Panis Racing with renewed hopes for the 2024 European Le Mans Series!

Panis Racing will be contesting its ninth season in the European Le Mans Series, and for the 2024 season the team has put together an ambitious programme. The #65 ORECA 07 will be entrusted to a young and talented squad comprising Arthur Leclerc, Charles Milesi and Manuel Maldonado. Backed by a partnership with Marc VDS and the ELF brand, the team will also have the operational support of TDS Racing.

A young and fast trio!

Third in the European Le Mans Series in 2021 and 2023, runner-up in 2022, Panis Racing is aiming for the top spots again in 2024. To achieve this objective and fight for victory, the French team has brought together three talented drivers. Already present last year, Manuel Maldonado is continuing the adventure with the team. The 24-year-old Venezuelan will be partnered by Charles Milesi and Arthur Leclerc. The 23-year-old Frenchman will be making his return to the ELMS, alongside his FIA World Endurance Championship program as an official Alpine driver. The Monegasque, also 23, a development driver for Scuderia Ferrari, will be making his first appearance in the discipline, in addition to his participation in Italian GT with a Ferrari 296 GT3.

"We've put together a top-quality team and I'm very pleased with it," confided Olivier Panis. "With Stéphane Dilouya, we've always set out to win and I'm convinced that we have the right drivers in Manuel, Charles and Arthur. They are talented, fast and young. That's an important point for me; I want to have confidence in the youngsters and give them the opportunity to shine. They each have different experiences and they will complement each other. I'm really looking forward to seeing them on track together! I'd also like to thank Marc VDS, who will be one of our main partners and who has enabled us to put this trio together.

What the drivers have to say

Manuel Maldonado: "I'm pleased to be returning to the ELMS in the LMP2 class with Panis Racing. We will have all we need to be competitive and in a fantastic position to fight for the championship with my new teammates Charles and Arthur.  Following a successful season with Panis Racing in 2023, I'm prepared to set the bar higher this year; our goal is to win the championship."

Charles Milesi: "I'm very happy to be part of this challenge with Panis Racing and to take part in the ELMS in its entirety. After several appearances in 2020 and 2021, this will be the first time for me in the whole championship. We have a very strong team and I can't wait for the first race.”

Arthur Leclerc: "I'm delighted to be joining Panis Racing for the ELMS. I'm unfamiliar with the LMP2 category and I can't wait to start working, to discover both the team and the car, and to succeed in performing well. The aim is to win the championship, but right now I'm concentrating on getting to know the discipline and familiarizing myself with this new environment, so that I can be as effective as possible as quickly as possible. Manuel and Charles already have a great deal of experience of LMP2 and it's great to be able to count on two drivers who have such a thorough knowledge of the category.”

Partnership with Marc VDS and ELF

Marc VDS, a long-standing competitor with a passion for motor sports and, more specifically, endurance racing, will be a partner in this adventure. The #65 ORECA 07 will carry its colours, alongside loyal and renowned partners such as ELF, which has been a partner of Panis Racing for the past seven years. The car's livery will be presented in the next few days, prior to the start of the ELMS.

"I'm extremely happy to be back in motorsport with Boutsen VDS in GT, but knowing that I'll be taking part in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours with my friend Olivier Panis and his team is an immeasurable pleasure," says Marc van der Straten.

Technical support from TDS Racing

On the technical front, after many years of successful collaboration with Tech1 Racing, including a victory at Monza and two podium finishes in the Le Mans 24 Hours, Panis Racing will draw on the experience of TDS Racing, which will provide operational support. The Hérault-based outfit is one of the benchmarks in the LMP2 category, with two ELMS championship titles, a victory in the FIA WEC LMP2 Pro/Am Trophy and four class podiums at Le Mans.

"We've shared a wonderful adventure with Tech1 Racing, Sarah and Simon Abadie," add Olivier Panis and Stéphane Dilouya. "We've had some great moments, with good results in the ELMS and podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We are proud of what we have achieved together, always with passion and ambition. It will go down as an important and unique period in the team's history. We would like to extend our warmest thanks to Sarah and Simon for everything that has been achieved.

"By teaming up with Olivier Panis and Stéphane Dilouya for 8 years, my brother Simon and I put all the expertise and know-how of Tech1 Racing at the service of the team” says Sarah Abadie. “The exponential budget constraints of the ELMS championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans have forced us to withdraw from the endurance adventure. We are proud of the fine results we have achieved, and it is with this feeling that we turn the page.”

"This is a new step for TDS Racing and we are delighted to be embarking on this new chapter with Olivier and the Panis Racing team, which boasts some quality members," says Xavier Combet. "We will be contributing our expertise to this ambitious project. All the pieces of the jigsaw are in place to achieve great things in the LMP2 Pro category, alongside our LMP2 Pro-Am programs in ELMS and IMSA.

In addition to the European Le Mans Series, Panis Racing will also take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Details of this participation will be revealed in the coming weeks.