Oreca wants to continue its momentum

The test day of 24 Hours of Le Mans is only obligatory for cars, teams or drivers who have never taken part in the Le Mans classic, or who have not participated for three years. Typically, Team Oreca Matmut, the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP and the Olivier Panis trio-Loïc duval-Nicolas lapierre could therefore have skipped this trip. Yes, but here we are, on the Signes side, we are leaving nothing to chance and continuing the 2011 season on the momentum of Sebring, where the Var team achieved the feat of winning under Audi's nose and beard and Peugeot.

“We do not intend to rest on our laurels, assures Technical Director David Floury. The week after the race, we got back to work with the aim of obtaining an excellent result at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The strategy will be the same: optimize everything. And that starts on Test Day? These tests will allow us to have an overview of the level of performance of the car. The priority objective is to best adapt the car to the track according to the 2011 regulations. We plan to work significantly on the use of tires: we have an idea of ​​the use of the rubbers, but the modifications made to the regulations are not without consequences. The drivers and the team know the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP on the Le Mans track, but 2011 will not be a copy and paste of 2010. This circuit always evolves from one year to the next. »

Coming to Sarthe this weekend therefore represents a necessary step in preparing for the 79th edition of the famous double clock tower.

“For the drivers, it will be a question of rediscovering the particular rhythm of Le Mans and analyzing the difficulties of the traffic, continues David Floury. For the technical team, it is an opportunity to get back into the swing of European competition before Spa. »

Appetite comes with eating. The victory at Sebring has clearly only fueled the thirst for success that drives Hugues de Chaunac and his men?