Pierre, how are you going to look back on the 2010 Le Mans Series?
“I have been very pleased with my performances this season and with the results that I have been able to achieve with Signature. We started the year by being given the honour of becoming official partners to Aston Martin Racing, which for a team like Signature in their second year of participation was a real privilege. We embarked on an intensive development with the new car and new Dunlop tyres, using all the information we gathered as a team in 2009 to make important progress throughout the season. We ended up as team vice champions and the top petrol-powered team, which underlines how strong and consistent our performances have been.”

Were there any standout performances from your point of view?
“Actually, I think there were strong performances in each test session and all of the events that we took part in. We had a lot of work to do at the beginning of the year to fund our way with the new technical package, but we were able to do that relatively smoothly. As a result of that, we have demonstrated a real upward curve during the season and I have been pleased with my own contribution and race craft. The podium we achieved in Portugal was fantastic because it represented our first podium together as a team in LMS and LMP1. Hungary and Silverstone were also strong performances from my point of view.”

How disappointed were you at Le Mans?
“The 24 Hours of Le Mans was a bittersweet experience for us because I feel we missed out on a solid top five result. Unfortunately, we were forced to retire just a few hours from the end - through no fault of my own - which was a real shame after all the work and effort that had gone into the event. Le Mans is always a fantastic experience for me and I love being a part of such a huge international show. For that reason it will always be a season highlight, in spite of the results. I think I drove well this year; I was confident in the car and had a strong pace, so I think I was a big asset to the team which made the end result all the more disappointing.”

What have been the important contributions to your season?
“First of all, the support from the Signature team has been outstanding, so I have to convey my thanks to them. We have also received first class help from Aston Martin and Dunlop during the year which has been appreciated. Personally, I have to thank my sponsors Group Auto Union for always continuing to place their faith in me. I have also enjoyed the karting programme that I have undertaken alongside LMS this year which has helped keep my race craft in top condition, as well as being physically very beneficial. It is one of my real passions and it has been a pleasure to take part at two different ends of the racing spectrum; karting and endurance racing. Overall, it has been a pleasure to be part of the Le Mans Series and Le Mans 24 Hours again this year. It is a category that really fits my driving style and one in which I feel extremely comfortable.”

For more information about Pierre Ragues, please visit www.pierreragues.com or www.quadrasports.com