Oreca prepares Le Mans in the United States

Oreca continues its project “ Le Mans » and intensifies the rhythm. After the Le Mans Series, the Signes team is making a foray into the United States in the American Le Mans Series, starting with the Petit Le Mans race this weekend. To best prepare for this specific race, Oreca has enlisted the services of a connoisseur of US races, Romain Dumas. The Cévenol was thus able to bring his knowledge of the Road Atlanta route to his partners, Nicolas lapierre and Olivier Panis.

After Petit Le Mans, Oreca plans to participate in the most legendary endurance race outside Europe, the 12 Hours of Sebring. This season, this event has proven its reputation by hosting the first duel between the new R15 TDi from Audi and the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. The Sebring race therefore represents the preparatory round for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is for this reason that Hugues de Chaunac, president of the Oreca group, wants to enter his team in Sebring, and did so for Petit Le Mans. “ For our group, the year ends at the end of June and begins in July » explains Hugues de Chaunac. “ For more than two months, we have been focused on preparing for the 24 2010 Hours of Le Mans. This is why we are coming to Petit Le Mans, a trip which promises to be very instructive on all levels. The distance of 1000 miles, the competition with Acura, and the demanding circuit for the mechanics and the drivers, are all elements which argue in favor of this commitment to Road Atlanta. It is in the big matches, against the biggest teams and in the biggest arenas that we learn the most! »

« This challenge is all the more important as we plan to participate in the 12 Hours of Sebring 2010., continues Hugues de Chaunac in the team's press release. It is a very difficult event, which requires a certain amount of learning about American racing. Generally speaking, Petit Le Mans and Sebring are perfect for us: these meetings require high standards, for my men, as for the mechanics. »

Concernant la composition de l?équipage qui partagera le volant de l?Oreca 01 lors des 1000 Miles de Petit Le Mans, Hugues de Chaunac se veut pragmatique. A son équipage le plus efficace, composé d?Olivier Panis et Nicolas Lapierre, a été rajoutée la participation de Romain Dumas, pilote officiel Porsche et engagé cette saison en Grand Am. « There was no ambiguity regarding the presence of Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre » specifies Hugues de Chaunac “ They once again demonstrated the qualities we know about them at Silverstone, by taking pole and giving ORECA its first victory as a manufacturer. It was the best way to approach Petit Le Mans. To support them, we wanted an experienced driver, who knew the American Le Mans Series and Road Atlanta, particularly in prototypes. This is the case with Romain. »