Exclusive interview with Hugues de Chaunac, CEO of Oreca

The chassis of the Acura, which is produced in the United States and has performed miracles at the Daytona 24 Hours, is of your design at Oreca. For Alpine, whose tests have just taken place, does this represent an even more important hope before facing fierce competition?

Hugues de Chaunac: « In any case, the first kilometers reassured us a lot. We saw that the foundation was very solid and the engine placement was well done. Their power unit also performed satisfactorily. So, of course, this gives us great hopes for next season, even though we know there is still a lot of work to be done on the car. But everything is looking good. »

In 2021, the former boss of Alpine, Laurent Rossi, announced the commitment of the brand to LMDh and your collaboration. Was this Alpine-Oreca partnership evident, or were there long preliminary discussions?

H. D. C. : « There are always discussions beforehand, even if the connections seem obvious. Alpine has explored other chassis suppliers (Multimatic, Dallara, and Ligier). Now, Oreca has achieved a high level of efficiency and technical expertise, and the results worldwide prove it today. Alpine quickly decided to come to us. And everything was heading in that direction, after all: engineers from Oreca and Alpine know each other very well. And, with this, we have close ties to Signatech, which is the team operating the LMP2 project. Once the three main pieces of the puzzle were put together, the connections were made. »

In the case of Hypercars, does the design of a chassis differ depending on, for example, the engines?

Hugues de Chaunac: « Yes, to the extent that the installation of an engine in a chassis depends entirely on whether it is a 6 or 8 cylinder. There are direct consequences, particularly on cooling, which will differ, as will the exhaust system. We have to make a series of modifications so that our design can align well with the expectations and know-how of the manufacturer. »

Oreca is a team that has long collaborated with Peugeot, on the 908, and you came close to victory at Le Mans in 2011, with your own team. One can imagine that your ambitions are to write a great chapter in your history at the 24 Hours, with such important partners.

H. D. C. : « Le Mans has always been a goal for us. It is a magnificent race and we have written many lines on our record books there, whether it be with Peugeot, Mazda, or even, in support, with Toyota. Today, we are exclusively in LMP2, which logically leads us to victory. But success in the overall classification is a whole different story. Achieving it in partnership with a French manufacturer like Alpine is an enticing goal. »

If we call on your memories, you who founded Oreca in 1972: what is, to this day, your most beautiful memory of the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

H. D. C. : « It’s difficult to answer that because there are so many great memories! But one of the greatest was undoubtedly the victory we achieved with Mazda and the 787B in 1991, as it was completely unexpected at the time. I also have a grandiose memory of our first GT victory with the Viper, the first one with Toyota in 2017… and also in 2015, with our first success in LMP2. It was actually the first victory for a car completely designed by Oreca. All in all, the first victories are the most beautiful, especially in the overall ranking. »

During your history with Oreca, which driver impressed you the most?

H. D. C. : « It’s always difficult to give an answer to that, since we have seen a lot of great drivers come and go. We tend to think more about modern drivers rather than legends at the moment. But if I had to mention one, I would of course think of Jacky Ickx, even though he never drove for Oreca. As for those who have joined us, I would say Nicolas Lapierre and Sébastien Buémi, because of everything they have achieved in endurance racing and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. »

You, who have held the position of technical advisor at Mazda or Toyota, do you have any intention of reviving an Oreca team, for example with a private Toyota?

H.D.C.: « This is not a short or medium-term goal, as we are currently committed to the idea of working well with our partners, especially with Alpine: our main priority is to help them win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But nothing is set in stone and there is nothing to say that we won’t come back with our own team one day. »

As one of your chassis clients, is Acura considering coming to Le Mans in the coming years?

H. D. C. : « If it happens, it won’t be before 2025 or even 2026: the decisions have to come from Honda headquarters in Japan. It’s not on their agenda at all, as far as I know. »

Formula 1? No regrets!

Oreca has also had a great presence in single-seater racing, especially in F3. But in Formula 1, what have been the biggest dreams of your organization in the premier category of motorsport?

H. D. C. : « I don’t think I’ve ever had any particular dreams about Formula 1. I have rather witnessed fantastic eras in the sport. When Alain Prost was there, along with Pironi, Tambay, Laffite… there was a huge enthusiasm for French drivers. Today, the dominance of Red Bull catches my attention – in a positive way of course – but I follow it without ever being addicted to the sport. When we were involved in F3, it allowed us to help young drivers start and make their way into F1. Since then, we have rather turned our attention to endurance racing. »

What motivated this choice of endurance racing over Formula 1?

H. D. C. : « Very early on, I knew that I would be more comfortable in the world of endurance racing rather than Formula 1. It’s a matter of attraction and I fit in well there. As proof, today we are a manufacturer of endurance cars. The 24 Hours, due to their prestige, have always attracted me, of course. »

It can be assumed that there is no regret for not having had an Oreca team in Formula 1.

H. D. C. : « No, no regrets: at Oreca, we have never had a strong inclination towards Formula 1, where there is a lot of politics. Politics, even today, takes precedence over sports. Those values do not align with us, which is why we have chosen the path of endurance racing more willingly. »

Before all this, how did you fall in love with motorsports and how was Oreca born?

H. D. C. : « It’s a passion I had when I was quite young. I was lucky enough to turn my passion into a profession, after having been a driver myself. As for Oreca, the organization was born when I wanted to create a racing team. I dove into it and the results came very quickly. That’s how it all started, and the story continued. »

Being someone involved in the automotive industry for many years, how do you think the industry and even racing will evolve in the years to come, especially in terms of energies?

H. D. C. : « Motorsport still has a bright future ahead of it, that’s for sure. But we must not close ourselves off to the search for new technologies. Truth be told, I am not a big supporter, nor even a fan, of electric cars. But I think hydrogen will be a good solution for future engines. Within the next four years, the focus should be on that. The synthetic fuels currently being used are a first step. But it is only a transition at the moment. »

With all this history, these accolades, and this passion, one can imagine Oreca ready to challenge the competition in the Hypercar category in the WEC championship in 2024…

H. D. C. : « I think that this second year of the Hypercar will be the one where everyone brings their weapons. I believe there will be great battles between many manufacturers. And we, with Alpine, intend to triumph and compete at the top as soon as possible. I firmly believe in it anyway. »