Delage returns to Le Mans after 73 years to compete in the 100th edition of Le Mans, gracing the skin of IDEC’s ORECA-Gibson 07 LMP2. The company teams up with IDEC Sport for its reunion with the famous race; Let us recall that the historic French carmaker closed its doors in 1953 and was revived in 2019. This comes a few years after the brand introduced a V12 hybrid hypercar called the Delage D12 in 2020, which aims to be its cornerstone. Renaissance of the company.
Driven by Paul-Loup Chatin, Paul Lafargue and Laurent Hoare, the LMP2 car will wear a historic blue livery, complete with the Delage logo front and centre, and French flag-inspired stripes running the length of the vehicle. The marque made six Le Mans appearances during its lifetime, including a class win in 1937. The last appearance was in 1950, meaning this year’s entry will come 73 years after the marque stopped running.
“This is a great opportunity to continue rebuilding the brand’s reputation internationally, I would like to thank the entire Idec Sport team for giving me this opportunity. The technical collaboration between our teams will enable us to race may feel optimistic before 2017, as there is a lot of excitement, as shown by our first joint tests at the Le Castellet circuit. IDEC Sport, which has raced six times at Le Mans since 2017, such a well-known brand is equally excited at the opportunity to bring success to
Team founder Patrice Lafargue said: “The name means a lot to automotive fans, it is part of the history of La Sarthe. We are proud that DeLuge recognized our capabilities and partnered with us. The association goes beyond aesthetics. Seems unlikely, but even so, this will change if it continues into the future as what Deluge has achieved with the D12 is remarkable, mainly because it is legal in the USA, which is becoming increasingly difficult.
The supercar inspired by fighter jets and F1 cars, which cost more than $2.3 million on the other side of the Atlantic, features a 1+1 seating arrangement that keeps the driver focused, just like another low-volume hypercar, the GMA T.50 Renowned engineer Gordon Murray. The hybrid system in the car consists of a 7.6-litre naturally aspirated V12 that is a work of art, so both teams have the potential to achieve something remarkable if they work together in the future.
Delage occasionally wants to take his D12 to Green Hell to try to break the record, but in that sense, competition between supercar manufacturers is always at its maximum. Let’s hope the future brings them a solid association so that once again someone dares to take the world of competition on the road, even if it’s at stratospheric prices.
