The G-Drive by Signatech-Nissan team will start tomorrow’s 6 Hours of Sao Paulo from third place on the LMP2 grid and tenth place overall after a positive qualifying session at Interlagos today. 

On qualifying duties for the team today was Nelson Panciatici who took the Dunlop-shod #26 Nissan-powered Oreca 03 to third in class, laying solid foundations for the team. Team-mate Pierre Ragues is now hoping to use the result to continue the positive run of results that the team has enjoyed recently.

It has been a trouble-free and competitive weekend for the G-Drive by Signatech-Nissan team so far with 139 laps of the Interlagos track completed over the three free practice sessions with times regularly in the top three in class. In this morning’s practice session, the #26 car topped the timesheets after an excellent performance by Pierre and the team.

The performance has been even more impressive considering it is the first time that Signatech-Nissan has competed in Brazil and the first time at the technically challenging and physically demanding circuit for Ragues. The anti-clockwise nature of the circuit places extra strain on the left hand side of the neck for drivers but Pierre has coped well as a result of his training preparation and his time in the Ellip6 simulator before the race weekend.

Pierre Ragues said: “It has been a fantastic team effort so far this week. We have completed a huge number of laps in the three practice sessions which has allowed us to find a good set-up and balance on the #26 Oreca 03. There was a big change in track and ambient temperature between this morning practice and qualifying but we are pleased with our result. It is our first time here and it is a challenging track to drive, so it has been quite rewarding to be on the pace. Driving in an anti-clockwise direction requires a different approach to driving but I feel that I am coping well. We were quickest in LMP2 this morning and have regularly been among the top three in class. Nelson performed well in qualifying and his result sets us up nicely to continue our run of good results. It would be great to get another podium here this weekend and I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel in the race tomorrow.”