The ŠKODA Racing team joins forces with ORECA

ŠKODA France has renewed its entry for the Andros Trophy for another two years. The kick-off will take place in two months (3-4 December) with two new cars built by ORECA, which will also look after their on-track management.

ŠKODA, which has won the manufacturers’ title three years running since its first participation in the Andros Trophy in the winter of 2008-2009, has decided to take up new challenges in the French Ice Racing Championship. It has chosen ORECA to build brand-new cars, and the French company will also look after the on-track management during the 2011-2012/2012-2013 seasons. This 2-year involvement is marked by the setting up of the ŠKODA Racing Team, which will make its debut on 3^rd December on the Val Thorens track.

The aim of the innovative Fabia Ice, whose construction will be completed by the end of October, is to achieve the same success as the previous models, which have racked up 18 victories since ŠKODA France’s debut in the championship three years ago (2008). ORECA was finally chosen, “because they are top-class professionals who have proved themselves in the area of motor sport engineering,” stated Luc Chausson, the ŠKODA France Director after Olivier Panis, the ideal interface between the two groups, made the presentations. “As soon as ŠKODA decided to build new cars, Olivier introduced them to us,” confirmed Hugues de Chaunac, the ORECA President. “No one knows the technical capabilities of our engineering team better than he does.”

The engineers are currently working on the construction of two new cars in the Signes factory under the supervision of David Floury, the ORECA technical director. This winter, two ŠKODA Fabias will be entered in the Andros Trophy and entrusted to four drivers whose names will soon be announced. ORECA’s Magny-Cours workshops, the technical  partner of the ŠKODA Motorsport team, the 2010 IRC Champion and winner of several rallies this season, will also prepare the engines.

QUOTES :

Luc CHAUSSON (Director ŠKODA France):

“The Andros Trophy embodies the spirit of conquest and sportsmanship that obviously have a big impact on the make. It’s an ideal platform for on-going exchanges with our clients and our distribution network.

We can’t imagine being at the start of a motor race in which a forest of barriers prevents the spectators from getting near our cars.

“Besides this idea of proximity to which we’re very attached, we’d also like to continue to take advantage of the highly- motivated group of experienced drivers we created last year.”

Hugues de CHAUNAC (President of ORECA*):

“It’s a challenge for ŠKODA, and ORECA’s forte is to take up challenges. We were made for each other.

I’d like to insist on two aspects that we found particularly attractive. We’re extremely flattered by the fact that a motor car manufacturer like ŠKODA has entrusted our company with the construction, development and running of its racing cars derived from one of its best-sellers. There was also ŠKODA France’s incredible enthusiasm, which we immediately felt in our first meeting with Cédric Journel – an enthusiasm that was particularly infectious!”

*ORganization Et Course Automobile