ORECA gives green light to 2015 LMP2 project

The French motorsport organisation revealed in October that work had started on a successor to its existing 03 P2 and has now announced that the car, to be known as the ORECA 05, will be up and running next year in time for deliveries to customers before the end of 2014.

ORECA boss Hugues de Chaunac explained that the time was right to introduce a replacement for the 03, which was introduced at the start of the cost-capped LMP2 formula in 2011, for customers in the World Endurance Championship, the United SportsCar Championship and the Le Mans series in Europe and Asia.

"Building a coupe is a natural evolution for ORECA after running closed cars such as the Peugeot [in 2010-11] and our experience in developing the new Rebellion LMP1 for next year," he said.

"LMP2 will probably move more towards closed cars, so it is time to do such a car."

ORECA technical director David Floury added that there was a desire "to take the next big step by offering a car that's even more reliable and with greater performance".

The ORECA 05 monocoque will be built to the 2014 LMP1 chassis rules.

ORECA will also offer an update kit, as allowed under the cost-capped rules after three years, for 2014 to create the 03R.

"Even if we still have a winning car, which won six of the eight races in the WEC this year, we are preparing a small evolution for next season that respects the budgets of our teams," de Chaunac explained.

ORECA TYPE NUMBERS EXPLAINED
01 - Open-top LMP1 based on Courage LC70 raced in 2009-11
02 - Still-born Peugeot-engined LMP1 coupe conceived for 2011
03 - Existing P2 based on the 01 and introduced in 2011
04 - Group CN project currently on back-burner
05 - All-new P2 coupe for 2015