ORECA tests Formula Le Mans drivers

Date published : 30 Nov 2009 - 10:44:50

ORECA gave a prize test to the four leading Formula Le Mans drivers in its LMP1 prototype at Paul Ricard last week.Nico Verdonck, Gavin Cronje, Mathias Beche and Valle Makela, who finished first to fourth in the first season of the new LMS feeder category this year, sampled the team's AIM-powered Courage ORECA Le Mans contender over two days at the French circuit.Formula Le Mans champion Verdonck said: "It was a very positive day. The ORECA is much quicker than the FLM car but its reactions are not all that different, which makes things easier when moving up to an LMP1."My aim was to progress throughout the day and I think I fulfilled it. I set my quickest time on my last lap. This test really boosts my motivation to try to move up to the LMP1 category - that would be the ultimate reward."ORECA engineer Jean-Philippe Pelaprat added: "They're a group of serious young drivers and all got through the test very well."Nicolas Lapierre helped them find their marks on the circuit and after each run we analysed their data together to help them progress."The French ORECA team runs and builds the cars for the Formula Le Mans series, which will become a class within the Le Mans Series from 2010.