Oreca: Duval and Lapierre join forces in 2011

Just as the Team ORECA-Matmut is finalizing its endurance programme for the 2011 season, Hugues de Chaunac knows he can count on two of the quickest drivers in long-distance racing. Nicolas Lapierre, who has been with the Var-based squad since 2008, will continue to drive for it in 2011. He filled the runner-up spot in the Le Mans Series, set two pole positions and three fastest laps in the races. Next year his team-mate will be Loïc Duval, the lap record holder in the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours and Super GT Champion.

“Immediately after Le Mans we began speaking about 2011, and pairing Loïc up with Nicolas seemed obvious to me”, says Hugues de Chaunac, delighted to be able to count on such a talented duo. “Nicolas has become a benchmark in endurance. I already appreciated Loïc’s approach in 2008 and he’s matured even more since then. With these two drivers who’ve both made their debut in the Le Mans 24 Hours with us, we’ve got one of the quickest driver line-ups in endurance. The sky’s the limit for them!”

Loïc Duval is delighted to be driving for the Team ORECA-Matmut full time: “I’m very happy with the opportunity the team’s given me, and also the way it gives young drivers the chance to race in an event as important as the Le Mans 24 Hours. We’ve got to know each other well and we’ll be all the stronger for that in 2011. I hope we’ll have the opportunity to fulfill the promise shown this June. I’m delighted to be driving with Nicolas. We were rivals in singleseaters, drove for the same team, and now we’re team-mates today in LM P1. We’re both from the same generation and our technical feedback is fairly similar. We gel together and that’s what you need in this type of racing.”

“I’ve always said that I was in for the long haul with ORECA, and that I’d go for continuity as long as we progressed: it’s been the case since 2008,” underlines Nicolas Lapierre. “I’m starting my fourth season with the team and I’m sure we’ll have what it takes to score good results. For me it’s a logical choice. I’m pleased to be driving with Loïc with whom I raced in the Asian Le Mans Series, and again on several occasions this season. We’ve know each other for quite some time and we’ve had good races together. I’m now looking forward to finding out what our car and our programme are for 2011. I trust Hugues. Le Mans will again be the main objective and the aim is to make it to the finish. We’ve got everything it takes to do well. What more could you ask for?”

Lapierre and Duval will be the team ORECA-Matmut’s two regular drivers in 2011. The name of their team-mate and the details of the programme -that will be based around the Le Mans 24 Hours - will be announced in the near future.