24h Le Mans
When its owner Jacques Nicolet renamed his team OAK Racing in 2009, this race number became in some ways the symbol of methodical ascent in the LM P2 class, which has made of the Le Mans team one of major players in endurance racing today.
From 2009 to 2012, Jacques Nicolet himself carried the 24 four times at Le Mans. The team he formed with Richard Hein and Jean-François Yvon finished third in the LM P2 class in 2009, then fourth in 2010 before being forced to retire in 2011. In 2012, the Morgan-Judd that he shared with Olivier Pla and Matthieu Lahaye held the lead in the class during nearly 100 laps, but once again had to retire. In 2013, Jacques Nicolet was at the wheel of the Morgan "Art Car" (No. 45) of the 90th anniversary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His dear number 24, second at the finish, completed OAK Racing's triumphant one-two in the LM P2 class. At his wheel, Olivier Pla, along with David Heinemeier Hansson and Alex Brundle, made an impression with the best time at the Test Day, then the pole position and the best lap in the class during the race.
In five editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans under OAK Racing's banner, the number 24 finished in the top 5 each time it passed under the checkered flag, with three podiums. In 2014, for its first participation in La Sarthe, Sébastien Loeb Racing successfully pursued this line with fourth place in the LM P2 class for Jan Charouz, Vincent Capillaire and René Rast. The legend continues…
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY JUNE 22 2013, RACE. With a second place finish in the LM P2 class, Olivier Pla, David Heinemeier Hansson and Alex Brundle achieved the best result for the number 24 with the Le Mans team OAK Racing.
