Oreca Racing

The ORECA-Matmut team will not run just one world champion on 26th/27th January but two drivers who’ve won their spurs on the international scene. After announcing Petter Solberg’s out-of-the-blue test at the wheel of the Courage-Oreca, the Var-based squad decided to give another world champion the chance to show his skills on the track. The man in question, Yvan Muller, is a driver whose gifts have nothing to envy those of the Norwegian.

So two very prestigious drivers will be at the wheel of the LC70E. Yvan Muller was among the most successful French drivers in 2008 winning the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) title with SEAT Sport and ORECA. He emerged victorious after a closely-fought battle with other manufacturers. His other notable results include winning the French SuperTouring Championship in 1995 (with ORECA!), and the title in the mythic British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in 2003, as well as a couple of outings in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Although he knows the team from the Var very well, this will be his first outing at the wheel of the Courage-Oreca.

“It all began with a few words in Macao,” smiles Hugues de Chaunac. “When he won the WTCC title I told him I’d give him a test in the Courage-Oreca. He thought I was having him on! Then, a little later, we talked about it more seriously. I know Yvan very well and I know he’s got what it takes to be a good endurance driver. What’s more he’s used to working with the team.”

The two world champions will share the Courage-Oreca for a full day. At the same time Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre will be giving the AIM engine its shake down in the LC70E – so a star-studded session in perspective on the Paul Ricard track!