KCMG Confirms Purchase of First Oreca 05

KCMG will become the first team to campaign the new Oreca 05 in the FIA World Endurance Championship, with the Hong Kong-based squad confirming Thursday the purchase of the LMP2 contender for this year.

The Paul Ip-owned team, which scored three class victories in the FIA WEC, will make the switch from an Oreca 03R Nissan, which could still be used for select rounds as a second car.

“Our partnership with Oreca in the World Endurance Championship has brought outstanding results in 2014 and we are pleased to extend our collaboration with Mr. Hugues de Chaunac’s amazing team this year,” Ip said.

“Evidently, the Oreca 03R is a race-winning machine and has led our team to three laudable victories in our first full season competing in the World Championship.

“2015 marks our third year in endurance racing and with our recent acquisition of the new ORECA 05, we are confident that our forthcoming LMP2 campaign will yield better results! We are looking forward to our first shakedown of the new LMP2 in March.”

Drivers for the program have yet to be announced although it’s understood to again consist of a similar roster as the team’s 2014 lineup of Alexandre Imperatori, Richard Bradley and Matt Howson.

“KCMG joined the ORECA stable during last year’s off-season and we quickly built an excellent working relationship,” said ORECA Group President Hugues de Chaunac. “KCMG is a multi-faceted team as shown by its many racing programs, and this paid off in endurance racing.

“The team was one of the best performing in the FIA World Endurance Championship last year and had a legitimate chance at the title.

“We are happy with the confidence that KCMG has shown and maintained in us. They are a high-quality outfit and very professional. KCMG’s choice confirms our international scale in our activities as a constructor.”

KCMG and Thiriet by TDS Racing are two of the four confirmed Oreca 05 customers thus far.

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