Graff Confirms Second Oreca 07 Entry; WEC Effort in Works for 2018

Image: Graff Racing

Graff Racing will expand into a two-car LMP2 program in the European Le Mans Series, having confirmed the purchase of a second Oreca 07 Gibson for its step up into the second-tier prototype ranks. (En Français)

The French squad, led by Pascal Rauturier, announced in August a move to LMP2 and confirmed one month later its initial single-car effort would be for the ELMS, after having evaluated a FIA World Endurance Championship program.

It has since increased its commitment, with an eye of expanding to the WEC in 2018.

“Having two LMP2 cars makes sense,” Rauturier said. “We want to build for the long-term. We know the ELMS with LMP3 and the whole team is migrating to LMP2 and is strengthened and ready for this new challenge.”

LMP3 runner-up Eric Trouillet is currently the only confirmed driver for the second entry.

“Eric is ready for the move to LMP2,” Rauturier said. “He started in GT before entering CN then LMP3.. He’s well-prepared for the next level. In sporting terms, re-enlisting in LMP3 did not really make sense.”

Rauturier said they will submit only a single entry request for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with plans in place to also contest the WEC races at Spa and Nürburgring, pending confirmation from the championship.

“Running in two rounds of the FIA WEC will enable us to prepare even better for 2018, where the clear objective is to be in the WEC,” he said.

The team is undertaking a busy winter program, with two Ligier JS P3s in this weekend’s Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi, as well as a two-car entry, including a Ginetta G57-P2 set to take part in Creventic’s new 24H Proto Series launch race in Dubai next month.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John