OAK Racing

OAK Racing
Company type	Private
Industry	Motorsport team, racecar construction
Predecessor	Saulnier Racing
Founded	1980
Founder	Serge Saulnier
Headquarters	Le Mans, France
Area served	International endurance racing
Key people	Jacques Nicolet (owner)
Products	Sports prototype racing cars; racecar construction (Onroak Automotive)
Owner	Jacques Nicolet via Everspeed holding company
Parent	Everspeed

OAK Racing is a French endurance motorsport team focused on sports prototype racing, headquartered in Le Mans. The team achieved victory in the LMP2 category at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans and also secured both the drivers' and teams' championships in LMP2 during the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

In 2012, OAK Racing participated in the FIA WEC with entries in both LMP1 and LMP2 classes, including competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while also contesting the European Le Mans Series in LMP2. Following several successful seasons in LMP2, the squad advanced to the top-tier LMP1 division in 2011.

OAK Racing competes with cars adorned in Gulf Oil’s distinctive orange and blue colors, thanks to a collaboration with CAR OIL, the exclusive Gulf Lubricants distributor for France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Their vehicles are equipped with engines from Honda Performance Development for LMP1 and Nissan for LMP2. Since 2009, OAK Racing has served as Dunlop’s official LMP1 development partner, utilizing Dunlop tires across both prototype categories.

The team expanded into racecar construction in 2012 through its Onroak Automotive branch. Having established its Design Office in 2010, OAK Racing updated the OAK/Pescarolo LMP1 chassis for the 2011 season and developed the Morgan 2012 LMP2 chassis compliant with ACO cost regulations. This chassis has been commercially available to private teams since late 2011.

Since late 2006, entrepreneur and racing driver Jacques Nicolet has owned OAK Racing via his holding company Everspeed.

History

Established by Serge Saulnier in 1980, the team initially competed under the name Promatecme in French Formula 3 before rebranding as Saulnier Racing in 2000 when entering the World Series by Nissan and later World Series by Renault. In 2006, they shifted their focus to sports prototypes within the Le Mans Series, competing in the LMP1 category.

Following Nicolet’s acquisition in late 2006, the team transitioned to LMP2 competition for the subsequent season. By 2008, OAK Racing entered two Pescarolo-Judd cars across LMP1 and LMP2 classes, achieving a third-place finish in LMP2 at Le Mans with one of the youngest driver lineups and featuring the first Chinese driver to compete at the event.

The squad adopted the name OAK Racing in 2009 and partnered with Mazda Automobiles France, fielding two Pescarolo-Mazda LMP2 cars across the Le Mans Series, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Asian Le Mans Series. They earned six podium finishes from eight races, including a top-three result at Le Mans in LMP2 and a victory on Asian soil.

In December 2009, OAK Racing purchased Pescarolo Sport’s manufacturing division, assuming control over chassis fabrication, bodywork production, spare parts supply, and commercial operations.

During 2010, OAK Racing campaigned two Judd-powered OAK-Pescarolo prototypes in the Le Mans Series, Le Mans 24 Hours, and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC). The team secured several accolades including second and fourth places at Le Mans in LMP2, four podiums from five LMS events, winning the ILMC LMP2 class championship, and capturing the Michelin Green X Challenge award.

On October 15, 2010, amid Pescarolo Sport’s asset liquidation process, owner Nicolet alongside Joël Rivière of Prestige Racing acquired assets to support Henri Pescarolo’s efforts to revive his team.

In 2011, OAK Racing entered two OAK-Pescarolo prototypes in LMP1 competition, achieving third overall at the 2011 6 Hours of Silverstone. They additionally ran an LMP2 entry within ILMC and fielded another LMP2 car at Le Mans, concluding second overall in the LMP2 championship standings.

The year 2012 saw design, manufacturing, and sales operations spun off into Onroak Automotive. Onroak introduced an updated LMP2 vehicle marketed as the Morgan LMP2 through collaboration with Morgan Motor Company, made available to privateer teams. In the revived FIA World Endurance Championship season, OAK Racing’s #24 Morgan-Judd secured pole position and finished second at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

A second Morgan LMP2 powered by Nissan (#35) joined subsequent WEC rounds; meanwhile #24 switched engines mid-season to Nissan power. Following engine reliability issues that forced withdrawal of their LMP1 entry after Le Mans, it returned later equipped with a new HPD engine for final Asian races.

At the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans, OAK Racing achieved a one-two finish within LMP2 (7th and 8th overall). The No.35 car driven by Martin Plowman, Ricardo González, and Bertrand Baguette claimed victory after completing 329 laps; No.24 finished one lap behind under difficult weather conditions featuring twelve safety car interventions.

OAK Racing captured both titles during the 2013 FIA WEC, securing first and second positions in both Drivers’ and Teams’ trophies within LMP2. Car No.35 (Plowman, González, Baguette) took top honors while No.24 (Pla, Brundle, Hansson) placed second.

In 2014, OAK Racing entered the newly created United SportsCar Championship in North America where drivers Olivier Pla and Gustavo Yacaman earned their inaugural victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

1980–2006: Serge Saulnier's Tenure as President

* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Didier André (F3)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Alain Filhol (LM, LMS)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Simon Pagenaud (WSR)
* Template:Country data BRA Template:Namespace detect showall Enrique Bernoldi (F3)	* Template:Country data JPN Template:Namespace detect showall Ryo Fukuda (F3, WSR)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Olivier Pla (F3)
* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Bruno Besson (F3)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Tristan Gommendy (F3, WSR)	* Template:Country data GBR Template:Namespace detect showall Andy Priaulx (F3)
* Template:Country data GBR Template:Namespace detect showall Jenson Button (F3)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Bruce Jouanny (F3, LM)	* Template:Country data CHE Template:Namespace detect showall Harold Primat (WSR, LMS)
* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Emmanuel Clérico (F3)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Franck Lagorce (F3)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Christophe Tinseau (F3)
* Template:Country data BRA Template:Namespace detect showall Aluizio Coelho (F3)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Nicolas Minassian (F3)
* Template:Country data CHE Template:Namespace detect showall Marcel Fässler (LMS)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Jacques Nicolet (LM, LMS)

From 2007 Onwards: Presidency of Jacques Nicolet

* Template:Country data MCO Template:Namespace detect showall Karim Aljani (LMS, LM)	* Template:Country data DNK Template:Namespace detect showall David Heinemeier Hansson (LM, LMS, WEC)	* Template:Country data JPN Template:Namespace detect showall Shinji Nakano (LM)
* Template:Country data BEL Template:Namespace detect showall Andrea Barlesi (ILMC)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Bruce Jouanny (LM)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Jacques Nicolet (LM, LMS, ILMC, WEC)
* Template:Country data BEL Template:Namespace detect showall Bertrand Baguette (WEC)	* Template:Country data AUT Template:Namespace detect showall Dominik Kraihamer (WEC)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Olivier Pla (ILMC, WEC, USCC)
* Template:Country data GBR Template:Namespace detect showall Alex Brundle (WEC, USCC)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Patrice Lafargue (ILMC)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Alexandre Prémat (LMS, ILMC)
* Template:Country data CZE Template:Namespace detect showall Jan Charouz (LM)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Matthieu Lahaye (LM, LMS, ILMC, WEC)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Pierre Ragues (LMS, LM, ILMC)
* Template:Country data CHN Template:Namespace detect showall Cheng Cong Fu (LM)	* Template:Country data BEL Template:Namespace detect showall Bas Leinders	* Template:Country data JPN Template:Namespace detect showall Takuma Sato (F1)
* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Frédéric Da Rocha (ILMC)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Guillaume Moreau (LM, LMS, ILMC, WEC)	* Template:Country data COL Template:Namespace detect showall Gustavo Yacaman (USCC)
* Template:Country data GBR Template:Namespace detect showall Martin Plowman (WEC)	* Template:Country data JPN Template:Namespace detect showall Keiko Ihara (WEC)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Jean-François Yvon (LM)
* Template:Country data BEL Template:Namespace detect showall Nicolas De Crem (LM)	* Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Franck Montagny (F1, ILMC)

Single-seater Racing

1992: Secured the French Formula Three Championship title with driver Franck Lagorce

1997: Finished as runner-up in the British Formula 3 Championship with eight victories

1998: Achieved second place in British Formula 3 Championship with six wins

1999: Earned third place in British Formula 3 Championship with three wins

Single-seater Racing

2001: Claimed the French F3 title with Ryo Fukuda

2004–2005: Participated in the World Series by Renault

Endurance Racing

2006: Achieved fourth overall in Le Mans Series with two podium finishes under Swiss Spirit 2007: Finished fourth in LMP2 category of Le Mans Series with one podium - Courage-AER LC75 2008: Ranked third in LMP2 and twelfth overall in LMP1 at 24 Hours of Le Mans - Pescarolo-Judd 2008: Secured fifth place in LMP2 and twelfth in LMP1 standings of Le Mans Series with one podium - Pescarolo-Judd

2009

Le Mans 24 Hours: Achieved 3rd place in LMP2 category - Pescarolo-Mazda Asian Le Mans Series: Secured the LMP2 title with two victories - Pescarolo-Mazda Le Mans Series: Finished 6th and 7th in LMP2, earning three podium finishes - Pescarolo-Mazda

2010

Le Mans 24 Hours: Finished 2nd and 4th in LMP2 class, ranking 7th and 9th overall - Pescarolo-Judd Le Mans Series: Claimed 3rd and 4th positions in LMP2 with four podiums; won the constructors’ championship in LMP2 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup: Triumphed in LMP2 with three podium appearances - Pescarolo-Judd Michelin Green X Challenge champion (across Le Mans Series and ILMC)

2011

Le Mans 24 Hours: Placed 5th in LMP2 category - OAK/Pescarolo-Judd 6 Hours of Silverstone: Achieved 3rd and 5th overall placements 6 Hours of Zhuhai: Won Michelin Green X Challenge for car #24 in LMP1 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup: Ranked 5th in LMP1 and secured 2nd place in the LMP2 team standings

2012: Captured the FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 Trophy

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year

Entrant

No.

Vehicle

Drivers

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Victories

#	Season	Date	Category	Circuit / Event	Car No.	Drivers	Vehicle Model	Power Unit
1	2014	July 13	Prototype	Mosport	42	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Olivier Pla / Template:Country data COL Template:Namespace detect showall Gustavo Yacamán	Morgan LMP2	Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8

Chronological Overview

<timeline> ImageSize = width:1000 height:250 PlotArea = left:175 bottom:80 top:05 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1980 till:01/01/2020 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1980 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1980

Colors =

 id:singleseater      value:red       legend:Single-seater
 id:endur_p           value:green     legend:Endurance_(prototype)
 id:Lines             value:black     legend:Team_name_change
 id:bars              value:gray(0.9)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars Legend = position:bottom columns:1

BarData =

 bar:FF3         text:"French F3 Championship"
 bar:BF3         text:"British F3 Championship"
 bar:WSN         text:"World Series by Nissan"
 bar:WSR         text:"World Series by Renault"
 bar:ELMS        text:"European Le Mans Series"
 bar:ALMS        text:"Asian Le Mans Series"
 bar:ILMS        text:"Intercontinental Le Mans Cup"
 bar:WEC         text:"World Endurance Championship"

PlotData=

width:13 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

 bar:FF3         from:start       till:31/12/2002  color:singleseater
 bar:BF3         from:01/01/1996  till:31/12/2007  color:singleseater
 bar:WSN         from:01/01/2000  till:31/12/2003  color:singleseater
 bar:WSR         from:01/01/2004  till:31/12/2006  color:singleseater
 bar:ELMS        from:01/01/2006  till:31/12/2011  color:endur_p
 bar:ELMS        from:01/01/2016  till:31/12/2016  color:endur_p
 bar:ALMS        from:01/01/2009  till:31/12/2009  color:endur_p
 bar:ALMS        from:01/01/2013  till:31/12/2014  color:endur_p
 bar:ILMS        from:01/01/2010  till:31/12/2011  color:endur_p
 bar:WEC         from:01/01/2012  till:31/12/2015  color:endur_p

LineData =

 at:01/01/2000 color:black layer:back
 at:01/01/2009 color:black layer:back

</timeline>

External links

Official OAK Racing website