TDS Racing participated in the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) for the first time this year, fielding the #28 ORECA 07-Gibson entrusted to François Perrodo, Matthieu Vaxivière and Emmanuel Collard. The team finished eighth in the Endurance LMP2 Teams Trophy standings with as best result fourth place at the 6 Hours of Fuji. Unfortunately, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans the driver line-up was forced to retire in the wake of an incident at the Karting turn on Sunday morning. The outfit led by Xavier Combet and Jacques Morello also provided technical support for G-Drive Racing's #26 ORECA 07-Gibson.

TDS Racing will pursue its presence in the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), still with its ORECA 07-Gibson, and will participate in the 2018/2019 Super Season with a slightly modified driver line-up. François Perrodo and Matthieu Vaxivière will be joined by Loïc Duval, winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013 (Audi R18 e-tron quattro with Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish), WEC champion the same year with Audi and winner at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2011 with a Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. The French driver (seven participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans) will spearhead the team and with Matthieu Vaxivière, still just as fast, and François Perrodo, who made great strides throughout his first season in the LMP2 class, this driver line-up will be one to watch closely at the next two editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 16-17, 2018 and June 15-16, 2019).  

Loïc Duval: “I am very happy to come back to the WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside my Audi program, and more over I am very excited about the environment in which I will compete. TDS Racing is a very professional race team, but with strong family values, not only is this season going to be great fun, I am looking forward to help Francois improve and be Matthieu’s wing man. I would like to thank both of them for this great opportunity. I can’t wait to race in the LMP2 category which has shown some classic fights last season.”

François Perrodo: “The 2017 season was very exciting, but to be honest, it was also difficult. I not only discovered prototype driving but also a very strong competition, the challenge was huge and definitely up to my expectations. At the end of the season, I considered seriously ELMS or even a return to GT racing, but after the ACO decisions regarding the new WEC and considering the pleasure I’ve had driving these wonderful cars, I decided to stay in WEC for another season. And what a season we will have! To race twice the Le Mans 24 Hours and discover Sebring in just over a year’s time is the stuff of dream for a gentleman driver. In addition, I will have Matthieu and Loïc on my side. Not only Matthieu is a very fast driver, but he is also one of my best friends. Loïc has a solid endurance racing experience; he is a great race driver who shares our values: cohesion and team spirit which to us, are the keys to pleasure and competitiveness. My objective is clear: Improve my LMP2 racing skills, have fun, and hopefully score a few podiums.”

Matthieu Vaxivière: “I have known François since we started motorsports and we experienced some great moments together, including two WEC seasons. It will be a pleasure and an honour to share this new project together as well as with Loïc and TDS Racing. The Super Season promises to be a milestone in the history of motorsports, and I will do all I can to achieve good results. I can’t wait to work and learn from Loïc’s experience, and I already feel that this human adventure will be very special.” 

Xavier Combet, Team Manager: “During our 2017 WEC season, François and Matthieu have shown continuous improvements in LMP2 racing, they have consolidated their driving skills and race craft in what has proved to be an extremely competitive environment. Building on this experience, we have decided to go on and to take a new step by entering an LMP2 car in the 2018/2019 WEC Super Season. Teamed with Loïc Duval, who has a very strong experience in endurance, this second WEC season for us promises to be very exciting. We can’t wait to get back on the World Endurance Championship circuits, and challenge the other LMP2 teams and drivers.”

Information and quotations from TDS Racing press release.