#13 and #31 Oreca 07 – Gibson (LMP2)

Team Manager: Bart Hayden 
Technical Director: Ian Smith 
Race Engineer (#13): Simon Cayzer
Race Engineer (#31): Fabrice Roussel
Location: Farnborough (UK)
Website: www.rebellion-racing.com

Twice Le Mans Series GT2 Team Champion, 2004–05

Le Mans Series LMP1 Team Champion, 2011

Twice winner of Petit Le Mans, 2012–13

Five-time winner of the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP1 Teams, 2012–16

2017 FIA WEC results

6 Hours of Silverstone: 5th (2nd in LMP2), Canal/Prost/Senna (FRA/FRA/BRA), #31 Oreca 07 – Gibson

 12th (9th in LMP2), Beche/Piquet Jr/Heinemeier Hansson (CHE/BRA/DEN), #13 Oreca 07 – Gibson

WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps: 8th (2nd in LMP2), Canal/Prost/Senna (FRA/FRA/BRA), #31 Oreca 07 – Gibson

10th (4th in LMP2), Beche/Piquet Jr/Heinemeier Hansson (CHE/BRA/DEN), #13 Oreca 07 – Gibson

The 2016 season started well for Rebellion Racing, with third place at the 6 Hours of Silverstone and the 6 Hours of Spa for Tuscher/Kraihamer/Imperatori (Tuscher having replaced Daniel Abt since the Chinese round in 2015). While Audi’s disqualification put the #13 R-One on the podium in Silverstone, its third place in Spa was won fair-and-square on the track. Unfortunately, the car was forced to retire at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The sister car in the hands of Prost/Piquet Jr/Heidfeld had twice finished just outside the podium places ahead of Le Mans. At the 24 Hours, the #12 R-One was first of the LMP1 privateer entries to see the chequered flag, although well down the field in 29th place overall due to mechanical issues.

The 2017 season marks a new turning point in the history of Rebellion Racing. Firstly, the team has been rebranded Vaillante Rebellion as a tribute to the famous comic strip hero, Michel Vaillant, whose next album will be released in time for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Swiss outfit is also returning to the more fiercely contested LMP2 class with two Oreca 07 – Gibson prototypes for Nelson Piquet Jr, Mathias Beche and David Heinemeier Hansson (#13) and Bruno Senna, Julien Canal, Nicolas Prost (#31). 

The season has got off to a great start for the #31 car with two second places, despite a ten-second penalty at the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps for a collision with a GT and a long spell in the garage while the mechanics fixed the roof. The #13 car finished fourth in class in Belgium without ever being in a position to challenge for a podium place. The LMP2 field will do well to keep a close eye on these two line-ups at the 85th Le Mans 24 Hours in June, especially as Michel Vaillant’s comeback to the circuit is sure to boost their motivation!

Photo: Pascal Saivet, Vision Sport Agency