Graff, who finished second in the LMP3 Teams Standings in the 2016 European Le Mans Series, has confirmed five out of its six drivers for the upcoming season.
The Morangis-based team announced this week that the trio of Eric Trouillet, Paul Petit and Enzo Guibbert, who finished second in the LMP3 Teams and Drivers Standings will again team up to contest the 2017 series.
In the second car, Graff has elected to go for youth over experience and has selected Franck Matelli and James Allen as two of the three drivers for its second ORECA 07.
Corsican-born Matelli began his racing career in 2007 and has had some experience in prototype racing after contesting the Magny-Cours round of the 2016 VdeV Endurance Series with Panis-Barthez Compétition in its Ligier JS P3
Australian James Allen has spent the last three seasons competing in Formula Renault and enjoyed a busy season in 2016, contesting both the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and Nothern European Championship. In the Eurocup, Allen finished 17th in the drivers standings with his best result a 5th place in the first race at Spa-Francorchamps. In the Northern European Cup Allen finished the season on a high with victory at the Hockenheimring, pushing him to 7th overall in the drivers standings.
Team manager Pascal Rauturier is very happy with the announcements this week.
“We are delighted to be able to announce our drivers as early as possible,” said Rauturier. “By passing one of our LMP3 crews into LMP2, we play the trump card. All three are ready to move to the next level. Youth will be at the centre of the second crew. We will now be able to begin our tests in order to be as sharp as possible for this exciting season.”
The 2017 European Le Mans Series begins with the Official test on March 29 followed by the opening round at Silverstone on April 15.
