Twenty-six-year-old sports car driver Pierre Ragues has today announced that he will participate in the 2011 Le Mans Intercontinental Cup with OAK Racing, recently crowned winners of the 2010 ILMC LMP2 class title.

Pierre, who has contested the last two Le Mans Series championships and 24 Hours of Le Mans races in LMP1 for Signature Plus, previously drove for the OAK Racing team during the 2008 season in the LMP2 category, under the Team Saulnier Racing banner. During his time at Team Saulnier Racing in LMP2, Pierre attained two class podiums, with second place at the Nürburgring 1000kms and a third place finish in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Pierre will be joining OAK Racing in the first full season of Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in 2011 after this year's successful three-round series. With a Pescarolo chassis, Dunlop tyres, OAK Racing will make the progression from LMP2 to LMP1 class with Pierre and Guillaume Moreau both confirmed as part of the driver line-up.

The 2011 season will be Pierre's third consecutive season at LMP1 level but his first in the ILMC which will run a seven race calendar, starting at the Sebring 12 Hours in March and taking in Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, Imola, Silverstone, Petit Le Mans and a season finale in China in November. The centrepiece of the series will be the 24 Hours of Le Mans in mid-June.

Le Mans is already a place that Pierre is familiar with, having contested the 24 Hours race on four separate occasions, but he will become even better acquainted with the circuit and its facilities as OAK Racing has also confirmed it has opened a new base at the Le Mans Technoparc.

While looking towards a bright future with OAK Racing, Pierre can reflect on two highly successful and competitive seasons with Signature Plus, the highlight of which was undoubtedly the team's vice-championship standing in LMP1 in last year's championship. Pierre's transition back to OAK Racing will be aided by the experiences and working practices that he nurtured during his time at Signature under the management of Philippe Sinault, which has played an important part in his career to date.

François Sicard, Managing Director, OAK Racing
"We are very happy to welcome Pierre back to the team. We remained in touch since 2008 and have followed his results closely – it feels like he's coming home. Pierre is one of the most experienced young French racing drivers around and he has clearly demonstrated the key qualities of speed and reliability required for endurance racing. Pierre also knows Guillaume Moreau well from their Formula Renault days and his technical experience in the LMP1 class will be of invaluable help to the team as we move up from the LMP2 category."

Quick Q+A with Pierre Ragues

Pierre, what does the move to OAK Racing mean to you?
"I am overjoyed to be rejoining my old team and to be contesting the first full season of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with OAK Racing, who are reigning LMP2 champions of the new series. I firmly believe that I have demonstrated my ability in the LMP1 class and it will be my privilege to help OAK with the transition to LMP1 in the ILMC. I am excited by the ILMC calendar which takes in some of the finest race tracks around the world and is the perfect platform to advance my career. OAK is a very ambitious team and I am sure we will work well together. The plans for the new base at the Le Mans Technoparc demonstrates their ambition and I can't wait for our new 'home' race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, which will be my fifth participation in the event."

Was it hard to leave a team like Signature with whom you have shared many memories? "I am so thankful for the opportunities that Signature and Philippe Sinault presented me over the last two seasons. We have achieved some fantastic results together, including a number of podiums last year which culminated in the vice-championship title as official partners of Aston Martin, something I am incredibly proud of. The move to OAK Racing, however, will allow me to naturally progress my career in LMP1 and to take part in the new ILMC championship, which will offer me an exciting new challenge."