24 Hours of Le Mans
Jan Charouz joins OAK Racing at Le Mans
© One Shot Image Bank – Clement Marin
OAK Racing has completed the driver line-up for its #49 LMP2 OAK-Pescarolo, the team’s fourth entry at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, with Lotus Renault GP F1 reserve driver Jan Charouz joining Nicolas De Crem and Shinji Nakano.
The 23-year-old Czech racer returns to the Le Mans 24 Hours with the Le Mans-based team looking for similar success to 2010 when, at the wheel of OAK Racing’s #35 LMP2 car, he climbed the podium having finished second in class and seventh overall with Matthieu Lahaye and Guillaume Moreau in the 78th edition of the iconic race.
François Sicard, OAK Racing’s Managing Director, says that adding Charouz to its driving strength was an easy decision to make as the team, already an LMP2 podium regular at the Le Mans 24 Hours having scored three in a row in the event, looks to continue its success in 2011.
“Jan Charouz was an obvious choice to be one of the drivers selected for the #49 car,” Sicard said. “In view of his performances in the #35 LMP2-car last year, his 2009 Le Mans Series title and of course his single-seater career path, Jan is a quality candidate. This will be his second successive year with OAK Racing and he will have a crucial role to play as he represents continuity in the team alongside newcomers Shinji Nakano and Nicolas De Crem. We’re hoping to do as well as, if not better, than last year with the support of this international crew!”
Meanwhile, Charouz is delighted to be returning to OAK Racing and, while he is currently committed to single-seaters with a race programme in the World Series by Renault driving for Gravity Charouz Racing and his Formula 1 commitments with Lotus Renault GP, he’s also determined to again prove his qualities as an endurance driver.
“I am very happy to participate in such a famous race as the Le Mans 24 Hours again this year,” said Charouz. “It’s an honour for me to drive the OAK-Pescarolo LMP2 prototype in this race. Like last year I will be with OAK Racing which is a very professional team capable of preparing a winning car. My team-mates are quick, experienced drivers and I am convinced we’re capable of a good result. The Le Mans 24 Hours is a great event and I’m looking forward to it very much.”
OAK Racing will utilise the #49 LMP2 car to show off the team’s traditional pink-and-black colour scheme, while the other three entries, all of which race in the ILMC, will defend the famous blue-and-orange racing livery of Gulf Oil International.
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You would think Gulf would want to be fully represented on the car that actually has a shot at winning its class, or at least getting a podium finish, which is the #49 car.
Their lead p1 car (#15) also has a pro lineup but it’s over matched against the diesels. The other P1 car (#24) is made of deep pocketed hobbyists and so is the other P2 car the #35.
P2 being were a privateer team can shine, having a full pro lineup the #49 can be a serious contender.
It just doesn’t sync in to me, why they chose the #49 to not have the full Gulf colors when Gulf seems to be giving them generous help and that’s the car that can bring home some hardware.
Do we know who’s financing the #49 car? If it’s not in Gulf colours, then I’m guessing it isn’t part of Oak’s original Gulf deal, and someone else is writing the cheques for #49.
Maybe whoever is paying for the car doesn’t want it in full Gulf colours?
But then again I suppose Jacque Nicolet could just as well have bankrolled this 4 car lemans operation on his own without any major sponsors.
He’s responsible for pescarolo’s return so it’s really a 5 car operation.
Quite excited about this entry actually – great to see Nakano back behind the wheel in the limelight.
It’s great to see Jan back at Le Mans and with a top notch team that gives him a legitimate shot at victory. Gulf is still involved on the car and I think would be more than happy to have a smaller presence as long as they win I think they’d care less.
Give Francois a break. Why the hell should OAK cover their entire fleet in Gulf? It’s just the one car with that usual livery Bamba. Give him that a least…
I personally think the pink and black scheme is one of the best in the field! I was so disappointed that the LMP1s aren’t keeping this livery, but I understand why they would want some of that lovely Gulf money.
The #49 is also financed by gulf. But i guess it’s also the one they are using to showcase their Pescarolo chassis design business, since it’s capable of winning P2. So I suppose they don’t want Gulf taking all the credit for that.
But guys if you were sponsoring a team you would want to be full well represented on their lead car.
If this car is in the top 5 with 5-6 hours left with any hint of a podium finish or a win, all the other cars will become test dummies, testing out strategies for it. Where would you want your beautiful livery at that time then, if you’re a CEO with a hospitality area full of business colleagues?
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