Endurance ace Franck Mailleux is hoping to make a sensational return to the Le Mans podium as he competes in this year’s 24 Hour race, the 90th anniversary of the legendary event, with Morand Racing.

 

Mailleux, who finished second in the LMP2 category at Le Mans just two years ago, will be looking to capitalise on the potential of the team’s Morgan Judd LMP2 package which heralded a podium result at the last round of the European Le Mans Series at Imola last month.

 

The recent official test day enabled the team to focus on the set-up of their Dunlop-shod car with all three drivers completing valuable mileage despite inclement weather and a trio of red flag periods during the day. 

 

This year’s Le Mans 24 Hours commemorates the 90th anniversary of the famous motorsport event which continues to play an important role on the international motorsport calendar, as demonstrated by the number of high profile participating drivers and teams. 

 

The field will be one of the most competitive ever putting a premium on team preparations, pace and reliability over the gruelling 24-hour period. Nonetheless, the Morand Racing team will be looking to put its combined experience to good use, while Franck Mailleux himself will be taking part in his fifth Le Mans 24 Hours this year, ensuring a potent combination. 

 

Franck will be sharing the cockpit of the Morand Racing Morgan Judd LMP2 with his ELMS team-mate Natacha Gachnang as well as his 2012 Le Mans team-mate Olivier Lombard. The result from Le Mans will not count towards the team’s ELMS classification, in which they are currently in sixth place courtesy of the third place finish at Imola, and regulations will permit the team to race with a new engine at Le Mans. The team will be looking to complete final preparations during the practice and qualifying sessions to make sure that it can mount a fight for the LMP2 podium in the toughest race of the year.

 

Franck Mailleux said: “There is always an air of expectation, anticipation and excitement in the build-up to Le Mans but that feels even more intense this year with the 90th anniversary. I am really pleased to be a part of the Morand Racing team for this incredible event and we hope to continue the positive form that we have shown in the first two races of the European Le Mans Series. We have a quick car in the Morgan Judd LMP2, a good tyre partner with Dunlop and I am happy to share the driving duties with Natacha and Olivier, so we have plenty of reason to be optimistic. Of course, Le Mans is an arduous event with a lot of work to do during the week, both on track and off, but I love every aspect of the event. I will be looking forward particularly to the support of the crowd, who really deliver a special atmosphere to Le Mans each year. We have carried out a lot of important work and were able to get some valuable running at the recent test so there is no reason why we can’t set our sights on the podium. I am confident in our package and we will do all we can to realise our goal.”