2008/04/02
Press Release

Loic Duval’s participation in Le Mans 24 Hours decided!!

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Olivier Panis, Nicolas Lapierre, Stephane Ortelli and Soheil Ayari were joined by two new team mates. Before revealing new Courage-Oreca, Hugues de Chaunac indeed presented the two others drivers which will defend the colors of the TEAM at the 24 Hours of Mans: Laurent Groppi and Loïc Duval. The two “juniors”, 25 years each one, were immediately impregnated with the “TEAM spirit” and environment is already excellent between the six musketeers.

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It is today in his mancelle factory that TEAM ORECA Matmut had officially presented its program 2008, in the presence of many journalists and guests. For its first appearance in its final configuration, new COURAGE-ORECA LC70 was the star of this event, surrounded of the pilots and the partners of the team. At the sides of Olivier PANIS and Nicolas LAPIERRE, fellow-members in Le Mans Series, and of Stephane ORTELLI and Soheil AYARI, associated on the second LMP1, there are two juniors who were retained to supplement the crew of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Loïc DUVAL and Laurent GROPPI. 25 years old one and the other, they were jointly formed at the school of go kart and single-seater, and they both had been Champion of France of F. Renault.

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A technical metamorphosis… During the intersaison, Courage-Oreca LC70 was completely re-examined: only the hull was preserved compared with the model of last season. Equipped with a new engine (Judd), with a new nose gear and back, the LMP1 received its last evolution a few days ago: a body completely reconsidered by the engineering and design department. This new aerodynamics, on which TEAM ORECA Matmut melts of great hopes, is a decisive stage in the awaited progression of this LMP1: “a considerable work was completed by the technical team in five months! I am so impatient to be in Barcelona to measure our progress” declared Hugues de Chaunac. TEAM ORECA Matmut also revealed its decoration for the season 2008: inspired by works of Mondrian, delivered Courage-Oreca LC70 falls under the tradition of “art cars” which were distinguished at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The team will take part this weekend in the first race of “Le Mans Series”: 1000 km of Barcelona!
(Press Release of Team Oreca-Matmut)

Photos by DPPI