The Frenchman, who was last week announced as a Signatech-Nissan driver in at least three events of the all-new World Endurance Championship, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, took third place in Sunday’s final race to open his 2012 podium account.

Pierre has always used his participation in karting as a firm proving ground for his endurance racing commitments, honing his race craft against some strong contenders in the competitive KZ2 category. The opening event in this year’s karting championship took place in fine weather with Pierre looking to find his race rhythm after a winter of solid preparation.

On Saturday, he started the pre-final from last place after on his first timed lap in the Chrono session but he fought hard through the field to claim seventh place at the chequered flag. A similarly determined final race saw the experienced racer take fourth place, just outside the podium positions.

Sunday started well with the fourth quickest time in the timed session, just one tenth off pole. A flying start in the pre-final saw Pierre up to second before an engine problem on the second lap cruelly stopped his race early. As a result of the DNF, Pierre started 16th and last in the final race but he stormed through the field once more, using all his race craft and expertise, to claim the final podium spot in third place after a stellar performance.

Pierre said: “After a long winter, it was good to get a full weekend of karting under my belt and to be back wheel to wheel once again. There is nothing like that feeling of racing and it was generally a good weekend at Varennes. The Saturday sessions were mixed because I was not able to set a timed lap in the timed session so I had to start the pre-final in last place. I had a good pace, though, which I put to good effect to get seventh by the end of the race. That built up my confidence for the final in which I claimed fourth. I was certainly back into the groove on Sunday with a qualification time just 0.1s from pole. I was very confident in the pre-final, running in second place, but an engine problem forced me to stop. Starting last in the final race, I dug as deep as I could and put all the weekend experience to good use to fight back for a podium result. It was a great end to an enjoyable weekend, and all good preparation for the WEC event at Spa in just over one month from now.”