Team Rebellion’s ORECA wins its first victory in WEC
From 8 to 10 November, the third round of the World Endurance Championship was held: the 4 Hours of Shanghai. Bruno Senna’s Rebellion R-13 (# 1), Gustavo Menezes and Norman Nato have managed the feat of converting their pole position – the first for a private LMP1 in FIA WEC – to victory on track on Sunday! A historic first in the highest category of the discipline for a non-hybrid prototype.
After signing pole, ending the series of invincibility of Toyota, the Rebellion #1 Gibson engine and Michelin tires dominated its subject and made a perfect race thanks to an error-free race and pit-stops perfectly mastered. Facing two Toyota, she completed her 125 laps of the circuit finishing in front of # 8 Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley.
In LMP2, it is the ORECA 07 (#38) of Jota Sport who led the debates. The team is back with the victory in WEC since the last, in its name, dates back to 2015 at Spa-Francorchamps. The Gonzales-Da Costa-Davidson trio is followed by Jackie Chan DC Racing’s Team on the ORECA 07 (#37) and the ORECA 07 (#22) of United Autosports. At the foot of the podium, we find Team Signatech Alpine ELF. If the ORECA 07 (#29) Racing Team Nederland completes the Top 5, this Team retains the lead of the LMP2 Championship with two small points ahead of the Jackie Chan DC Racing. High Class Racing ranks 6th despite a good start to the race and Cool Racing, the author of the pole qualifying session is unfortunately forced to give up following an electrical problem.
“We had a tough race full of emotions! Difficult because Toyota is a formidable opponent and very experienced but we had perfectly prepared this race on a circuit that is very suitable for the Rebellion R-13. Our drivers and the Team have managed to make a real no-fault. I was very happy to congratulate them on the finish line for this great victory, the result of intense work. This is a very important success for us in because of final goal: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. » Hugues De Chaunac, President of ORECA
ésident d’ORECA