Pierre Ragues has today joined the Signatech-Alpine team in Paris to formally unveil the team’s LMP2 challenger that will compete in this season’s European Le Mans Series and Le Mans 24 Hours. 

 

The car, which marks the return of the Alpine brand to endurance racing for the first time in 35 years, was presented at L’Atelier Renault in the French capital at lunchtime. 

 

The Champs Elysees venue provided the ideal backdrop to reveal the new Alpine prototype which is poised to compete in this year’s endurance racing season. Société des Automobiles Alpine-Caterham’s CEO Bernard Ollivier and Philippe Sinault, Signatech-Alpine Team Principal revealed the car, which displayed a striking blue and orange livery which recalls the colours sported by the Alpines which raced at Le Mans some five decades ago.

 

This season, Pierre Ragues will be partnered at all ELMS rounds by his 2012 team-mate Nelson Panciatici and, at the Le Mans 24 Hours also by Tristan Gommendy. The brand new Michelin-shod #36 Alpine will make its track debut at the official ELMS test days at Paul Ricard in France next week.

 

Pierre Ragues said: “What an honour it has been for me today to be part of this fantastic event and to formally present the new Signatech-Alpine car for 2013. It’s a great looking car and with an incredible livery. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel at next week’s Paul Ricard test and to continue where we left off earlier this month when we tested at Magny-Cours. I am also pleased to be joining forces with my 2012 team-mate Nelson Panciatici at all the ELMS races this season and with Tristan Gommendy at Le Mans. It promises to be a good season with a lot of competitive cars and some great circuits on the calendar. Together, also with my sponsors Group Auto Union, we look forward to the test next week and the opening races of the year as we build towards Le Mans flying the flag for Signatech-Alpine.”