The two Oreca 07-Gibsons will be “exhibited” like works of art in a common pit box renamed the “Racing Art Gallery”. Artist Laurent Minguet will finish painting the prototypes’ bodywork just before Test Day on 15 August.
The originality of the liveries begins with the rough lumber or marble background. Streaks of colour are then applied to the whole body to accentuate the speed effect. Minguet takes the concept to its conclusion with a specific set for the pits and reception area.

Muriel Belgy, Panis Racing & Tech1 Racing Communication Director: This artistic and solidarity project has been initiated by Olivier Panis, Sarah and Simon Abadie, who have developed a strong relationship with the artist Laurent Minguet. His talent and his passion for motorsport have been well-known for years. The 24 Hours of Le Mans are a special event for a team, and for our sixth start here in La Sarthe, we wanted to do something special by adding some dream to the purely sporting side, with beautiful colours and materials to brighten up this so gloomy period. Just like a painter, the Art Cars #65 and #24 in the hands of our drivers will draw their lines on the Le Mans track. After our podium finish last year in LMP2 and our win with W.Stevens/J.Allen/J.Canal three weeks ago in ELMS at Monza, the whole team is determined to shine in Le Mans with its two magnificent Oreca cars.
We would like to thank Laurent Minguet who is donating his work to Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, an association we fully support since the creation of the team. The "Heart’s Team", as we are often called, continues to help, season after season, Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque by sharing strong emotions with the children, alongside Professor Francine Leca, Orso Chétochine and all the members devoted to their cause.
A big thank you also to Pierre Fillon and his ACO team who immediately supported us and put everything in place to promote our action.

Minguet began painting on canvas in the 1980s, with car outlines providing the inspiration for his work. Playing on the shapes and reflections of car bodies, he developed the hyperrealist technique that he would go on to apply to cityscapes. “My painting is very precise,” he says. “My hyper-realistic style gives the illusion of a photo, but when people realise that everything is painted with a brush, they are ‘bluffed’. It means magic happens,” adds the artist whose undoubtedly inherited his passion for cars from his father, a sports car dealer. The young Minguet first attended the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1982 at the age of 12. In the early nineties, he even competed in a few Renault Cup and Formula Ford races at Le Mans.

The 2x24 fine art reproductions of Minguet’s 60x90 cm paintings will be sold online in the 24 Hours of Le Mans official store. All profits will go directly to Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, a charity that raises funds to enable children from developing countries who are in need of a heart operation to be treated in France.
The original 1x1.5 m paintings of the Panis Racing #65 and PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports #24 cars will be displayed in the ACO Club members’ La Chapelle hospitality facility throughout the event.

With these two unique liveries, Panis Racing and PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports are continuing the Art Car tradition that first appeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 1970s. No doubt that they will be appreciated equally by art lovers and fans of the legendary motor race.