Born out of the passion of Hugues de Chaunac, ORECA has, over the course nearly 40 years, developed itself around the core of its business, auto racing.  ORECA has become a company with nearly 200 employees and collaborators, a stat unrivaled in Europe.  The expertise of the Groupe is primarily dedicated to the auto industry and auto racing, across its many departments.  :  ORECA-Racing, Oreca-Store, Oreca-Events and Oreca-Technology, composed of Constructor and Engine sub-departments, among others.

Since 1972, ORECA has compounded its successful experiences : from its beginnings in openwheel, to rally and rally-raid, to Supertourisme and endurance.  The team is a top tier outfit in the sport with one of the most accomplished resumes.  A resume that got richer in 2011 with another historic victory, the 12 Hours of Sebring.

A promising start, in nivernaise territory…

Hugues de Chaunac creates “ORECA” (ORganisation Exploitation Compétition Automobile) at the end of 1972 and sets up his offices near the Magny-Cours circuit. After its first wins, starting in earnest in 1973 in the French F3 Championship, the team obtains its first prestigious victory only three years after its beginnings :  Jacques Laffite becomes European Champion in Formula 2.

At the time, ELF launches its ladder system in hopes of leading a French driver to F1.  ORECA joins in this dynamic and becomes a true revealer of talent.  One year after another European success, this time with René Arnoux, a certain driver by the name of Alain Prost becomes French F3 Champion (1978).  In addition to a second consecutive national title, he takes continental honors twelve months later with a prestigious victory at Monaco.  In the 1980s, ORECA affirms itself as racing royalty at the principality with wins and titles coming from drivers such as Michel Ferté, Olivier Grouillard, Yannick Dalmas, Pierre-Henri Raphanel, Jean Alesi, Erik Comas, Jean-Marc Gounon and many others. The openwheel resume is becomes impressive :

• 8 consecutive titles in French F3 Championship
• 7 wins at the Grand Prix of Monaco in F3
• 3 European Champions titles : Formula 2 with Jacques Laffite (1975) and René Arnoux (1977), Formula 3 with Alain Prost (1979).

New homebase, new horizons!

In 1987, Hugues de Chaunac and ORECA move to Signes, in the Var region, near the Paul Ricard circuit. The company grows and the team continues its mission, taking new directions.  This is when the team takes two French Rally-Cross championships (1988 and 1989) with Peugeot.  The following season, the team’s focus shifts to Rally-Raid with Lada, winning the Pharaons Rally and finishing in the top ten in the Paris-Dakar.  In 1991, they finish in the top five.

ORECA is racing on all fronts, and after 1977 with a Renault Alpine, then in 1981 with a BMW M1, returns to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 with Mazda. The team directly enters one of the three cars, actively participating in the manufacturer’s success, the first for a Japanese marque.

Not resting on its laurels, ORECA goes after new adventures. With BMW, the team competes both on circuits and on ice.  ORECA reaches the top step of the podium in both disciplines : French Supertourisme Champions in 1995, winners of the Trophée Andros in 1995/1996 and 1996/1997.

The Viper era : ORECA back at Le Mans…

Hugues de Chaunac is hungry for more challenges and begins one of the most successful chapters in ORECA’s history in 1996, with Viper.  A fabulous adventure begins for the team making its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  In the GT class, the ORECA Vipers dethrone Porsche, a reference point in the discipline.  In addition to three class championships (1998, 1999, 2000), the team takes three FIA-GT2 championships (1997, 1998, 1999). ORECA even takes over America, with two titles in American Le Mans Series, three consecutive wins at the Petit Le Mans and… an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2000 !

Before buying SNBE in 2004, the starting point for the engine department “ORECA-Magny-Cours “, ORECA launches a tall order on itself. The team enters a prototype at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, first with Reynard-Mopars, then with Dallara chassis. Against major manufacturers like Audi, the team performs well, finishing 4th overall in 2001 and 2002.  ORECA continues racing, with a foray into rallying.  With Renault, the French Championship (Simon Jean-Joseph) and the Junior World Championship JWRC (Brice Tirabassi), are added to the Var-based team’s list of achievements in 2003, followed by a European title in 2004 (Simon Jean-Joseph).

The Le Mans challenge !

ORECA has celebrated its 30 years and Hugues de Chaunac still dreams of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  After two years’ absence, the team makes its comeback in La Sarthe and just misses the podium with an Audi R8.  The team will give the German prototype its last European win, during the 1000km of Silverstone in 2005 (Allan McNish/Stéphane Ortelli).  Another American story debuts in 2006, with Saleen. Team ORECA-Matmut garners two wins in its first year (Soheil Ayari/Stéphane Ortelli), before finishing fifth in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, against Corvette and Aston Martin, and takes the Le Mans Series championship in 2007 thanks to four consecutive victories !

ORECA also renewed its interest in touring cars, in partnership with Seat Sport.  It’s a relationship with the Spanish car-maker that will last until 2009.  During this time, SEAT twice takes the Manufacturers and Drivers titles in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), one of which is with Yvan Muller, a driver well known to Hugues de Chaunac.

After conquering many challenges,  ORECA becomes a constructor at the end of  2007 with the purchase of Courage Compétition. Team ORECA-Matmut enters two Courage-ORECA LC70E prototypes, reworked and evolved by the design department, reaching the podium at the 1000km of Spa. The ORECA 01 makes its debut in 2009 and the team has a successful year : 5th at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans, behind Peugeot and Audi, the team wins the 1000km of Silverstone (Nicolas Lapierre/Olivier Panis), takes several pole positions and finishes the Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series championships in the top three.

Team ORECA-Matmut is hungry for victory and decides to give itself the best chance to reach that goal.  Parallel to the ORECA 01, 4th at the 24 Hours of Le Mans behind three Audis, the team enters a Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. Along with the fastest race lap during the twice-around the clock classic, the team is crowned Le Mans Series champions.  The collaboration with Peugeot continues in 2011, with much success. Nicolas Lapierre, Loic Duval and Olivier Panis win the 12 Hours of Sebring. Team ORECA-Matmut becomes the first French team to win the event with French drivers and a French car.  With a fifth consecutive top 5 finish at Le Mans, synonymous with first place for a privateer team,  Hugues de Chaunac’s men finish out the season with a podium at the Petit Le Mans.

On the eve of its 40 years, ORECA is now ready to turn toward new challenges, just as the company has continuously done, and just as the team has made it a habit.  In 2012, the challenge will come in the form of Skoda Racing Team in Trophée Andros, and Toyota Motorsport GmbH support at the 24 Hours of Le Mans…