Franck Mailleux and his Signatech-Nissan team-mates will have the opportunity to put the disappointment of Brazil behind them quickly as the FIA World Endurance Championship heads to Bahrain for the sixth of eight rounds.

Next weekend’s 6 Hours of Bahrain will see the FIA WEC participants compete around the 6.299km endurance layout of the Bahrain International Circuit, which marks the debut endurance event in the country. Competitors will race into the night as the Saturday race concludes at 22.00 (local time) after six hours of hard-fought racing.

Franck will once again line-up alongside Jordan Tresson and Olivier Lombard in the #23 Nissan-powered Oreca 03 car, as the trio search for an elusive result in this debut WEC season. A total of 11 cars will contest the LMP2 category, continuing the competitive nature of this year’s field. Franck and the team were forced to retire from last weekend’s 6 Hours of Sao Paulo after a suspected wheel nut problem caused a wheel to come loose, so Signatech-Nissan will be hoping to bounce back.

Quick Q+A with Franck Mailleux

Franck, have you been able to stay motivated after another disappointing race in Brazil?

“It is true that our resolve is being tested a little bit this season but we know how racing can be sometimes and we just have to keep pushing, keep optimistic and know in ourselves what we are capable of. I take consolation from the pace of our Signatech-Nissan Oreca 03 in most races this season, how well we gel as a team and how we approach our racing. I am hoping we can show this in Bahrain.”

Were you pleased with your performance in Brazil?

“I enjoyed racing at Interlagos and to compete on such a well-known circuit. Practice was good and we were on the lead pace quite frequently, including a session-topping time on Thursday. I didn’t have a great qualifying and couldn’t put a clean lap together but I made up for that at the start of the race to challenge for top two in class. Unfortunately, the problem with the wheel prevented us from fighting for a podium, but we know we can do it.”

And now Bahrain, another new track for you?

“Yes, it is true that Bahrain is another new track for me, but in fact it is another new track for the entire championship. This will be the first endurance event in Bahrain, although there are a few drivers who will know aspects of the circuit layout from Formula One. It will be a new challenge, which I really enjoy and I am looking forward to it. As usual, we have three practice sessions which will give us a chance to learn the track and begin our set-up work – that will be important.”

What are your expectations from this race?    

“As usual, we have to set high expectations because we always enter race weekends with the objective of fighting for the top step of the LMP2 podium. We are entering the sixth race weekend of the season, so we have plenty of experience with the team and the car to draw from and I know we will do the best we can. We have shown the car’s podium potential but we have to make sure we have a trouble-free event, right up to the chequered flag, so we’ll see where we are then.”