OAK Racing 2010 driver line-up

Jean-Francois Yvon returns to OAK Racing's Le Mans 24 Hours driver line-up

OAK Racing has finalised its driver line-up for the Le Mans 24 Hours by confirming that former class winner Jean-Francois Yvon will return to the team for the world's most famous motor race.

The experienced Yvon will share the team's #24 Pescarolo-Judd with Jacques Nicolet and Richard Hein as the trio reunite for the first time since finishing on the LMP2-class podium at La Sarthe last year.

The Le Mans-based driver, who currently races in the popular European V de V Championship for sportscar prototypes, already boasts ten Le Mans 24 Hours appearances on his racing CV and in 2009 was the only one of the 365 drivers entered in the race to have competed at the event in the days prior to there being chicanes on the Mulsanne Straight! His finest hour at the race came in 1984 when he won Class B in a BMW M1 shared with countrymen Philippe Dagoreau and Pierre de Thoisy.

Last year Yvon helped OAK Racing to its second consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours class podium when he, Nicolet and Hein drove faultlessly to finish third in LMP2, a feat that the team hopes to improve on in 2010.

Francois Sicard, Team Manager, OAK Racing: "Jean-Francois is a vastly experienced driver with 2010 being his 11th appearance at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Last year he played an integral part in the #24 car's run to the podium. His race pace was good, but he was also easy on the machinery which is crucially important during such a demanding event.

"Jean-Francois has an excellent relationship with Richard and Jacques and we're delighted that he will be rejoining the team this year as we aim to reach our goal of getting both cars on the LMP2 podium, with one on the top step!"

Jacques Nicolet, Team Owner & Driver, OAK Racing: "I am very happy that we have managed to retain the same driver line-up in the #24 car after our podium finish at Le Mans in 2009. To me, the choice of drivers was obvious. Last year it was an absolute pleasure to share the whole Le Mans experience with Richard and Jean-Francois, both of whom I regard as friends as well as team-mates. This year we want to do even better."

Jean-Francois Yvon: "I am delighted to have been chosen by OAK Racing to race at the Le Mans 24 Hours again. It is a sign of their confidence in me after our podium in 2009. OAK Racing is an excellent team with great energy and a fantastic atmosphere. With the developments made to the 2010 cars I think we will be able to achieve another very good result like the two podiums in two races the team has scored this season in the Le Mans Series. We will certainly do our best and I personally will give everything to make it happen."

The team will shortly confirm the name of the driver who will be joining Matthieu Lahaye and Guillaume Moreau in the #35 car in a separate press release.

-source: oak racing