Oreca: “The 908, a magnificent car”

Oreca, several weeks after the announcement of its agreement with Peugeot , was finally able to get his hands on his 908 HDi FAP. The pilots, Olivier Panis and Nicolas lapierre, as well as the team, already knew the qualities of the car, but were able to see them on the track, during the first tests at Le Castellet, on the Paul-Ricard circuit. Olivier Panis, delighted to see the competitive car he wanted arrive, took charge of the first stint on track, completing around forty laps.

« The 908 HDi FAP is simply a magnificent car » confides the former pilot of Formula 1. " It is very effective, whatever the type of turn. The grip is impressive. I was not disturbed by the closed cockpit: in fact, there is less noise and I find that quite positive. We are moving forward step by step. From now on, we must work to optimize our use of the car. But it’s certain, I had great fun behind the wheel! »

For his part, Nicolas Lapierre was also able to get to know the car that won the last 24 Hours of Le Mans. The young pilot admits that it took him some time to adapt to feel comfortable. “ Until then, I had only driven open prototypes and it took me a few laps to get used to this new environment. The benchmarks are different, but the adaptation time is quick. The whole package is efficient: the chassis, the engine, the gearbox? The 908 HDi FAP is strong in all sectors, including when it comes to working with tires. We feel that it is a successful prototype, close to perfection! We now need a little time to get the most out of it. »

Find the report on the handling of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in AUTOhebdo this week, as well as the video of this discovery by clicking here.