For its 5th participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the French team, renamed Panis Racing, will have a 100% French crew.
Nico Jamin and Julien Canal, already racing with the team in the European Le Mans Series and who have just signed a podium at Spa, will be joined by Matthieu Vaxivière at the wheel of the Oreca 07 # 31 to compete in the legendary event which takes place will take place behind closed doors for health reasons.
The 25-year-old Limougeaud will take part for the 4th time in the Le Mans race, last year he finished in 3rd position, while having the fastest lap in the race.
Nico Jamin has raced in LMP2 in ELMS as well as in the last 24 Hours of Le Mans while Julien Canal is a winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in GT three times and is a three times World Champion in WEC (1 title in GT AM and 2 titles in LMP2)
Olivier Panis has assembled a top-flight crew to compete in this 88th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Olivier Panis - Team-Principal: "This 2020 edition will be really different by playing behind closed doors, but for all that we are preparing with the same determination and the same desire to win. We have shown in the past years that we are capable of great things.
We already have a hell of a line-up in ELMS with Nico Jamin and Julien Canal who, alongside Will Stevens, show all their talent on the track. The latter being engaged in WEC with Jota Sport, he cannot be part of our Le Mans adventure.
It is therefore Matthieu Vaxivière who will complete the trio for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He is a very talented racer, fast and with a great ability to adapt. We know him well, he not only rode with Tech1 Racing in Formula Renault 2.0 a few years ago, but he is also close to Julien and Nico, and there is already a bond between them. I appreciate him not only for his qualities as a driver but also for his general state of mind.
We know that this crew is very homogeneous and extremely efficient and that we can count on them to give everything. For our 5th participation, the team is preparing as much as possible to make our Oreca shine in the colors of Goodyear, Elf and all the partners who continue to support us since the creation of the team. "
Matthieu Vaxivière - Oreca 07 Driver # 31 - 24 H Mans: " It is a real pleasure to join Panis Racing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I know them very well having raced with Tech1 Racing in 2012 and 2013, I particularly appreciate the human character that reigns within the team. I have been very close to Olivier Panis for years, in short, I will be "in family"!
Added to this is the fact that my two team-mates Nico Jamin and Julien Canal are two excellent drivers, with whom I have excellent relations. The three of us are armed to compete in the best conditions in the most beautiful race in the world with our Oreca. I was on the podium last year and there is no doubt that this year we will do everything to achieve a good result and aim for victory! "
Nico Jamin - Oreca 07 driver # 31 ELMS & 24 H Mans: "I am extremely happy and excited to return to the 24 hours of Le Mans! I participated in this unprecedented competition in motorsport for the first time last year and it was by far the best experience of my career, I learned a lot there and I can't wait to go back with what I have learned.
With Panis Racing, we also have a superb crew and a very successful team by our side. Julien Canal is a driver that I really appreciate, we've been working well together since the start of the season in ELMS. He has experience and a great knowledge of Le Mans.
I am also very happy that Matthieu Vaxivière is joining us for the adventure, he also has several participations to his credit at Le Mans and a high top speed.
Everything is there to shine during this legendary race. This is going to be a very odd edition with no fans on site as they are an important driving force for all of us, but we are going to do everything to provide a great show for the viewers!"
Julien Canal - Oreca 07 driver # 31 ELMS & 24 H Mans: "My 11th participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is going very well, the team is ready, the drivers too.
With Nico, we are really in phase since the start of the season in ELMS and I have known Matthieu for many years having worked with him during our participation in the WEC World Championship. I also had a great time with him during physical training courses. In addition to being a friend, he is a very efficient pilot. So it is with impatience and great pleasure that we all welcome him to the team.
All the ingredients are there for a great race and a great result! "
