The ACO chooses a winner each year for the ‘Spirit of Le Mans’ Trophy, an award made to an individual who has displayed that ethereal quality that all competitors and fans can immediately recognize.
The award this year, in the 90th anniversary of the great race has been made to Oreca’s Hugues de Chaunac, the popular team boss and constructor celebrating his own anniversary this year – Oreca marking 40 years in business in 2013.
“ It’s a great honor and proud moment to receive the Spirit of Le Mans trophy » said Hugues. “I’m especially happy because 2013 is a very special year : the 90 years of the Le Mans 24 Hours and the 40 years of ORECA.
“ During my first visit to Le Mans, as a spectator during the Matra years, I dreamed of being a part of this legendary race. Forty years later I can say that I realized that dream : the path that ORECA has taken has often been linked to Le Mans, and here it is again today.
“ Whether it be working with big manufacturers like Mazda, Chrysler, and today Toyota, or Team ORECA, with the Audi R8, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP and ORECA 01, or finally as a constructor with the ORECA 03 LM P2, I have experienced some very special times at Le Mans, and tough moments too. But I know one thing : I can’t miss this event, I’ve become an addict. I’m thrilled to join the many big names that have been honored by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.”
ORECA’s four decades of racing history is tightly linked to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Debuting in 1977 with Renault, ORECA now has 18 participations at La Sarthe, both alongside the biggest brands and as a constructor in its own right in both LMP1 and LMP2.
Again this year, ORECA will be on hand as a partner with TOYOTA Racing to provide operational support to run two TS030 HYBRID cars. A major player in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, ORECA has one overall victory with Mazda (1991), three wins in GT with the Chrysler Viper (1998, 1999, 2000), as well as the lap record in the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP (2010) and six top 5 finishes overall in its last nine participations.
ORECA is also entered again as a constructor, with eight chassis (seven ORECA 03 and one Alpine A450), and oversees the engine preparation for nine competitors in LM P2.
Hugues de Chaunac was born in Baden Baden in Germany on 30th April 1946. He began his career as a mathematics teacher in the Parisian region.
This was the time when he made his racing debut in the R8 Gordini Cup. After three top-3 finishes he entered for the Formula Renault Championship with the Bardahl team in 1970-71. However, he decided to follow another path, became a team manager and founded the ORECA (ORganisation, Exploitation Competition Automobile) squad. ORECA started out in single-seater racing and clinched its first title in the F2 European Championship in 1975. After that the team achieved many successes in France and in Europe, and also took up several challenges like Off-Road rallies, supertouring and ice racing winning numerous international titles.
De Chaunac has moved on from being a team boss to becoming the president of a company that enjoys international renown.The ORECA Group with 200 staff consists of four departments: a racing team, a technology department that includes a research and development sector, constructor and engine tuner as well as a multi-facetted boutique and an agency which organizes events. This year the passion-driven Motorsport Company will celebrate its 40th anniversary. ORECA has already won the Daytona 24 hours and the Sebring 12 Hours so de Chaunac is dreaming of one thing – celebrating this anniversary with Toyota with an outright victory or one in LM P2 as a constructor!
He’s a man passionate about the sport, and here’s proof positive with several shots from David Lord (above) during the final laps of the 2011 12 Hours of Sebring revealing the emotions involved in getting the team’s Peugeot 908 HDI FAP home to win.
