Franck Mailleux is hoping to get his 2012 World Endurance Championship back on the right track next weekend as teams compete in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, one of the most beloved and technically demanding circuits in the world.

Franck and the Signatech-Nissan team endured a tough start to their LMP2 title defence at Sebring back in March after an early retirement caused by an unpreventable collision involving Franck’s team-mate Olivier Lombard on lap 85. The entire team has since regrouped in preparation for Spa, a track and a race they know well.

The 6.973km Spa-Francorchamps circuit is one of the jewels in the motorsport crown combining a range of high and low-speed technical sections from the tight La Source hairpin to the revered Raidillon-Eau Rouge section that still gives drivers a challenge even with the advancement of race car technology over the years.

Spa is the first of just three European races on the new 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 6 Hours of Silverstone. The event offers most teams an invaluable opportunity to finalise preparations for the gruelling 24 Hours of Le Mans that will take place in June, so brings with it added importance.

A total of 41 cars will contest the event with 16 cars vying for victory in LMP2. Signatech-Nissan will be fielding two LMP2 cars for the first time, giving the team an added opportunity for podium results, but Franck is determined to lead the charge for the team and to claim his and the team’s first podium result of the season. 

Franck Mailleux said: “It’s always exciting to race at Spa-Francorchamps, a track we drivers all enjoy and respect. The circuit has a certain mystique to it, thanks to its history, its technical layout and its geographical location deep in the Ardennes forest, where the weather can be a big influencing factor. We are keen to get our season underway properly after the disappointment of Sebring. The entire Signatech-Nissan team did a great job at Sebring to give us a car that clearly had podium potential so I hope we can bring that competitive spirit to Spa and to fight for the top positions. We had a good shakedown at Lurcy-Levis on Thursday with both cars and it was good to get some track time before we head to Spa, even if the weather conditions were very wet. I am also feeling in good shape after a recent fitness session with my team-mates Jordan (Tresson) and Olivier in my home town of Saint-Malo. As always, we will be using the practice sessions to work with Dunlop on tyre evaluation, while making sure the balance and set-up of our car is suited to the varying characteristics of the Spa circuit. It promises to be another competitive event and it would be great to get a good result for the Signatech-Nissan team and my personal partners, Sojasun.”