Oreca 03: David Floury says more

Seeing the designs of the Oreca 03 (see photos), the LMP2 from the Var manufacturer cannot deny being a direct descendant of the Oreca 01, seen in LMP1 over the last two seasons. But as David Floury explains, appearances can sometimes be deceiving.

“You shouldn't always trust appearances, affirms the Technical Director of the French team. The Oreca 01 is one of the best prototypes, both in terms of pure performance and reliability. We took all of this into account. In the same way, we relied on the Formula Le Mans, which is certainly the best in terms of value for money. We therefore have a solid working base. We are not starting from scratch. However, it is indeed a new car that we are talking about. Apart from the base aero concept and the monocoque, everything is different! We reviewed the assemblies and subassemblies to see where the gains in performance and reliability lay, always with cost in mind. So, the suspension is different, as is the gearbox and the electrical/electronic part. The engine will be new. All this has consequences, from a mechanical and aero point of view. The design office therefore worked on different solutions. The Oreca 03 has a family resemblance with the 01. It would not have made sense to start from scratch for an economical car, but it will benefit from particular development. We also took advantage of the Oreca 02 project. The integration of the shark fin is not without consequences, just like the small wheels. But above all, the room for maneuver is reduced. Developments are limited, so the ORECA 03 must be competitive on circuits from Le Mans to the Nürburgring. A relevant compromise must be found. »