The Chinese automobile group Chery, which includes Jaguar Land Rover, Omoda & Jaecoo and several other brands, made a significant step towards the top of world motorsport by signing a strategic cooperation agreement with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, organizer of the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours race. The contract, which was officially signed in mid-December in Kuala Lumpur, marks the beginning of an ambitious program called the “Road to Le Mans”.
The carrier of the project will be Chery’s premium vehicle brand Exeed, which would make Chery the first Chinese car manufacturer to participate in this prestigious competition with its own factory team. Their goal is not only marketing promotion, but the long-term development of technology and racing pedigree through a five-year plan that should culminate in an appearance at the toughest endurance race in the world.
In this context, Le Mans is seen as a laboratory for testing the durability, efficiency and reliability of vehicles, which are key attributes that Chery wants to transfer to its production vehicles. Although the exact date of the first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race itself has not been fixed, the tentative plan suggests that it could happen within the next five years, once strict technical and logistical prerequisites are met.
Three key stages
The strategy of entering the global scene is divided into three precisely defined phases, starting with building the foundation on home ground. The first phase entails the launch of its own endurance competition within China, called “Exeed Unified Race”, which will serve for the selection of talents and the development of the team’s technical capacities. After consolidation in the domestic market, Exeed plans to enter the Asian Le Mans Series, which will represent the first real international test for their cars and drivers in a competitive environment.
The third and final phase refers to the formation of the official “Exeed Le Mans Team” which will compete directly at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, probably in one of the highest categories. In support of this ambitious plan, Chery and ACO have agreed to cooperate on the construction of a race track in the city of Wuhu, where Chery’s headquarters are located. That track will be certified to Le Mans standards, allowing engineers to test vehicles in conditions that faithfully simulate the challenges of the legendary French circuit, and will serve as a base for the development of future generations of racing and road cars.
Technological challenges
Despite the big ambitions, experts point out that Chery faces a significant engineering challenge, given that their current range of engines does not include the high-performance aggregates required for this level of competition. The most powerful serial engine that Chery currently produces is a 2.0-liter turbo petrol, but Exeed is expected to use its advanced plug-in hybrid technologies as a basis for developing a competitive powertrain over the years.