Oreca takes over Courage Competition

[Zytek_Fan]

Hugues de CHAUNAC has already mentioned it several times, the ORECA team has a double ambition : to enter the top LM-P1 class and to build its own car to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Needless to say, such a programme cannot be undertaken without a real strategy !
In buying out this week the cars’ manufacturer "COURAGE COMPETITION", ORECA is giving itself the tool and the expertise required for this project to enter into its active phase. The project of the future prototype should be unveiled in early November.

It is an industrial project, with the claimed will to build and to sell prototypes for long-distance racing, in various categories from 2008 onwards. «The buy out of COURAGE COMPETITION opens interesting opportunities for both companies, not only in the sport but also from the industrial, commercial and strategic points of view» considers Hugues de CHAUNAC, the Chairman of the ORECA Group.
«The 25-years’ experience of Yves COURAGE in building his own prototypes for the 24 Hours of Le Mans will considerably reinforce ORECA’s chances when tackling this new challenge. This is the reason why Yves’ personal involvement will remain important during the coming months, in order to fully succeed with the integration of a 3rd pole of activities, located in Le Mans, which adds itself to those based in Signes, in the South of France, and in Magny-Cours (ORECA engines’ division). Today, I am proud to claim our determination to become a leading player in long-distance racing.»
Yves COURAGE : «This is a welcome opportunity for COURAGE cars to be supported by such a strong concern as the ORECA Group. I see it as the best possible option to guarantee the future of a company born through passion and which can only survive thanks to this spirit. But, at the same time, it must develop other activities to prosper. This is what ORECA has been able to achieve with so much success. Together, we can only get stronger!.

The new Oreca/Courage LMP1 is most likely going to be a coupe

[dydzi]

Originally Posted by Zytek_Fan

The new Oreca/Courage LMP1 is most likely going to be a coupe

needs to be hard top if they want to start in le mans

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by dydzi

needs to be hard top if they want to start in le mans

Why??

[henk4]

Originally Posted by dydzi

needs to be hard top if they want to start in le mans

what is a soft-top coupe?

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by henk4

what is a soft-top coupe?

Exactly what I was wondering...

[dydzi]

as far as i know in few years time rules of ACO will permit only closed constructions to start in 24 heures du mans, correct me if i'm wrong...

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by dydzi

as far as i know in few years time rules of ACO will permit only closed constructions to start in 24 heures du mans, correct me if i'm wrong...

That's probably why it's going to be a Coupe.

[dydzi]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

That's probably why it's going to be a Coupe.

that's what i pointed out in my first post

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by dydzi

as far as i know in few years time rules of ACO will permit only closed constructions to start in 24 heures du mans, correct me if i'm wrong...

There are plans to implement new LMP1 regulations to that extent, but they are sketchy at best and the small bits that are known are not very well liked by any of the big manufacturers. Open cars will be eligible for quite a few years to come. The first Oreca-Courage will be a revised LC70/75.

[togos452]

Courage - Oreca

- There will be a presentation of the teams plans in Paris at the end of October

- The team will be named Courage/Oreca from the moment the first car is finished

- The car will be build at the Technoparc in Le Mans

- Customer cars will be build (as like today)

Actualités

COURAGE COMPETITION - site officiel - the official website

Interview:

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4170

Oreca's Chairman is Hughes de Chaunac (in middle) while Yves Courage (on right) founded Courage Competition in 1981 and first raced in 1982.

http://www.endurance-info.com/2007_L...ca_Courage.jpg

The article translates "Automobile Club de l'Ouest" as "Car Club of the West."

(ACO: ! Site officiel des 24 Heures du Mans - ACO)

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4197

(Oreca won't race in French GT next year)

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4198

Courage-ORECA might make a sports racer for VdeV UK VdeV Endurance Sports Car Racing Endurance Racing CN C3 Prototypes

Alexander Frei might not race with Courage-Oreca next year.

http://www.alexanderfrei.ch/

[togos452]

An interview with Pierre Dieudonne, Oreca's Sporting Director.

The Courage LC75, from the LMP2 class, will also benefit.

Oreca plans to sell their Saleen S7Rs. The picture in the link is from French GT racing where all of the cars race with Pirelli tires.

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4342

[togos452]

Oreca's engine department in Magny Cours has thirty-six employees, including six engineers, being solely dedicated to the electronic part, and eighteen technicians.

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4481

[togos452]

2,400 miles covered in two test days by Team Oreca Matmut

by just the # 6 endurance LC70 Judd

Paul Ricard LMS testing in Southern France

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=5046

LMS on Oreca's website

Le Mans Series

videos

Dailymotion - Share Your Videos

Ortelli: more performance than the Audi R8 as tested by Oreca

Bienvenue sur le site officiel de Stéphane Ortelli

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=5073

Raymond Narac given chance to test the # 6 endurance machine

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=5041



Part breaks after 4,000 miles

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=5033

Laurent Groppi testing the LC70 Judd

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=5032

Matmut's president, Daniel Havis

French insurance company

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=3900

with Hugues de Chaunac



With Michelin tires

Michelin Corporate - Competition News

Translated version of http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=5015



Olivier Panis and Stéphane Ortelli with the # 5 car (has the latest developments)



# 5 car

http://www.endurance-info.com/2008_L...Oreca05_01.jpg

http://www.endurance-info.com/2008_LMS/00_HTTT/012.jpg

Oliver Panis getting in # 5 machine

http://www.endurance-info.com/2008_LMS/00_HTTT/002.jpg

# 6 (before Paul Ricard LMS testing, drivers had completed over 2,000 miles since the start of the winter tests)

http://www.endurance-info.com/2008_LMS/00_HTTT/13.jpg

http://www.endurance-info.com/2008_LMS/00_HTTT/12.jpg

http://www.endurance-info.com/2008_L...Oreca06_01.jpg

[togos452]

Report from the 1,000 km of Catalunya on April 6

Le Mans Series

Stéphane Ortelli's crash in the 1,000 km of Monza on April 26:

(only broken ankle and bruises)

Yahoo!

Report from the 1,000 km of Spa on May 11:

Le Mans Series

[togos452]

Comments from Oreca's Hugues de Chaunac

7-7-08

ORECA : Hugues de Chaunac takes a look back on « Défi Le Mans ». - Endurance Info - Endurance Info WebSite

Site Officiel Olivier PANIS - Accueil