Team Graff moves up to LMP2 with ORECA

This LM P2 program marks the beginning of a new chapter in the story of Graff. It also completes the prototype program established by the team over these last couple of years, through its commitment in CN and LM P3.

LM P2, a new challenge !
This LM P2 challenge arrives just at the right moment. It is a great development that Team Manager Pascal Rauturier wished to offer to Graff: “After a good beginning of season in LM P3 and considering the trust and support from our drivers and partners, which I really want to thank, it seemed logical to have a LMP2 program in 2017. The LM P2 class has always been a dream for us, it’s a very  professional championship with strong competition. The circuits are varied and very interesting. At the moment, we haven’t decided yet which championship we will take part in.We already have international drivers interested in participating in the American round of the FIA WEC. Ideally we, team and drivers, would love to be at the start of the 24 hours of Le Mans in 2017 for which we are going to submit an entry application.”
Graff wishes to commit to this discipline in the long term, over the next four years. This new involvement in LM P2 will require very detailed work as well as important human, technical and material investments. Moving up to the “queen category” is an important step for the company. Hoping to meet its objectives and be competitive from the first races, the team has given itself all  winter to prepare the arrival of this new car with support and expertise from ORECA. For sure, the squad wants to be one of the best endurance teams.

A new regulation
The new 2017 regulation is particularly interesting. That convinced Graff to enter in LM P2 next season.It is very similar to the LM P3 class which the team is particularly familiar with as it is participating in the European Le Mans Series and VdeV Endurance Series this year. These new regulations organized by the ACO and FIA allow the team to choose its chassis while the engine remains unique.

ORECA in LM P2, OnRoak in LM P3 and CN

After three years collaborating with OnRoak – Graff first purchased two JS 53 then three LM P3 with the first car ordered before it was even built – today, the team wishes to develop its knowledge by acquiring the last LM P2 designed by ORECA. A choice which was not easy because none of the two cars had still made a lap to this day. Team manager Pascal Rauturier explains: “Once we had made our decision to move up to LM P2 and to participate in the 24 hours of le Mans in 2017, we contacted two French manufacturers: OnRoak and ORECA. After several meetings and interviews, we concluded that both of them had a quality service and high-performance cars to offer while  focusing on different aspects. The collaboration with Ligier is going very well. We had the LM P3 before anybody else in the world. That’s what allowed us to be competitive this season. That’s also why we opted for the ORECA 07: we shall have the car early enough to be able to discover it  properly."

A busy end of season for Graff
The objective for Graff will be to end the season well because the team is actually 4th of the ELMS and leader of VdeV championship in the LM P3 category. Finally, Graff will participate in the 12 hours of Abu Dhabi in December with two LM P3.