Muscle Milk Pickett Racing chooses the ORECA 03

Within the framework of its international expansion, ORECA’s presence in the United States has been established through its race car constructor activity. For 2014, two-time American Le Mans Series champions, and defending title holders, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing will enter one ORECA 03 LM P2 in the new top endurance racing series of North America, the United SportsCar Championship. Greg Pickett’s team will race in the top category of the series with a prototype designed in the workshops of ORECA ; a car that has won on 18 occasions since its debut in competition in 2011. A top reference in the USA, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing will be the first team to campaign the ORECA 03 LM P2 full time in America.

Muscle Milk Pickett Racing : 20 wins and 2 titles in ALMS ! Based in Indianapolis, Pickett Racing has raced in endurance since the 2007 season, with a participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2008. Since then, the team has attained many milestones including 20 overall wins since 2010 and two consecutive titles with drivers Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf. Composed of experienced team members coming mostly from IndyCar, the Greg Pickett led team will be starting a new chapter in 2014. With the birth of the United SportsCar Championship, a choice of new car was necessary and Muscle Milk Pickett Racing opted for the ORECA 03 LM P2. Powered by a Nissan V8, the prototype will run in the top class, comprised of both LM P2 and Daytona Prototype entries. The ORECA 03 currently has 18 wins in the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series, including 10 in 14 races in 2013.

Hugues de Chaunac : "A new exciting challenge !" “It was one of our priorities to have an ORECA 03 LM P2 on the grid of the new American endurance championship and we are thrilled that it’s the two-time ALMS champs, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing, who are the first to announce their choice” explains Hugues de Chaunac, President of ORECA. “Greg Pickett’s team has shown both their level of performance and their impressive level of professionalism in recent years ; it’s an honor and a responsibility to entrust one of our prototypes to a top team such as theirs. With Muscle Milk Pickett Racing, to whom we will be offering our technical support, we are getting ready to take on a new exciting challenge. The United States is a special place for us and the USCC represents a thrilling new chapter. Our goal is clear : win the classics like Daytona, Sebring and Petit Le Mans as a constructor. We are working to have other ORECA 03 entries on track in North America, alongside the numerous ORECA-FLM09 cars already present in Prototype Challenge. I can’t wait to see our prototypes race at Daytona, 14 years after our overall victory with the Viper. It’s a new step in the Group’s development in the USA.”

Greg Pickett : “I can’t wait to see Lucas and Klaus behind the wheel of our new ORECA 03/Nissan prototype” “This is an exciting time for us at Muscle Milk Pickett Racing as we welcome ORECA as one of our new partners” says Greg Pickett, Team Owner, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing. “After winning the last two P1 Championships in the American Le Mans Series, it was important for us to choose partners for our new adventure into the Prototype Class of the TUDOR Championship, that can help us continue, and build on, the success we’ve known so far. I very much appreciate the input and guidance I received from our two championship drivers Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf who were instrumental in helping us make this important decision. I can’t wait to see them behind the wheel of our new ORECA 03/Nissan prototype. “Hugues de Chaunac shares the same passion for racing in America that I do and that’s something very important to us. When you have the same focus, commitment and passion, only good can come of it. With ORECA’s deep roots in motorsports, particularly sports car racing, and proven achievements, it made for an easy decision. It will be a fun and challenging season ahead and we’re committed to working closely with our partner ORECA to make it as successful as possible.”

The opening round of the Tudor United SportsCar Championship will be the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona (January 23-26).

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