A natural development of the ILMC, the new World Endurance Championship (WEC) will comprise eight events across the globe, beginning at Sebring and incorporating the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as six hour events at Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone, Sao Paolo, Bahrain, Fuji and Shanghai.

Franck rejoins Signatech-Nissan for 2012 following a highly competitive 2011 season which saw him claim his first endurance racing title in this third season of competition. Sharing the cockpit of the #23 Oreca 03 chassis with Franck will be countrymen Jordan Tresson and Olivier Lombard, making it an all French line-up for the squad in a very competitive field of entries. Franck will also continue to benefit from the support of his personal sponsors, Sojasun, who have been a firm part of his career to date.

A total of 30 cars will represent the WEC at Sebring with an additional 30 entries competing under the American Le Mans Series banner, ensuring Sebring continues to be one of the most competitive and fiercely fought racing events of the entire season.

This year’s event will commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the 12 Hour classic race, which acts as opener for both WEC and ALMS championships. Sebring hosted the first FIA World Championship event for sports cars in 1953, so its season-opening position on the FIA World Endurance Championship is fitting. One of the many fascinating statistics about Sebring is that since 1952, the legendary 12-hour race has totalled 708 hours of racing with an additional 12 to come next weekend.

Franck competed at the event for the first time last season and fought hard for a deserved second place in LMP2. Drivers have to negotiate a challenging 3.7 mile / 5.96km course on a unique asphaslt/concrete track which results in a rough and bumpy surface for drivers and cars alike. 17 turns include a full range of corner types and straights, including the infamous turn 17 – a long, bumpy and fast right-hander than can see cars three abreast heading onto the main straight.

As every year at Sebring, teams will have the opportunity to conduct a pre-event test in order to prepare their cars for the gruelling race. Drivers will also have the opportunity to acclimatise and reacquaint themselves with the track layout.

Franck Mailleux commented: “I cannot wait to get behind the wheel of the Signatech-Nissan Oreca 03 at Sebring. I am thrilled to be taking part in the new World Endurance Championship with a team which feels like a second family to me and I am proud to be defending our LMP2 title from last year with the continued technical support and expertise of Nissan. Sebring is a fun track, one which I only raced at for the first time last season. It is a challenging circuit but a very rewarding one when you get it right. The new WEC season includes some fantastic tracks including Le Mans I am really looking forward to seeing what we can do against great competitors. I’ve got two new team-mates for this year with Jordan and Olivier; together I think we have a good mix of experience and ambition which will serve us well. I am also very thankful to have the continued support of my good friends and sponsors, Sojasun, who represent a really important part of my career. It will be beneficial to have the pre-event test at Sebring to prepare the car for the actual race weekend. We will also be working closely with Dunlop on tyre choice. I feel physically in good shape after positive winter of training and fitness, so I’m raring to go. It promises to be a fantastic season."