Hexis Racing
Encyclopedia
Hexis Racing is an auto racing
team based in Lédenon
, France
. Hexis Racing was founded by Michel Mateu, CEO of Hexis S.A.
in 2001, initially for participation in the French Formula Renault Championship. Hexis later moved into grand tourer
racing in 2005, participating in the FFSA GT Championship
before joining the FIA GT3 European Championship
in 2007. Hexis Racing has further expanded, now supporting Aston Martin Racing
in the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship season
. The team is currently managed by Clément Mateu and Philippe Dumas.
, with Mateu using his Hexis brand to help support and finance the team's involvement in the French Formula Renault Championship. Mateu gave the leadership concerns of the team to Philippe Dumas while Clément Mateu held communication and development management. Hexis Racing was able to climb the ranks in Formula Renault and recorded their first race wins in 2003. By the end of 2005 the team had achieved their best placing, third, in the Teams Championship.
In the same year, Hexis Racing also expanded their racing effort to include the FFSA GT Championship
, choosing to enter a Porsche 996
Cup for Manuel
and Julien Rodrigues, later earning second in the category in 2006 after five race victories. Hexis Racing abandoned their involvement in Formula Renault and concentrated their efforts solely on grand tourer racing in 2007, moving to a trio of Aston Martin DBRS9
s for not only FFSA GT, but also the FIA GT3 European Championship
. Hexis finished third in the FFSA GT Teams Championship while also earning a podium finish in their debut season in FIA GT3.
For 2008 Hexis remained in the FIA GT3 series but moved their DBRS9s from FFSA GT to the German ADAC GT Masters
series. Their GT Masters effort netted them third in the series' championship while they were runners-up in FIA GT after earning their first series win. Further changes were made for the 2009 season, although the team retained their involvement in FIA GT3. Instead of the GT Masters series, Hexis Racing campaigned a partial season of the FIA GT Championship
with a GT2 category Aston Martin V8 Vantage
as part of an effort supported by Aston Martin Racing
. Although the GT2 effort only came to fruition for two events, the team's GT3 effort saw three race wins and their earning of the Teams Championship title. The team's pairing of Julien Rodrigues and Thomas Accary also earned second in the FIA GT3 Drivers Championship.
using the latest specification Aston Martin DBR9
and campaigning under the Hexis AMR title. Hexis Racing's own Frédéric Makowiecki
joins experienced sports car drivers Jean-Denis Délétraz
and Jonathan Hirschi, as well as open-wheel driver Clivio Piccione
in the team's two DBR9s. Hexis Racing will also continue their involvement in FIA GT3, defending their Teams Championship title into the 2010 season.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
team based in Lédenon
Lédenon
Lédenon is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-External links:* , More information about Lédenon and where to stay - B&B...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Hexis Racing was founded by Michel Mateu, CEO of Hexis S.A.
Hexis S.A.
Hexis S.A. is a manufacturer of self-adhesive vinyl films used for commercial signage and as digital printing media for large format inkjet printers. The company headquarters are in Frontignan, France...
in 2001, initially for participation in the French Formula Renault Championship. Hexis later moved into grand tourer
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
racing in 2005, participating in the FFSA GT Championship
FFSA GT Championship
The GT Tour is a French Grand Touring-style sports car racing series that began in 1997. It is controlled by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile and organized by racing company Oreca...
before joining the FIA GT3 European Championship
FIA GT3 European Championship
The FIA GT3 European Championship is a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It is a championship derived from the international FIA GT1 World Championship, but meant to provide competition for more...
in 2007. Hexis Racing has further expanded, now supporting Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing is an auto racing team established in 2004 as a partnership between automobile manufacturer Aston Martin and engineering group Prodrive. The partnership was initially created for the purpose of returning Aston Martin to sports car racing with the DBR9, a heavily modified...
in the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship season
2010 FIA GT1 World Championship season
The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship season was the debut season of the FIA GT1 World Championship, a motor racing competition reserved for FIA GT1 cars. The championship was a replacement for the FIA GT Championship which was held from 1997 to 2009...
. The team is currently managed by Clément Mateu and Philippe Dumas.
History
Hexis Racing began as an expansion of Michel Mateu's interests in auto racingAuto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
, with Mateu using his Hexis brand to help support and finance the team's involvement in the French Formula Renault Championship. Mateu gave the leadership concerns of the team to Philippe Dumas while Clément Mateu held communication and development management. Hexis Racing was able to climb the ranks in Formula Renault and recorded their first race wins in 2003. By the end of 2005 the team had achieved their best placing, third, in the Teams Championship.
In the same year, Hexis Racing also expanded their racing effort to include the FFSA GT Championship
FFSA GT Championship
The GT Tour is a French Grand Touring-style sports car racing series that began in 1997. It is controlled by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile and organized by racing company Oreca...
, choosing to enter a Porsche 996
Porsche 996
The Porsche 996 is the internal designation for the Porsche 911 model manufactured and sold between 1998 and 2005. It has since been replaced by the Type 997...
Cup for Manuel
Manuel Rodrigues
Manuel Rodrigues was a Portuguese footballer who played as a forward.- External links :* *...
and Julien Rodrigues, later earning second in the category in 2006 after five race victories. Hexis Racing abandoned their involvement in Formula Renault and concentrated their efforts solely on grand tourer racing in 2007, moving to a trio of Aston Martin DBRS9
Aston Martin DBRS9
The Aston Martin DBRS9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing to be a cheaper alternative to the Aston Martin DBR9, both of which are based on the Aston Martin DB9. The DBRS9 is the only GT3 class car produced by Aston Martin and was introduced in 2005....
s for not only FFSA GT, but also the FIA GT3 European Championship
FIA GT3 European Championship
The FIA GT3 European Championship is a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It is a championship derived from the international FIA GT1 World Championship, but meant to provide competition for more...
. Hexis finished third in the FFSA GT Teams Championship while also earning a podium finish in their debut season in FIA GT3.
For 2008 Hexis remained in the FIA GT3 series but moved their DBRS9s from FFSA GT to the German ADAC GT Masters
ADAC GT Masters
The ADAC GT Masters is a grand tourer-based auto racing series founded by the international Stéphane Ratel Organisation and supported by the German ADAC automotive club. Similar to an earlier ADAC GT Cup series in the 1990s, the new GT Masters ran their first season in 2007...
series. Their GT Masters effort netted them third in the series' championship while they were runners-up in FIA GT after earning their first series win. Further changes were made for the 2009 season, although the team retained their involvement in FIA GT3. Instead of the GT Masters series, Hexis Racing campaigned a partial season of the FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
with a GT2 category Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (2005)
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage are a series of hand built sports cars from the British manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston Martin has previously used the "Vantage" name on high performance variants of their existing GT models, notably on the Virage-based car of the 1990s....
as part of an effort supported by Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing is an auto racing team established in 2004 as a partnership between automobile manufacturer Aston Martin and engineering group Prodrive. The partnership was initially created for the purpose of returning Aston Martin to sports car racing with the DBR9, a heavily modified...
. Although the GT2 effort only came to fruition for two events, the team's GT3 effort saw three race wins and their earning of the Teams Championship title. The team's pairing of Julien Rodrigues and Thomas Accary also earned second in the FIA GT3 Drivers Championship.
Current plans
As Hexis Racing continued their racing efforts for Aston Martin Racing the two have combined their efforts for a challenge in the inaugural FIA GT1 World ChampionshipFIA GT1 World Championship
The FIA GT1 World Championship is a world championship sports car racing series developed by the SRO Group and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It features multiple grand tourer race cars based on production road cars and conforming with the GT1 regulations competing in...
using the latest specification Aston Martin DBR9
Aston Martin DBR9
The Aston Martin DBR9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing, debuting in 2005. The name DBR9 is derived from the original 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 car, named for then-owner David Brown, which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but also the World Sportscar title.-Development:Based...
and campaigning under the Hexis AMR title. Hexis Racing's own Frédéric Makowiecki
Frédéric Makowiecki
Frédéric Makowiecki is a French racing driver currently competing in the FIA GT1 World Championship for Marc VDS Racing Team.-Career:...
joins experienced sports car drivers Jean-Denis Délétraz
Jean-Denis Deletraz
Jean-Denis Délétraz is a racing driver from Switzerland. He participated in three Formula One Grands Prix, debuting in the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, and scored no championship points during his career....
and Jonathan Hirschi, as well as open-wheel driver Clivio Piccione
Clivio Piccione
Clivio Piccione is a Monegasque race car driver. He raced in the 2005 GP2 Series season for the Durango team and David Price Racing for 2006.-Career:...
in the team's two DBR9s. Hexis Racing will also continue their involvement in FIA GT3, defending their Teams Championship title into the 2010 season.