Oreca

Founded in late 1972 by Hugues de Chaunac at Magny-Cours, France, Oreca initially focused on single-seater racing. The company quickly became a dominant force in the French Formula 3 Championship, securing 11 titles and helping launch the careers of future legends such as Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite, and Jean Alesi. This early success established the company's reputation for technical excellence and operational precision. In the 1990s, Oreca shifted its strategic focus toward endurance and GT racing. During this era, the company managed high-profile programs for manufacturers like Mazda—assisting in their historic 1991 Le Mans victory—and Chrysler, where they operated the legendary Dodge Viper GTS-R program that dominated the FIA GT Championship and secured multiple class wins at Le Mans. These partnerships transitioned Oreca from a racing team into a specialized technical service provider. The company reached a major milestone in 2007 by acquiring Courage Compétition, which enabled it to become a full-scale chassis manufacturer. This led to the creation of the Oreca 01 LMP1 and a series of highly successful LMP2 cars, including the Oreca 03 and 05. The subsequent Oreca 07 chassis, introduced in 2017, became the global benchmark for the LMP2 class, achieving unprecedented commercial and competitive success across international endurance racing series. In recent years, Oreca has expanded into the hypercar era as a designated chassis supplier for the LMDh regulations, providing the 'spine' for the Acura ARX-06 and Alpine A424. The company has also deepened its partnership with Ferrari, handling the assembly and customer support for the Ferrari 296 GT3. Today, Oreca operates across multiple divisions including engine tuning, retail, and event management, while investing heavily in future technologies such as hydrogen combustion for competition.