Technical support

TDS Racing (Top Drive Services) was founded by Xavier Combet and Jacques Morello and has been racing since 2006.

 

Endurance in the heart

The two men have been involved in endurance racing, their favourite discipline, since 2011 and have enjoyed a highly successful career. The team, based in the Hérault region of France, has become one of the major players in the LMP2 category, winning several trophies in the European Le Mans Series, the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech Championship.

 

Loyalty to 24H of Le Mans

Since 2012, the team has taken part in the legendary Sarthe race 12 times with the ORECA 03, ORECA 05 and then the ORECA 07. With two podium finishes in LMP2, the team has entered two cars in 2020 and 2021, with a double podium in Pro-Am last season. The team also provided operational and technical support to Tower Motorsports for the centenary edition in 2023.

 

TDS Racing is offering its expertise to Panis Racing for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours race.The #65 ORECA 07 will be in the hands of Mathias Beche, Scott Huffaker and Rodrigo Sales, who will be battling for the LMP2 Pro-Am podium.

 

Xavier Combet : ‘We're delighted to be able to offer our expertise to Panis Racing for Le Mans 2024. With Olivier Panis, we share a common vision in terms of race preparation and management. With this trio of drivers, we are convinced that we have what it takes to be at the top of our class.’

 

A success story

Since making its debut in endurance racing in 2011, the team has consistently been at the forefront of ACO-accredited championships. These include the European Le Mans Series, the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech Championship. Twice ELMS champion in LMP2 (2012 & 2018), the team has also been crowned GTC champions (2015). TDS Racing has also won the 2021 FIA WEC Pro/Am Trophy in the Racing Team Nederland livery. As proof of its relationship with the ACO, TDS Racing has been asked to participate in the TWGs as one of the representatives of the LMP2 teams.

Over the seasons the team has been approached by a number of organisations to take on 'white label' commitments. These include Jumbo with Racing Team Nederland, Real Team and G-Drive Racing.

 

More recently, TDS Racing has also been associated with the famous 'Vaillante' colours.

Talented drivers

Whatever the programme, TDS Racing has signed up some talented drivers. Some have already competed in F1, Formula E and IndyCar, while others have been official representatives of manufacturers. Among them are Nick De Vries, Jean-Eric Vergne and Giedo van der Garde, and Nicky Catsburg, Loïc Duval, Nicolas Lapierre, Maxime Martin and Norman Nato.

 

TDS Racing also plays a role in the development of young drivers : Ryo Hirakawa was trained at Toyota's request and Rinus VeeKay and Matthieu Vaxivière made their endurance debuts.

 

A 2024 programme in Europe and across the Atlantic

In 2024, under the Richard Mille by TDS Racing banner, the team returned to the European Le Mans Series with an LMP2 Pro-Am car, the #29 ORECA 07 entrusted to Rodrigo Sales, the experienced Mathias Beche and the young Grégoire Saucy, who came from single-seater. The first two rounds were a success, with second place at Barcelona and victory at Le Castellet.

 

This season, TDS Racing is also providing operational support to Panis Racing in the LMP2 category of the ELMS. The line-up of the #65 ORECA 07 for 2024 : Charles Milesi/Arthur Leclerc/Manuel Maldonado.

 

At the same time, the team - 3rd in 2023 - is continuing its involvement in IMSA with Steven Thomas and official Peugeot driver Mikkel Jensen. In LMP2, the duo will be supported by official Alpine driver Charles Milesi and New Zealander Hunter McElrea, vice-champion in Indy Lights.