24 Hours of Daytona, great ambitions for ORECA 07 prototypes
The 2017 season is about to start for the LM P2 ORECA 07. Following on its first shakedown last October, the new prototype designed by ORECA Technology will take to the track for its first laps on January 28th & 29th in Daytona, United States. On that occasion, ORECA’s delegation will include three teams, entering one car each: JDC Miller Motorsport, Dragon Speed and Rebellion Racing. Three different squads working towards one same aim: to shine with their French prototype from Le Var.
JDC Miller Motorsport, ideal scenario
American team JDC Miller is the perfect example of an American success story. Having started out in IMSA Lites, the team then went to Prototype Challenge and won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2016. This new season, John Church’s squad have decided to go even further by entering an ORECA 07 in LM P2. For this first round in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, the American team will entrust the car to three of the drivers lined up in PC last year: Misha Goikhberg, Chris Miller and Stephen Simpson. In Florida, the crew will be completed by Swiss driver Mathias Beche. ORECA knows him really well, as he is the one and only to have been on board every single car designed by ORECA!
Dragon Speed, racing at home
Based in Florida, Dragon Speed continues to progress in the LM P2 class. After a first season discovering the discipline in 2016, marked by one win and several podiums, the team is now picking up momentum. In Daytona, not far from its own workshops, the first American team to ever win in LM P2 with an ORECA will take part in its first 24-hour race. On board the ORECA 07 will be last year’s ELMS winning line-up: Nicolas Lapierre, Henrik Hedman, Ben Hanley. This crew will be completed by Loïc Duval, winner in Sebring in 2011 with Nicolas Lapierre – one of the drivers involved in the development of the ORECA 07.
Rebellion Racing, dream team
Rebellion Racing and ORECA have been collaborating for a long time. Following on the great successes achieved with the Rebellion R-One – three-time back-to-back winner in Private LM P1 class – the Swiss team decided to turn to LM P2. For its first race in LM P2 with ORECA, Rebellion has upgraded its game by putting together a real team of warriors including: Neel Jani, FIA WEC World Champion, Sébastien Buemi, Formula AI Champion and former Formula 1 driver, Nick Heidfeld, former Formula 1 driver and Stéphane Sarrazin, Toyota driver in LM P1 and former Formula 1 driver too.
Though the team is very used to competing in America, with two wins at the Petit Le Mans, it will be a first for them at the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona.
ORECA and Daytona
In 2000, ORECA was the first French team to ever win the 24 Hours of Daytona. To start this 2017 season in Daytona, on that specific track, and with a new car, is thus a true event. This comeback has been awaited since 2014, when an LM P2 ORECA last took to the track on the Daytona International Speedway: Muscle Milk Pickett Racing’s ORECA 03 came 5th.
“The 24 Hours of Daytona is a very important challenge to us” ORECA’s CEO Hugues De Chaunac says. “It’s a legendary race, one of the greatest endurance races in the world, which we won in 2000 as a team. To see a ‘made in ORECA’ chassis on that track for its very first lap will be very special for all of us. This new ORECA 07 has lots of responsibilities: to live up to its big sisters as well as to our expectations, realizing its performance potential fully. To begin with a 24-hour race is quite bold, we are aware that it will be intense and difficult but anyway, this race will mark the beginning of a new generation of cars. To start out on this track with the ORECA 07, our most developed car, against such great contenders, is an extremely exciting challenge. All the more since we will be counting on three excellent teams which we are very familiar with.”
This first round will be the ORECA 07’s first race against the three other manufacturers competing in LM P2 and DPi classes. So, for the ORECA 07, designed, manufactured and developed by ORECA Technology, this first race stands as a major event.
Looking to grow internationally, in addition to the development of ORECA Gear products range, the ORECA Group definitely plans on its LM P2 chassis leading, in Northern America. With several manufacturers competing and lots of DPi models expected on track, one of the most awaited endurance races of the year really promises to be fascinating and gripping.