Julien Hufschmidt and Ludovic Lamarche first met during their teenage years through playing football. Julien was impressed by Ludovic’s tireless character. When he found out that Ludovic had cystic fibrosis, he was amazed. Diagnosed with the disease since birth, Ludovic tells his story: “The symptoms worsened during adolescence, I was hospitalized for almost three years. When a new American treatment arrived in 2021, it was revolutionary, especially for the lungs. It was like night and day, I quickly felt much better.”
The Quinciaton also points out that the disease affects the entire immune system, not just the lungs as commonly believed. Initially discreet about his condition, Ludovic decided to speak out in his thirties to raise awareness and collect donations for research. He discussed this with his friend Julien.
The two then decided to launch RP2M Racing, for Rally Passion 2 Cystic Fibrosis. “We are both big fans of sports cars, and we thought it was a good way to shed light on Ludovic’s disease, as rallying is a popular and accessible sport for spectators,” explains Julien Hufschmidt.
Excellent results for RP2M Racing
The two friends managed to register in the French 1st Division Championship for the 2025 season, in the Clio Trophy category. Ludovic drives while Julien, his co-pilot, takes care of all the aspects of the race. “The role of the co-pilot is often seen as reading notes to the driver during the race, but in reality, it involves much more,” says Ludovic Lamarche. “He will handle reconnaissance, listing each turn, each change of road. He will also take care of logistics, calculating passage timings, as well as tire pressure. A driver can’t do anything without his co-pilot.”
As they progress, the duo gains cohesion and improves their times, surprising other teams with their impressive performance. Then comes the Rallye de Rouergue. Under the scorching heat of the south, RP2M Racing completes a good first leg on Friday, placing 26th out of 55 teams.
Unfortunately, Ludovic’s body gives out, and he is forced to retire. He is taken to the hospital for infusion. “People with cystic fibrosis tire much faster, and the heat didn’t help,” remembers Ludovic Lamarche. “I had nothing left, no energy, I was completely exhausted.”
Inspiring young cystic fibrosis patients
In June 2025, Julien Hufschmidt and the RP2M Racing team surprised Ludovic Lamarche with a makeover of the team. Ludovic recalls, “They had completely rebranded our image to bring in freshness. The car was adorned with new visuals reminiscent of a cartoon, to speak to sick children and make them dream. It was incredible.”
“We worked with an experienced graphic artist in the field,” explains Julien Hufschmidt. “He transformed Ludovic into a superhero, who would come to defeat cystic fibrosis. We positioned the letter V as a symbol, which goes with our slogan: Aiming for Victory to Overcome.”
A QR Code is present on the car to learn more about the association and potentially make donations. “We would like to focus more on our communication this year, we know we have good visibility now, but we are not as active on social media as we would like,” concludes Ludovic Lamarche. The two friends will hit the tracks again on the weekend of April 16, at the Rhône-Charbonnières rally, always with the goal of spreading a message of hope.
