F1weekly podcast # 357

Podcast number 357 online.

This is a special Motorsports Mondial weekend edition.

Interviews with members of Team Oreca.

Oreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hughes de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport since the early 90s, running the works BMW operation in the French Supertouring Championship, winning the FIA GT Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours in the GT2 class with a Chrysler Viper GTS-R and overall for Mazda 787B in 1991, on their second attempt and first after a decade; preparing the Renault Clio S1600 for rallying and winning the ice racing Andros Trophy with a Toyota Corolla driven by Alain Prost. More recently, Oreca have assisted Renault in building the new Megane V6 for the Renault Eurocup Megane Sport and fielding an Audi R8 in the 2005 Le Mans 24 Hours with support from Audi France. Also for 2006 Oreca will be running the Saleen S7R in the Le Mans Series. The Oreca Saleen S7R has already won the 2006 Spa-Francorchamps Le Mans race.

Oreca worked closely with Dodge on the new Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, producing well over 100 customer cars for the period 2006-2007 to GT3 specification.

Hughes de Chaunac has stated that Oreca could build and race their own Le Mans Prototype in 2009. However, on September 14, 2007, Oreca announced their intent to purchase French manufacturer Courage Compétition. Oreca will use Courage’s engineering expertise to develop their new prototype, to be badged as a Courage-Oreca.