Oreca – Peugeot, long-term agreement

Oreca, over the years, is on the way to becoming one of the most renowned teams in the world of endurance. After a promising start in 2008 then a 2009 season full of satisfaction, Hugues de Chaunac's team took a decisive turn in its progress in endurance.

After inheriting the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP "private" for the 2010 season, information that AUTOhebdo.fr exclusively revealed to you this Thursday morning, Oreca will see its "in-house" prototypes equipped with Peugeot engines, from the 2011 season. The future engine of the Lion firm will benefit therefore to the new prototype developed by the Var team, the Oreca 02.

« The Oreca 02 will be equipped with the new engine that Peugeot is preparing for 2011, this is exceptional, declares Hugues de Chaunac, president of Oreca, on the team's website. This is an agreement that means a lot to us. It?s not just the fact of racing a 908 during the 2010 season. It?s entering into a very close collaboration with a very large manufacturer, Peugeot, the best in endurance, with the best engine. For Oreca, this is extraordinary news which opens new horizons for us. »

Regarding the operation of the Peugeot 908, Hugues de Chaunac confirms that the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be the highlight of the next season of this collaboration. “ The program is focused around the 24 Hours of Le Mans, confirms the president of Oreca, but also in the Le Mans Series races such as the Eight Hours of Paul-Ricard and the 1000 km of Spa, as well as the three other LMS races. It is therefore a program centered on Le Mans and the LMS. »

Hugues de Chaunac even confirms that the agreement reached, in terms of engine, between Peugeot and Oreca, was vital for the good continuation of the Var team in endurance. “ Oreca demonstrated its ability to know how to operate a car. But if you want to play in the big leagues, you have to have the same engine as the big guys. It is then up to us to demonstrate our capabilities but, without the engine of a major manufacturer, Oreca would not have its place in endurance and would not be able to continue. This is a very important shift taken for 2011. »