ORECA North America: Where, Who, and Why?
By the end of 2023, ORECA opened an American branch: ORECA North America (ONA). The 12 Hours of Sebring this weekend marked the first event where this new ORECA division established in North America operated for its IMSA clients in GTP and LMP2, alongside the support provided to Ferrari clients in the GTD category.
Where? Previously, ORECA’s presence in the region was managed through a collaboration with Carl Haas Automobile Imports Inc. (based in Chicago), which handled storage, distribution, and sales of parts to teams competing in the United States with cars produced by ORECA. Although our partnership with Haas was productive and their support strong, we wanted to replace this setup with a new 100% ORECA structure, located in Indianapolis.
Who? This new division is led by the former director of Juncos Hollinger Racing IndyCar team, Vince Kremer. He has extensive experience in motorsport and has been directing ORECA North America operations since December. He is currently working on organizing this entity, and the team is expected to grow over the coming months. He is currently actively supported by the team from Signes under the guidance of Denis Lemort, and will eventually be particularly supported by Jonathan Perrin, who is responsible for US customer service.
Why? ORECA’s clientele in IMSA has significantly increased over the years due to the presence of two Acuras in GTP, the LMP2 class, the success of the Ferrari 296 GT3, and the role as an engine supplier in LMP3. Our priority is to provide ever more efficient service to our customers. We now have two trucks/semi-trailers: one dedicated to Ferrari support and the other to LMP clients. In addition to improving the efficiency of our current services, this project will allow ORECA to explore new customer services or new activities directly from American soil.
Weekend Results: Wayne Taylor Racing and Acura triumphed at the 12 Hours of Sebring, marking a first win for the American team since 2017! In LMP2, Era Motorsport secured another victory after Daytona, with a consecutive win on the ORECA 07 #18. In the GTD Pro & GTD categories, the Ferrari 296 GT3s also shone with two second-place finishes.
