Presentation
In 2015, Patrice Lafargue, President of the IDEC Group and a motorsport enthusiast, decided to create IDEC SPORT. The aim of this new structure is to bring together all the IDEC Group’s sporting partnerships under the same banner, including the two most important ones, sailing and motor racing.
Built on the foundations of Ruffier Racing, the IDEC SPORT team has many assets to evolve rapidly at a high level and to aim for performance. The team won the 24H Series in its category from its first participation.
It is then with the acquisition of a LMP2 from the Ligier workshops and a Mercedes AMG GT3 that the adventure continues.
After a year of discovery in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), Patrice Lafargue’s team competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017. In addition to having the immense joy of sharing the bucket with his son Paul, the boss/driver sees the #17 finish in 12th position. This success confirms the level of performance that the entire team is capable of, which is structured enough to accommodate two cars in 2018.
It is an Oreca that is entered alongside the Ligier, both in ELMS and at Le Mans. Paul-Loup Chatin achieved pole position in the 2018 24H du Mans but the car did not finish the race due to a mechanical failure. The trio of Paul Lafargue, Paul-Loup Chatin and Memo Rojas takes third place in the 2018 ELMS standings.
Only the #28 Oreca is entered in the ELMS in 2019, but IDEC SPORT takes its first wins and the trio of Paul Lafargue, Paul-Loup Chatin and Memo Rojas obtain the coveted title of European champions.
Although the Oreca will remain the sole IDEC SPORT representative in the ELMS in 2020, the team will have a second car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite starting a lap behind the rest of the field, the #28 finished in 6th place in LMP2 and 10th overall. The #17 finished 11th in LMP2 and 15th overall.
In 2021, French professional driver Patrick Pilet joined Paul Lafargue and Paul-Loup Chatin in the #28 Oreca. IDEC SPORT brought its expertise to the #17 Oreca of Era Motorsport in the ELMS, before the American team withdrew mid-season following a number of run-offs at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The #28 once again put on a show in the Sarthe region of France, climbing from last place to sixth in LMP2. IDEC SPORT is also present in the Michelin Le Mans Cup with a LMP3 Ligier driven by Patrice Lafargue and Dimitri Enjalbert.
For 2022, IDEC SPORT is continuing its tradition. The trio of drivers in the #28 Oreca will be back for a new campaign in the European Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The LMP3 car will be joined by Dino Lunardi in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, with Patrice Lafargue at the wheel.
