IDEC Sport (ORECA), a study in team spirit toward victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
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IDEC Sport (ORECA), a study in team spirit toward victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

IDEC Sport came out of the gate strong last night, clinching provisional pole position in the LMP2 class thanks to Paul-Loup Chatin. The team is now focusing on achieving a good result in the race. Two things could work in their favor: its cohesion and team spirit.

Yesterday evening, Paul-Loup Chatin scored the provisional pole in LMP2 with a time of 3:24:956 at the wheel of IDEC Sport's #48 ORECA 07-Gibson. Team owner, Patrice Lafargue, was pleased with this early result. "It's a great start to the week. We're ready, Paul-Loup clocked a fantastic time yesterday. In any case, we're firing on all cylinders: our car, our team, our drivers. This confirms the progress we've made since 2017 and that first participation when we finished 10th. This year we're looking to be even more competitive."

Since the beginning of the season, and under the leadership of IDEC Sport sporting director Nicolas Minassian (former Peugeot Sport driver with 17 participations in the 24 Hours), the team has made enormous progress, as confirmed by driver Paul Lafargue: "I feel more at ease than I did for my first participation in the 24 Hours last year. The car is really good and this provisional pole is on point with our first results in the European Le Mans Series this season (the trio finished third at Monza, the most recent round, Ed.)."

Last night's time was clocked by a Paul-Loup Chatin at the top of his game this year after nearly failing to compete in 2017. Paul-Loup Chatin: "This provisional pole position is extremely positive. We've been fast since Test Day, among the quickest in each session. The car is really doing well. We were hoping to clock a good time and as it turns out it was the fastest. I could have done better had I not been prevented, I think I lost between five-tenths and a full second."

Meanwhile, he knows pole position could change hands this evening: "I'm afraid it won't last and may be beaten this evening at the final qualifying sessions." But the three drivers, including Memo Rojas, remain focused. The race is their main goal even though no one ever knows what's in store. Paul Lafargue: "You never know what to expect at Le Mans. No matter what, my teammates have my ear. Our team spirit is the most important thing to me."

The theme of the meeting between the three drivers this morning was this unwaivering team spirit within IDEC Sport. Paul-Loup Chatin: "It is absolutely vital and omnipresent within this team. It makes me think of what it was like in the big outfits like Audi Sport, unified. Also, switching from the Ligier JS P217 to the ORECA 07 was a good one. The car is highly competitive and the Le Mans circuit suits it well. Michelin has realy moved forward. All that is why we're on the front lines."

PHOTO 1/3

The last hurdles before the race, two qualifying sessions are scheduled tonight from 19:00 to 21:00 and from 22:00 to midnight, and the agenda is clear to Nicolas Minassian: "We will fine-tune the car's settings this evening. Half the car is already in race configuration with certain parts. We are going to continue to optimize and make it even faster."

After the 24 Hours of Le Mans, IDEC Sport will turn its attention to another type of competition. The team will support Francis Joyon for his seventh participation in the "Route du Rhum" solo boat race launching from Saint Malo on 7 November and ending in Guadeloupe. Another few "all-nighters on the horizon," jokes Patrice Lafargue.

 

PHOTOS: The full team this morning (photo 1), best time for the #48 yesterday evening (photo 2), Francis Joyon's double-outrigger (photo 3).

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