Steve Zacchia
Steve Zacchia | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 15, 1982 Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Known for | Competing in Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, FIA GT Championship, Le Mans Series |
Steve Zacchia (born on 15 August 1982 in Yverdon-les-Bains) is a professional Swiss racing driver currently active in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with Hope Racing.
Early career
Zacchia's motorsport journey began in 1998 with go-karting, where he achieved fourth place in the Swiss Regional Championship Category B and third place in Category A by 1999. The following year, he participated in European karting championships and advanced to the finals of the Winfield World Challenge. His stint in single-seater racing was brief, competing during the 2001 Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup season but without scoring points. In 2002, he shifted focus to sports car racing, joining the Porsche Carrera Cup France where he earned one victory and three podium finishes.
GT Racing
In 2003, Zacchia took part in the FIA GT Championship, driving for Force One Racing Festina alongside former Formula One competitor Philippe Alliot and French singer David Hallyday. He entered five out of ten races that season, accumulating 14 points and securing a podium at the Donington event. After competing in the Le Mans Series during 2004, he returned to FIA GT in 2005 with Larbre Compétition, teaming up with fellow Swiss drivers Lilian Bryner and Enzo Calderari, and collecting a total of 16 points.
In 2006, Zacchia raced full-time in the inaugural season of the FIA GT3 European Championship representing French outfit Racing Logistic, partnered with Olivier Dupard. They finished 20th overall with 14 points. Additionally, he participated in one round of the 2006 FIA GT Championship season at the Dubai 500km event for Larbre Compétition, piloting a Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello evolution that was not homologated, finishing seventh. That year also saw him return briefly to the Porsche Carrera Cup France for two races with Larbre.
The following year, Zacchia competed in the French GT Championship for Solution F alongside Jean-Yves Adam, achieving 18 points. He also made a single appearance in the 2007 FIA GT Championship season at Nogaro with co-driver François Jakubowski, finishing 20th. Subsequently, Zacchia concentrated on the Le Mans Series but still contested a round of the Belgian GT Championship in 2008 and participated in two rounds of the International GT Open during 2009.
Le Mans Series/24 Hours of Le Mans
Zacchia's endurance racing debut occurred at the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he competed in the GTS class for Larbre Compétition driving a Chrysler Viper GTS-R. His teammates included Patrice Goueslard and former winner of the 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans Christophe Bouchut. The team finished fourth in their class and 16th overall. Larbre retained Zacchia for the 2004 Le Mans Series season, reuniting him with Bouchut and ex-Formula One driver Pedro Lamy. Together they dominated the GTS category, winning every race with their Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello and claiming the championship title.
After focusing on FIA GT for two years, Zacchia returned to the Le Mans Series in 2007 with Larbre Compétition, which received support from Aston Martin Racing. Driving an DBR9, he mainly partnered with Gregor Fisken. They secured victory in the GT1 class at the final round—the 2007 Mil Milhas Brasil held at Interlagos—although only half points were awarded due to limited competitors. Zacchia and Fisken concluded the season eighth in the GT1 drivers' standings while their No. 51 car ranked sixth among teams.
In 2008, Zacchia joined Swiss outfit Speedy Racing Team Sebah (now known as Rebellion Racing) to compete in LMP2 during the 2008 Le Mans Series season. Driving a Lola B08/80 powered by a Judd engine alongside Andrea Belicchi and Xavier Pompidou, they scored points solely at the opening round by finishing second in class at the 2008 1000 km of Catalunya. The team ended tenth among drivers and seventh within teams standings. Zacchia also returned to compete at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans with Speedy; however, their LMP2 Lola-Judd retired after completing 194 laps.
Zacchia's racing schedule was limited in 2009 but included participation in an International GT Open round and a reunion with Larbre Compétition for the 2009 1000 km of Catalunya. Driving a Saleen S7-R alongside Roland Bervillé and Sébastien Dumez in GT1 class, they finished third within their category and placed 22nd overall. The following year saw him contesting full-time in the single-make Formula Le Mans (FLM) category for Swiss team Hope Polevision Racing, partnering with Luca Moro and Wolfgang Kaufmann. They achieved a class win at the 100 km of Spa race and ended as runners-up in both drivers' and teams' championships.
For the 2011 season, Zacchia planned to continue racing with Hope Racing in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, piloting an innovative hybrid Oreca 01 chassis equipped with a two-litre four-cylinder petrol engine developed by Volkswagen and modified by Lehmann Motoren under the Swiss HyTech brand. This car incorporates KERS technology from Flybrid that recovers kinetic energy during braking to provide acceleration boosts. Zacchia's teammates include French driver Nicolas Marroc and experienced Jan Lammers, winner of the prestigious 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans.