Switzerland’s Orchid Racing Team is set to start its first full endurance racing program in the 24H SERIES this season after confirmed its #917 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup in the ‘992’ category.

 

Words – James Gent

Images – Orchid Racing Team

The Orchid Racing Team will contest its first full endurance racing program in the 24H SERIES powered by Hankook program in 2024, having confirmed that its #917 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup will run the full European campaign starting with this weekend’s Hankook 12H MUGELLO. 

 

Orchid Racing, which will run nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb and 2016 FIA World Endurance Champion Romain Dumas in its #963 car at this weekend’s Hankook 12H MUGELLO, made its first 24H SERIES outing at Barcelona in 2019, and has competed sporadically since then, picking up three category podiums (including, fittingly, two at the Hankook 12H MUGELLO in 2022). Having confirmed its #917 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup will contest each of CREVENTIC’s European events in 2024, the Swiss team will now compete for championship honours in the 24H SERIES for the first time.

 

“Orchid Racing Team loves the challenge!” team assistant director Maëva Cottin explained to CREVENTIC. “After seven years of participation and victories in the Porsche Sport Cup Switzerland, the few endurance races we've done have given us the desire to compete in more of them. We're looking forward to this season with our loyal drivers!”

12H MUGELLO 2024 – Entry list12H MUGELLO 2024 - Schedule

The Swiss team has confirmed that Laurent Misbach and team manager Alexandre Mottet will compete alongside Antonio Garzon in the #917 Porsche this season. The pair are set to drive alongside Sébastien Loeb and Romain Dumas in the #963 Porsche at Mugello: Misbach transitioning to the #917 from Spa-Francorchamps onwards, while Mottet will pull double duty across both entries in Tuscany. 

 

Garzon meanwhile will begin his European season in the #917 alongside series debutants Laurène Godey and Daniel Gillioz, and the returning Frank Villiger (brother Loic will race the #963 in Mugello).

 

In contrast to the all-black livery of the #963 Porsche, the sister #917 is set to run a new, all-silver design throughout the European season. 

10th annual 12H MUGELLO - Tickets10th annual 12H MUGELLO – Event Details

The Orchid Racing Team is the latest team to confirm a full European campaign in the 24H SERIES in 2024: 

 

·      2017 Overall GT Teams’ ‘Europe’ champion Hofor-Racing starts its first full-time campaign in the 24H SERIES since 2018/2019. 

 

·      Reigning 992-Am Teams’ champion RPM Racing begins its title defense in Mugello, while 2023 GTX Teams’ champion RD Signs – RD Signs – Siauliai racing team moves to GT3 for 2024.

 

·      Last year’s GT4 Teams’ runner-up Buggyra ZM Racing hopes to one better in its second successive season with CREVENTIC.

 

·      E2P Racing is eying the GT3-Pro/Am Teams’ title after signing Bathurst 12 Hours winner Álvaro Parente as its PRO for 2024.  

 

·      2022 GT3 Drivers’ champions Michael Doppelmayr, Pierre Kaffer and Elia Erhart, together with 2023 teammate Swen Herberger, return to the series with Saintéloc Racing.

 

·      Lionspeed GP begins its first racing program as a standalone entity in the 24H SERIES.

2024 12H SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS – Tickets2024 12H SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS – Event details

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