The ORECA 03 LM P2 on the launch pad for Silverstone!

"The Super Silverstone Weekend combines what's best in the discipline," said Hugues deChaunac, President of the ORECA Group. "The teams running the ORECA 03 are all onthe launching pad for a season that will no doubt be exciting. With their ambitious driverlineups that include top references in endurance racing, former F1 drivers, talented youngsters and experienced gentlemen drivers,we're hoping to start the season right in FIA-WEC and ELMS. In the year that ORECA is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and at a trackwhere we have written some of our best stories, we're looking forward to having more great times in 2013."

FIA-WEC : The title is the goal for G-Drive Racing by Delta-ADR and Pecom Racing !With ten entries on the list for the 6 Hours of Silverstone, the LM P2 class will be very well represented for the English round. Thecategory will also be very open with four constructors. G-Drive Racing by Delta-ADR will be entering two ORECA 03 with Dunlop tyres,while Pecom Racing will have one entry running on Michelins.G-Drive Racing by Delta-ADR will rely on Roman Rusinov, John Martin and Mike Conway in the No. 26, while Tor Graves, AntonioPizzonia and James Walker will share the No.25. Under the ADR-Delta banner, the British team shone brightly in 2012: for their firstseason in endurance racing, they won on four occasions in FIA-WEC."As a team, we must continue to improve, but we have solid driver lineups in both cars and our goal will be the title," explains simonDowson, team manager. "Our project with G-Drive was confirmed relatively late so these last few weeks have been very busy. ORECAwas a big help in getting us prepared for the season on time and we're looking forward to racing again. Having two cars will allow us toshare information and therefore speed up the development process."

Meanwhile, Pecom Racing will entrust their single car to the same trio of drivers who finished 2012, Luis Perez Companc, Pierre Kafferand Nicolas Minassian. The three men, who won at the 6 Hours of Bahrain, are also aiming for the top place."We want to fight for the championship," admits Nicolas Minassian. "The objective is to win as many races as possible, while being bothreliable and consistent. The LM P2 class looks like it will be incredibly competitive: everyone else has made an effort to improve theirdriver squads. For us, our trio has not changed, and I think that's an advantage. We're looking at continuity with Pierre who is really fast,and Luis who made impressive progress last year. Additionally, we have the most competitive car of 2012. The ORECA 03 is a topperformer at all the tracks. It will be a major advantage on the balance of the season.”

ELMS: Four chances to defend the title…Drivers champions (Beche/Thiriet), Team champions (Thiriet by TDS Racing) and constructors champions, the ORECA 03 will bedefending the crowns in the top European Le Mans Series class. Thiriet by TDS Racing will return with Pierre Thiriet now joined byJonathan Hirschi. Bastien Brière, Thomas Dagoneau and John Hatshorne will fly the Boutsen Ginion Racing colours while Michel Freyand Patrick Niederhauser will join Race Performance. And after a convincing first season in the discipline, Murphy Prototypes will relyon Brendon Hartley, Mark Patterson et Karun Chandhok to fly the team's flag. “We are very happy to be racing with the ORECA 03again,” said Greg Murphy, team boss. “With our driver lineup, we are confident that we'll be able to battle for wins.”

The three ORECA 03 entered in the World Endurance Championship will be powered by a Nissan V8 prepared by the ORECA enginedepartment in Magny-Cours, as is the case with three of the four ORECA 03 and Alpine in the ELMS. Race Performance's entry will runa Judd V8.

The first round of the ELMS will be Saturday at 3p.m., lasting three hours, while the 6 Hours of Silverstone will be held on Sunday atnoon for the FIA-WEC.

Team release