De Chaunac: “It’s the grand finale”

At the start of the season, the Peugeot 908 from the Oreca Matmut team was the big favorite for the LMS season. But apart from a great victory at Portimao in July, the French team has not been varnished. Fourth in the 8 Hours Castellet, the Var lioness did not see the finish at Spa, and finished fourth in LMP1 at the 1000 km of the Hungaroring.

In the championship, the #7 Audi Sport Team Joest can still claim the crown. Indeed, even if it skipped Portugal and Hungary, the German team can count on its victory at Paul Ricard and its third place in Belgium to appear well in the ranking. But in addition to the German threat, Oreca will also have to be wary of the Signature Plus team, which is only two small points behind. Among the drivers, on the other hand, Stéphane Sarrazin has more margin.

“Our ambition is to win these championships, says Hugues de Chaunac. If we achieve our first objective, victory, we will obtain them as a result. That being said, we are not going to play around and count the points? »

The British round of Le Mans Series will also be the first meeting of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, a series in which Oreca will like to help Peugeot win the Manufacturers' title, and this therefore requires a good performance this weekend.

“It?s time for the grand finale, continues Hugues de Chaunac. A super final with Audi and Aston Martin. The objective is clear: for Peugeot to win! If it?s the 908 HDi FAP n°4, I?d be delighted. We want to achieve a second success after that of Portimao, a success which could allow Peugeot to score important points in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. We will also work in close collaboration with Team Peugeot-Total, as at Spa and Le Mans. »

Last year, the Oreca Matmut team won its second overall victory in the Le Mans Series at Silverstone, thanks to the Oreca 01 driven by Nicolas lapierre and Olivier Panis. Hugues de Chaunac and his troops are keen to repeat this feat, and will not play grocers. If they win, they are champions, as Nicolas Lapierre confirms:

“We will focus on winning. If we manage to unhook it or get close to it, the accounts will be done. With the presence of Audi and the title at stake, there is certainly added pressure. But the idea is not to manage or be satisfied with this or that result. »

Find the presentation of the 1000 Km of Silverstone in your AUTOhebdo magazine, on newsstands tomorrow.