Written by Hugh Waring
Image: IDEC Sport Racing
In a thrilling announcement for motorsport enthusiasts, legendary French marque Delage is set to be celebrated at the highly anticipated 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. IDEC Sport, a prominent motorsport team, will showcase Delage's historic colours on their LMP2 ORECA race car.
Delage, which enjoyed great success in motorsports during the 1920s and 1930s, participated in the prestigious Le Mans race six times between 1923 and 1950. Their remarkable achievements include a class victory in the 3L category in 1937, solidifying their place in racing history.
The revival of Delage as a road-going hypercar builder in 2019 has captured the attention of automotive enthusiasts worldwide. Laurent Tapie, the re-founder and CEO of Delage, expressed his excitement about the opportunity to return to Le Mans, stating, "For Delage, the opportunity to return to Le Mans is a fantastic opportunity to continue rebuilding the brand's reputation internationally." Tapie also extended his gratitude to the IDEC Sport team for making this partnership possible.
The collaboration between Delage and IDEC Sport holds great promise, as both teams have already showcased their skills and enthusiasm during joint testing at Le Castellet. The technical cooperation between the two entities is expected to enhance their performance in the race.
Since its revival, Delage has introduced the impressive D12 hypercar, often described as a "street-legal F1 car." The D12, priced at $2.3 million, made its dynamic debut at the renowned Goodwood Festival of Speed last year. The vehicle, featuring a fighter-jet style tandem configuration with two central seats, is equipped with a 7.6 L naturally aspirated V12 engine coupled with an electric engine. The powertrain produces 1,100 horsepower in the "GT" version and 1,010 horsepower in the lighter "Club" version.
Images: Motorsport.com
The press was treated to a special unveiling event in Paris, where IDEC Sport's LMP2 car and the Delage D12, both adorned in the brand's iconic colours, took centre stage. The event served as a prelude to the highly anticipated 100th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The return of the Delage name to Le Mans through the partnership with IDEC Sport marks a significant milestone in the history of the historic French marque. Delage, known for its victory at the 1914 Indianapolis 500, last participated in the Le Mans 24 Hours race 73 years ago in 1950. The IDEC ORECA-Gibson 07 LMP2 car, driven by Paul-Loup Chatin, Paul Lafargue, and Laurents Horr, will proudly display Delage's logo in a striking French racing blue livery.
Delage Automobiles boss Laurent Tapie emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, "This name means great things to car fans, and there is a real story in La Sarthe. We are proud that Delage recognizes our skills."
Patrice Lafargue, founder of the IDEC Sport team, expressed his happiness with the partnership, "IDEC Sport is happy to enter into this partnership with Delage. This name means great things to car fans, and there is a real story in La Sarthe. We are proud that Delage recognises our skills."
The 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans is set to captivate racing fans with the storied Delage marque making a remarkable comeback, showcasing its rich heritage and reestablishing its presence on the international stage. As the countdown to the race begins, expectations are running high, and the Delage-IDEC Sport partnership has undoubtedly added an extra layer of excitement to this prestigious event.
Comments