Panis Racing’s ninth season in the European Le Mans Series will see significant changes for the team on and off track.
Whist 2023 driver Manuel Maldonado returns, he’ll be joined by two new drivers for the team as Alpine factory Hypercar driver Charles Milesi and Arthur Leclerc, the 23 year old Monegasque a development driver for Scuderia Ferrari where his elder brother Charles races. Leclerc will be making his LMP2 debut in 2024 alongside a programme in Italian GT with a Ferrari 296 GT3.
The effort sees backing from Marc VDS and ELF with a further big change seeing the team supported by TDS Racing as Tech1 Racing, Sarah and Simon Abadie take a step back after a recent ring history that has seen the squad taking significant results in the ELMS and at Le Mans.
“We’ve put together a top-quality team and I’m very pleased with it,” said Olivier Panis. “With Stéphane Dilouya, we’ve always set out to win and I’m convinced that we have the right drivers in Manuel, Charles, and Arthur. They are talented, fast and young. That’s an important point for me; I want to have confidence in the youngsters and give them the opportunity to shine. They each have different experiences and they will complement each other. I’m really looking forward to seeing them on track together! I’d also like to thank Marc VDS, who will be one of our main partners and who has enabled us to put this trio together.
Manuel Maldonado: “I’m pleased to be returning to the ELMS in the LMP2 class with Panis Racing. We will have all we need to be competitive and in a fantastic position to fight for the championship with my new teammates Charles and Arthur. Following a successful season with Panis Racing in 2023, I’m prepared to set the bar higher this year; our goal is to win the championship.”
Charles Milesi: “I’m very happy to be part of this challenge with Panis Racing and to take part in the ELMS in its entirety. After several appearances in 2020 and 2021, this will be the first time for me in the whole championship. We have a very strong team and I can’t wait for the first race.”
Arthur Leclerc: “I’m delighted to be joining Panis Racing for the ELMS. I’m unfamiliar with the LMP2 category and I can’t wait to start working, to discover both the team and the car, and to succeed in performing well. The aim is to win the championship, but right now I’m concentrating on getting to know the discipline and familiarizing myself with this new environment so that I can be as effective as possible as quickly as possible. Manuel and Charles already have a great deal of experience of LMP2 and it’s great to be able to count on two drivers who have such a thorough knowledge of the category.”
Partnership with Marc VDS and ELF
Marc VDS, a long-standing competitor with a passion for motorsports and, more specifically, endurance racing, will be a partner in this adventure. The #65 ORECA 07 will carry its colours, alongside loyal and renowned partners such as ELF, which has been a partner of Panis Racing for the past seven years.
The car’s livery will be presented in the next few days.
“I’m extremely happy to be back in motorsport with Boutsen VDS in GT, but knowing that I’ll be taking part in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours with my friend Olivier Panis and his team is an immeasurable pleasure,” says Marc van der Straten.
Technical support from TDS Racing
After many years of successful collaboration with Tech1 Racing, including a victory at Monza and two podium finishes in the Le Mans 24 Hours, Panis Racing switch to TDS Racing as Tech1 take a step away. TDS need little introduction in the category with a racing cv that includes two ELMS championship titles, a victory in the FIA WEC LMP2 Pro/Am Trophy and four class podiums at Le Mans.
“We’ve shared a wonderful adventure with Tech1 Racing, Sarah and Simon Abadie,” add Olivier Panis and Stéphane Dilouya. “We’ve had some great moments, with good results in the ELMS and podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We are proud of what we have achieved together, always with passion and ambition. It will go down as an important and unique period in the team’s history. We would like to extend our warmest thanks to Sarah and Simon for everything that has been achieved.
“By teaming up with Olivier Panis and Stéphane Dilouya for 8 years, my brother Simon and I put all the expertise and know-how of Tech1 Racing at the service of the team” says Sarah Abadie. “The exponential budget constraints of the ELMS championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans have forced us to withdraw from the endurance adventure. We are proud of the fine results we have achieved, and it is with this feeling that we turn the page.”
“This is a new step for TDS Racing and we are delighted to be embarking on this new chapter with Olivier and the Panis Racing team, which boasts some quality members,” says Xavier Combet. “We will be contributing our expertise to this ambitious project. All the pieces of the jigsaw are in place to achieve great things in the LMP2 Pro category, alongside our LMP2 Pro-Am programs in ELMS and IMSA.
In addition to the European Le Mans Series, Panis Racing will also take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, again with TDS support.
