Olivier Beretta: “We started from so far with the Viper..”

Olivier Beretta is “Mister Viper”. With this car, he won everything: 24h of Le Mans, FIA GT, American Le Mans Series and even an overall victory at the 24h of Daytona ! From 1996 to 2002, he defended without any discontinuity the Team ORECA’s colors, and he is still the driver who has participated the most at the 24h of Le Mans with ORECA (7). Always on track in the US, the Monegasque discusses his epic with the legendary Dodge Viper, followed by two seasons with the Dallara LMP.

Olivier, do you remember the first time you met Hugues de Chaunac ?
“It must be in 1989, after winning the F3 Grand Prix of Pau. Hugues has been one of the first person to congratulate me. Then we met again, in his office in Signes, in 1991. At this time, we talked about a program in F3000. I wanted to join ORECA but Nelson Piquet took me under his wing and he was deciding. He finally created his team while I had a preference for ORECA. “

What was following ?
“After my season in 1994, where I did 10 F1 Grand Prix, I found myself at the foot or almost in 1995. I only did few races with a Venturi. Hugues then saved my career. He threw me a lifeline by offering me to join the Viper program. He is the only one that gave me a chance. I was going in the unknown because my experience limited me to the Venturi and one participation at Le Mans with Courage. But I already lost the opportunity to join ORECA and, this time, I could chose myself. I did not ask myself. I went there with the eyes closed.”

And this Viper program became a real epic..
“Yes, but therefore there was lot of work ! When we received the Viper, it was really rough around the edges. It was a beautiful car, with a big engine, there is no doubt about this. But he lacked the reliability and lot of other things. It’s ORECA who allowed this car to get where she got. It must be remembered that at this time, it was the only car with the engine at the front, it was heavy.. Anyway, nobody believed. And we needed lot of tests sessions and high combativeness     to get there. At the beginning, we did not even manage to get out of the stand. We started from so far.. I’m convinced that most of the team would have thrown the towel, but when Hugues has an idea in his head, he is capable of anything.”

You never say to yourself “what am I doing in this mess?”
“No, because I already learned how Hugues operated. He is passionate, and does not undertake lightly. When he goes, he does not throw the towel, never give up. He asks us, the drivers, “how will we get there”. He fought and convinced Dodge to make the necessary changes. Little by little, we have progressed, we have managed to reach the finish of the 24h of Le Mans at the first time. Somehow yes, but it was important to convince Dodge that this project had a beautiful future.”

At the time, were you aware about the saga that you were about to write ?
“Not at all. We did not know where all of this would end. With hard work, the Viper had become unbeatable. When I say the Viper, it was not only the car indeed. It had all of these relevant people who worked on this project and a conductor, Hugues. He is a great leader, who manages to get the best of those around him. A bit like a football manager, who reach to make the good team. He knows how to compose the team, bring people together to work around a goal and make them work together. He is the best manager I know.”

How did you live this period ? In 1999 you win the 24h of Le Mans, the American Le Mans Series, the FIA GT .. You won all the time!
“It’s true that we won all the time.. What I remember, beyond the victories and the memories that go with it, it’s the amazing relationship I had with my engineer and the great duo I did with my teammate, Karl Wendlinger. Arnaud, the engineer, understood what to do and what drivers wanted. At the end, either with him or Karl, there was almost no talking as we understood each other naturally. Everything was perfectly organized and I think it was one of the success key.
“More personally, after crossing the desert I knew in 1995, it was obviously nice to get so many satisfactions. And it was more significant that I had taken part in the project from its beginning. We started with nothing and the Viper became a winning machine. It’s a dream for any driver!”

What was the highlights ?
“I will not be original by saying the 24h of Daytona. Daytona because it’s an overall win, and do with a GT, against the prototypes or the Corvette that were really strong, it was not anything! In addition, I had the chickenpox, between 39° and 40 ° fever. My luck was that it was rather cold for this edition.  And every time I was about to take the wheel, we were leading or close to the first place: it was the best motivation ever. This race was fantastic, with a great trio. Dominique brought his experience and his wisdom while Karl and I were more typical “one-man” and then carried more on pure performance even if we had a good endurance background.”

Among all this victories, there was also the 24h of Le Mans several times in GT. Do you remember when you came the first time on the top step of the podium ?
“This is something that is quite hard to explain. At the moment, we do not really realize, or partially. I was so tired. It must be remembered that at this time, it was much warmer in the cars. With the engine at the front, the air coming in the cockpit was almost suffocating. At the end of the race, our feet were filled of burns. We arrived exhausted on the podium, and we fully realized the thing the next day. I had the chance to win several times Le Mans and with hindsight, I learned to fully appreciate this fabulous time. “

Daytona is another myth, with a different celebration of the victory lane in the US form. Did you live this moment in a different way ?
“Completely ! This is an exceptional moment because we do not go alone. All the mechanics and team members are here with the drivers.. And as we had 3 cars, that’s lot of people ! It was a great reward for all of those who worked on this program every day and it’s nice to share this moment together. A real American show. I love it !”

After the Viper, you continued with ORECA, but this time with the Dallara LMP..
“It’s also an excellent memory. We were the “small” against the big that were Audi and Bentley. In 2001, I remember that we are third during the night and that our car was faster than all the others. We missed the podium after a water pump podium. But finishing fourth was an excellent result. The approach was unlike the Viper, both in terms of the car where we had this time the experience of the Dallara, than at the budget level, where we lacked of money to really fight against the factories. Do what we did, it was a miracle !”

What was your last race with the ORECA team ?
“It should be after the 24h of Le mans in 2002, maybe Donington. For different reasons, the program stopped at the end of the year and I flew on my own with Panoz, then Corvette. High quality teams, but I’ve never found what I knew with ORECA, as well as my relations with Hugues and my engineer of the time. What I lived was unique.”

What would you like to do more with ORECA ?
“Winning Le Mans overall, without any hesitation. I wanted to come to Le Mans with the car capable of fighting to win overall. On the other hand, I know I already had a lot. Many beautiful victories. Without Hugues, I would not be doing this job. He allowed me to be where I am today. I regret nothing.”

Does your way will meet again the ORECA one ?
“We have a long history together, and if a new project comes and Hugues think I can join, I come back ! We don’t know what the future will provide. Being with ORECA was my best experience in motorsport and a deep and special relationship linked me to Hugues. When the day will come, I will be available.”

A final word to add ?
“Yes, a little story that always make me smile. When we were in briefing, Hugues was always telling us “I will not tolerate any mistake”. He said it with such a tone in his voice that you do not have the slightest desire to make any little mistake. We knew what to expect. His briefings were me-mo-rable!”