24 Hours of Le Mans
ORECA to partner Toyota Motorsport GmbH Le Mans project!
ORECA to partner Toyota Motorsport GmbH Le Mans project!
Victorious at the 12 Hours of Sebring at the beginning of the season, Hugues de Chaunac’s team has been selected by TMG to partner its Le Mans programme.
After announcing its participation in several races of the 2012 World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) has partnered with ORECA to provide operations
support for this project. The French team will therefore bring its experience in sportscars, and specifically of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it has competed for several seasons.
In recent years, ORECA has shown its qualities, rivaling the two official constructors, Audi and Peugeot. Most notably, Hugues de Chaunac’s men won the 12 Hours of Sebring in March 2011, and finished 2nd in the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta a few weeks ago.
The LMP1 chassis that will be entered in 2012 has been designed, developed and built at TMG’s technical centre in Cologne. The prototype will be powered by a petrol engine equipped with hybrid technology, provided by Toyota Motor Corporation.
ORECA will support the TMG track operations team and this partnership will begin in the coming weeks.
Hugues de Chaunac, President of Groupe ORECA: “It’s a very big day for ORECA. To be chosen by Toyota Motorsport GmbH is a huge reward for the work we’ve done in recent years. ORECA has proven its worth at the highest level of endurance racing, winning the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2011 and finishing three straight times in the top 5 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Thanks to its know-how, ORECA now has the opportunity to work with the biggest automobile manufacturer, and on a project that’s particularly interesting. We are proud to support Toyota Motorsport GmbH in this challenge and we’re looking forward to an exciting future.”
Rob Leupen, Director Business Operations, Toyota Motorsport GmbH: “This is clearly good news for TMG. ORECA’s competence and track record are well known, which is why we were very keen to develop a relationship with them. They will enhance our track operations team as we make progress in the world of endurance racing.”
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Congrats to the Oreca Team. Hopefully they can come back to Sebring and defend their victory. I can’t wait to see the Toyota LMP1. Maybe Toyota will provide customer engines for the Oreca 01 LMP1 and 03 LMP2.
Hmmm, so what does this mean for Rebellion? Are they to remain a “customer” team? They ran the Toyota powered Lola last year right? Do they continue with the Lola chassis?
isn`t that a joke? isn`t it….. ;-)
@ Marcus: What it means for Rebellion? If they continue with TMG engine that their money saves de Chaunac´s pocket instead of his..
Everybody could say I´m jelous on Oreca and maybe I´m but this guy is just unsympathic! But money turn´s the wheel..
@Marcus A – When Toyota announced this programme, they said that TMG’s existing customer programme and Lola engine supply deal would be unaffected by the new factory programme.
I have to say I’m surprised. Does this mean Oreca will be the factory team, or will it run alongside the factory team. Also, I wonder how much of the new car Rebellion will get. Just the engine, engine and hybrid system, or the whole lot?
we wait for Toyota, Porsche and ….. Jaguar.
With Peugeot and Audi we’ll have a SUPER championship!!!!!!
Terrific, difficult to be be a small Team & compete against cubic buck’s. Hope they ALL have IT togerther at Sebring 12,March 17,2012 the sixty annv. S.V.R.A, THIRTY FIFTH annv of the Historic Ray Sanders KENDALL OIL Races.
Not super shocked at all.
Yes, obviously de Chaunac knows how to make good money with a private race team. In its early years, ORECA has won Le Mans with Mazda. Now Toyota has bought endurance knowledge to do the same. I now expect former ORECA drivers like Lapierre or Duval in the driver lineup. Maybe even Olivier Panis will be back to his own Toyota (f1) history being one of the test drivers?
For Rebellion, I guess they will be able to just continue the Lola chassis + Toyota engine deal; Toyota said they are willing to support this further.