It has to be said that the LM P2 class awaited this car with baited breath. Just like Julius Caesar, the Oreca 05 came, it saw and it conquered. Two of the cars are competing this season: one run by Thiriet by TDS Racing (in the European Le Mans Series) and the other run by KCMG (in the World Endurance Championship). The Oreca 05 won its third race. The potential was evident from the start, both at Silverstone and at Spa-Francorchamps. Then at Imola, Thiriet by TDS Racing won overall in the second leg of the European Le Mans Series.

But the best was yet to come. For its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, KCMG’s Oreca 05 claimed pole position and went on to pick up the class trophy. Actually, this year’s French endurance marathon could well have been the scene of an epic battle between the two Oreca 05s. It was the only time both cars will be in the same race this season, however, an unlucky collision with an Aston Martin put Thiriet by TDS Racing out of the running.

KCMG will be back on track on 30 August for the next round of the World Endurance Championship at Nürburgring. Meanwhile, Thiriet by TDS Racing will be eager to be back in the cockpit on Sunday 12 July at the Red Bull Ring in Austria for the next round of the European Le Mans Series.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO — Translated from French by Emma Paulay

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, SUNDAY 14 JUNE 2015, RACE. After the disappointment at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Thiriet by TDS Racing will be keener than ever to notch up another win with the Oreca 05 in the European Le Mans Series.