It all began in 1973, when de Chaunac (based close to the circuit Paul Ricard HTTT in the Var) created a winning team. They won many victories in single seater, Touring, GT and especially in endurance racing. His record is simply amazing: with forty national and international titles and more than 350 racing victories, Oreca is the only 100% French team (driver and car) to win the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the only French team to be overall winners of the 24 Hours of Daytona. But the story of this team of enthusiasts is deeply linked to the 24 Hours of Le Mans as it can boast of having participated in eighteen times with forty five cars entered and won the 1991 race with Mazda. How many private teams can say that? This year, the Oreca will be well represented at the 81st 24 hours with no less than twenty-two prototypes in LM P2, including seven customer branded chassis. With this extensive experience, it is the human aspect coupled with enthusiasm of Hughes de Chaunac each year at Le Mans: "I remember the general feeling that this event provides. It's hard to put into words the feelings that one can experience at the 24 Hours of Le Mans each year. There are so many stories, human and sporting adventure that were experienced during the 18 participations ... Two emotions emerge from this special week. The start of the race, first of all: there is pressure, it is the moment that you have anticipated for several weeks or months, the appointment that is 365 days in preparation. The verdict is awaited. The finish of the next race: of course, feelings can be very different depending on the outcome, but there is always a relief when you pass under the chequered flag. We got to climb the Everest of motorsports and there is a certain buzz. And when you have the chance to get on the podium, it's just magical. "

But de Chaunac is not only a team owner, he is also the developer of talent, Jacques Laffite, Benoît Tréluyer through Alain Prost, Yannick Dalmas, Nicolas Lapierre and Loïc Duval. After forty years of competition around the world, the motivation de Chaunac remains as strong as ever "the passion, desire and hope to win, this is where I draw my motivation. Passion is the basis of everything. The story began that way and this is what drives all of Oreca daily. The desire and hope is this quest for victory, special victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, either as team or manufacturer, either overall or by class. Le Mans is unique. Before you win your first victory, you think of nothing else. After winning this event, you think only to be on the highest step of the legendary podium”.

Since 2012, the team based in the Var region of the south of France has been a partner of one of the most ambitious projects of the endurance racing, alongside the Toyota Racing team, enterd in the FIA World Endurance Championship. In just one year it has already scored three victories, the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, Fuji and Shanghai, with the TS030 Hybird entered in LM P1. This is further evidence of the talent and passion of this white-haired man who took up a new challenge: "Oreca gives Toyota Motorsport GmbH the same support as in 2012. Through this partnership, we provide both support at the track and benefit of our experience gained during our various projects in the endurance discipline. Members of ORECA are therefore involved at several levels: there are both engineers and mechanics who attend for work sessions, as well as the FIA World Endurance Championship including the 24 Hours of Le Mans . This is a particularly interesting and challenging programme. Toyota has a goal: to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is always difficult to say before this event that always has its share of surprises. However, everyone believes in it and is determined to make this project Le Mans successful. "

Certainly, nothing escapes Hughes Chaunac, and to crown its forty-year career, can Oreca score a double victory in LM P1 and LM P2? This is probably the dream of the founder of Oreca for this double anniversary: ​​forty years of motor sport for his team, and 90th for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, celebrated on the 22nd and 23rd June

In this clip, ORECA at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2011.

For more clips go to : www.lemans-tv.com

Thierry Arman / ACO