Interview David Floury on the Oreca 03

What is the outcome of the Oreca 03 for its first 24-hour event?
In terms of pure performance, this is a very positive result. Concerning reliability, it is also a generally positive assessment, knowing that our car is still young, that we had not had the opportunity to do a complete 24-hour simulation and that, consequently, we had little visibility on reliability. Having two of the three cars at the finish, the third having retired after leaving the track, this shows that the reliability potential is good.
As for the raw result, we make no secret of the fact that we hoped for better. Two of the three Oreca 03s could aim for victory; the third had the means to get on the podium. In the end, and taking into account different events, there is only one crew on the podium, and not on the step we wanted. It is Le Mans. Even well prepared, even with the right prototype and the right trios, it may not be enough to win. »

The podium for the Signatech-Nissan team is still a great reward for the Oreca 03?
Yes it is. The Signatech-Nissan car was delayed by two “clean” punctures and three slow punctures. The first damaged the bodywork. The second came early in the lap, costing time and causing the engine to overheat. Franck Mailleux also shows great composure. Signatech-Nissan had a very good race; the team did a very good job, well done to them. Race Performance also responded in a great way. » Team ORECA-Matmut also fielded an Oreca 03 with the desire to gain experience.

Was the Le Mans week instructive?
Obviously, we learned a lot. We still need to analyze everything since we are relatively early after the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Oreca 03s did not encounter any major reliability problems. We were able to learn lessons on many points, on a multitude of details to improve. This concerns reliability, ease of intervention or even performance. We will take this into account to develop the car for 2012 and come back with our customer teams to win the category.

Based on the feedback from drivers or teams, the Oreca 03 seems to be an easy prototype to handle?
Taking into account the philosophy of the LM P2 category, the drivers and the teams for whom it is intended, we had clearly set this objective among the priorities. Le Mans week confirmed that we were right.

Is the performance displayed also a reason for satisfaction?
Effectively. The Oreca 03 took pole: this is not the priority at Le Mans, but it is always appreciable and it confirms the performances achieved earlier in the season. But the most interesting thing is the racing pace. The Oreca 03 of Team ORECA-Matmut achieves the best lap in the race, a few hundredths from pole, at night, and with a rookie at the wheel. Does this show the car's natural competitiveness?

More precisely, the analysis of the sectors also brings some “surprises”?
I don't know if we can speak of a surprise, but what is very interesting in any case is to see that the Oreca 03 achieves, in the turns Porsche, the best time behind the seven Diesel prototypes. Our LM P2 is ahead of the LMP1 Petrol. This demonstrates the qualities of the chassis, on a benchmark section, with a significant gap over the competition.

What is the program now?
First of all, provide all our support to the partner teams who will quickly return to the track for the 6 Hours of Imola. Signatech-Nissan, Boutsen Energy Racing, Race Performance and TDS Racing have a strong card to play. We will help them as best we can for this second part of the season. Then, we are preparing the development for 2012. We are waiting for the regulations to find out how it will evolve in practice. Obviously, we have many avenues to explore; these are the direct consequences of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We want to target what is consistent, particularly in terms of cost. We keep in mind the teams? operating budget, which must be controlled. The first objective is clear: to be the best while remaining within the “cost cap” philosophy of LMP2.