Le Mans Series
AIM to supply engines to Team ORECA in 2009/10
© Planetlemans – Marcel ten Caat
After crossing the first hurdle in its Le Mans Challenge in 2008 the ORECA Team has been doing a lot of work to move up to a new level next season. While the design office is busy concentrating on the aerodynamic and mechanical aspects of the car the Var-based team has received the backing of a new engine partner. The Japanese group AIM will supply engines for the next two seasons.
“It’s great news for ORECA and AIM,” says a delighted Hugues de Chaunac. “After our first year with the Courage-Oreca we wanted to reach a partnership agreement with an engine manufacturer. We had three options and the AIM project was the one that looked the most promising AIM provides us with a special engine deal and bespoke development.”
After a season with the 5.5-litre V10 Judd GV the Courage LC70E-Oreca will have a new power unit. “AIM has designed and developed its engine in collaboration with John Judd who we know very well,” points out de Chaunac. “This makes things easier for us.”
AIM is an engineering company in Japan, has over 500 staffs and works mainly with Japanese automotive manufacturers. Yukinori Suzuki’s company began its involvement in endurance in 2007. “After discovering this kind of racing AIM wanted to become one of the front-runners,” explains de Chaunac. “Through Yukinori Suzuki and his special advisor Yoshitoshi Sakurai (who also worked in F1 via Honda) AIM showed its determination to make its technical contribution to our challenge. The company will be much more than an engine supplier; it’ll be a real partner for 2009 and 2010.”
Yukinori Suzuki, AIM’s President and Founder: “AIM was impressed by ORECA’s renown. We visited its premises and were able to judge for ourselves the quality of its infrastructures as well as the resources available to attain its target. The potential the team’s showed in 2008 has reinforced our common determination to win the Le Mans 24 Hours, which is the perfect event to promote the dynamic sporting image we want to have associated with AIM.”
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But Creation Autosportif had a three year deal with AIM that was first announced in December, 2006. Jamie Campbell-Walter told me at last week’s Laguna Seca ALMS race that the new V-10 has more top-end power than the Judd GV5.5 S2 motor.
Hmm, i haven’t heard of the AIM’s motors besides the Creation Autosportif!, is it really a good choice compared to the now reliable and a bit old Judd engine!.
But i really hope this will get Oreca up and running close to the Diesels and competing with AM lola’s!
The 90 degree V-10 weighs less says David Floury in an endurance-info article from today.
2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg to test with Team Oreca Matmut on January 26 and 27 at Paul Ricard with the new AIM V-10! Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre will be on hand to help.