On the occasion of the 100th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, whose broadcasting will break all records, the legendary French brand Delage, winner of the 1937 edition in the 3L category, will be among the participants in the legendary race in Sarthe, in association with Idec Sport.
The technical teams of Idec Sport and Delage Automobiles have decided to join forces: the LMP2 prototype of the Idec Sport team will therefore sport a blue livery in homage to the mythical French manufacturer Delage for what will be the 7th participation for the two respective entities.
Delage has taken part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 6 times between 1923 and 1950, including a class victory in 1937 and soon the 7th time at Le Mans, more than 65 years later. But Delage is also a French manufacturer, known worldwide by collectors for the style of its creations. Delage cars are always present at the Concours d’Elegance with numerous awards, like last September in London with the Delage D8 120 S Roadster de Villars, from 1937. Simply sublime.
“The IDEC SPORT team is delighted to be partnering with Delage. The name evokes great things in car fans. And there is a real history in the Sarthe, a history that we have also been writing on our own scale for 7 years now. It is great to continue to write it and to carry out this special operation for this great celebration that will be the centenary of the most beautiful race in the world. We are proud that Delage recognises our skills and I thank them. I would also like to thank the ACO for the confidence they have placed in us once again by allowing us to be one of the 62 cars at the start” confides Patrice Lafargue, President of the IDEC Group and founder of IDEC SPORT.
Since 2019 and its takeover by Laurent Tapie, the Delage brand has had a new lease of life.
After the presentation of the Delage D12 showcar in 2020 and 2021, and then, last year, of the rolling prototype which impressed the spectators at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Delage has taken several orders for its “road-going F1”, signed several distribution agreements (in France and the United States), and started production of the first customer cars, at Magny-Cours, for the first deliveries in 2024.
European homologation of the D12 is expected before these first deliveries.
“For Delage, the opportunity to return to Le Mans is a fantastic chance to continue rebuilding the brand’s reputation internationally. I would like to thank Patrice Lafargue and the entire Idec Sport team for giving us this opportunity. The technical cooperation between our teams can make us optimistic for the race, as there is so much skill and enthusiasm combined, as our first joint tests at Le Castellet have shown.”
The Oreca IDEC SPORT is being presented to the press today in its special livery, alongside the Delage D12, one month before the start of the 91st edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours.
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