 [21-05-2012]
PIERRE CAMPANA DETERMINED TO SECURE CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE AFTER IMPRESSING IN TOUR DE CORSE
[Full Article]
 [14-05-2012]
FRANCK MAILLEUX SETS SIGHTS ON LE MANS SUCCESS AFTER POSITIVE MAGNY COURS TEST
[Full Article]
 [14-05-2012]
PIERRE RAGUES FINDS POSITIVES FROM SPA AND LOOKS AHEAD TO LE MANS
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 [12-05-2012]
PIERRE CAMPANA STORMS TO SENSATIONAL TOUR DE CORSE PODIUM AFTER FAULTLESS PERFORMANCE
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 [11-05-2012]
PIERRE CAMPANA IMPRESSES IN EXCITING BATTLE FOR SECOND PLACE ON SECOND DAY OF TOUR DE CORSE
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[14-05-2012]
FRANCK MAILLEUX SETS SIGHTS ON LE MANS SUCCESS AFTER POSITIVE MAGNY COURS TEST
 Franck Mailleux has already put the disappointment of the Spa 6 Hours race behind him as he channels his motivation into next month’s Le Mans 24 Hours.
Franck and the Signatech-Nissan squad were caught up in a series of unfortunate situations in the closing stages of the Spa event, preventing them from mounting a challenge for the World Endurance Championship podium despite showing encouraging pace in their Nissan-powered Oreca 03 car.
The team looked to regroup quickly in the days following Spa and have carried out an important and useful one-day test at the Magny-Cours circuit in France to prepare for the gruelling challenges of the Le Mans 24 Hours which takes place at the La Sarthe circuit in mid-June.
Franck looks back to a frustrating weekend in Belgium but draws positives from his time behind the wheel at Magny-Cours.
Quick Q+A with Franck Mailleux
Take us through the Spa weekend from your point of view…
“Overall, it was a pretty disappointing end to the weekend but there were still signs of encouragement both in terms of the competitiveness of the car but also in how we are working as a team. It was a shame that we couldn’t capitalise on that but we hope to make amends at Le Mans which is our main focus now.”
Were there any particular issues with the car in Spa?
“Not at all, in fact the car performed very well, it was responsive and competitive. We are able to rely on the technical capability of Nissan and the experience of the Signatech team, which gives us a good foundation. Jordan was unfortunately caught out at the end of this schedule stint and ended up colliding with the barrier which lost a lot of time in the pits. The mechanics worked really hard to get us back out there, even if it was frustrating sitting in the cockpit waiting to start my part of the race. It was even more annoying to get caught up in a mistake by another car when I was on track but there was little we could do at that stage. Jordan, Olivier and myself all set quick laps during our respective stints and it is this positive aspect that we take forward to Le Mans.”
You tested at Magny-Cours last week, what did you learn from that?
“It was good to get behind the wheel of the Oreca 03 just a few days after Spa and to focus on our preparations for Le Mans, which takes place in a few weeks. Both Signatech-Nissan cars were present, including our colleagues in the #26 G-Drive car, and we were able to work through a lot of preparatory work to find a good baseline. We completed around 700km over a seven hour test from 5pm right up to midnight to also give ourselves some night time running, a vital part of any Le Mans preparation. I am pleased with our approach and, as a team, we look forward to the 24 Hours race in anticipation of a strong result.”
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