

The Czech driver, who took the title with Aston Martin when it was known as the Le Mans Series, moves over to the ELMS to drive the team's LMP2 entry after racing for the German Lotus/Kodewa P2 squad in the World Endurance Championship last year.

He will share the team's LMP2 ORECA-Nissan 03 (pictured, TOP) with Frenchman Vincent Capillaire, who raced a Formula Le Mans/LMPC car in the LMS in 2010, and a third driver who has yet to be named.

Charouz, 26, said: "The team is also up to par and very motivated. With this package, we will be in contention for good results."

Sebastien Loeb Racing sporting director Franck Tine said that Charouz's experience would make an important contribution to the team on its return to LMP2 in which it competed in 2012.

Audi-contracted Laurens Vanthoor and Rene Rast are due to join Capillaire for Loeb's first assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. Loeb will also field an Audi R8 LMS ultra in championship's GTC class for GT3 cars with a driver line-up including Mike Parisy, who raced a McLaren MP4-12C for the team in last year's FIA GT Series.