French racer Pierre Ragues has begun the final preparations for the first race of the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) series with a shakedown of OAK Racing’s LMP1 challenger at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans this week.

Pierre is set to embark on his third consecutive season in the LMP1 category but the Sebring International Raceway is new territory for the Frenchman, so it is important that preparations run smoothly.

The brief shakedown at the Bugatti circuit gave Pierre and his OAK Racing team the chance to carry out important systems checks on the OAK-Pescarolo car and to address any last minute issues before the car and freight is shipped across the Atlantic. Pierre already enjoyed a two day test with the team and the Dunlop tyre technicians at Vallelunga in early February as they get ready for their first season together in ILMC and LMP1.

The Sebring event will get underway in just under two weeks from now with a two day acclimatisation test for all teams and drivers to hone the car set-up for the challenging 12 Hours of Sebring event, the official start to the 2011 ILMC season.

Pierre is pleased with the progress made with OAK Racing so far: “We have been fortunate to have a two day test in Vallelunga which allowed me to get a first feeling for the OAK-Pescarolo car. This week’s shakedown at the Bugatti circuit was therefore focussed on making sure all the systems are in working order before the car and equipment goes over to Sebring next week. We made a few adjustments during the shakedown, but we have two days of testing when we are at Sebring which will be very important. I have already settled back into the Oak Racing family well and have enjoyed working with my team-mates for this season, Guillaume Moreau and Matthieu Lahaye.”