Pierre Ragues and the popular Signatech-Alpine team have made up a significant number of places during the night-time period of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

 

Having handed over the Signatech-Alpine A450 to Nelson Panciatici late last night in 40th place overall, all three drivers, Panciatici, Pierre Ragues and Tristan Gommendy have been in action in the night to bring the A450 race car up into the top 25 overall and 12th in class.

 

The team had endured a torrid start to the race on Saturday with a number of issues contributing to its position down the order, but some determined driving in difficult conditions overnight has helped the team recover some of the lost places.

 

A number of lengthy safety car periods have kept the race under control in the night. An on-track collision brought a seventh safety car period out at 3am while Gommendy was at the wheel of the A450. This safety car was extended as rain made conditions tricky with Pierre Ragues resuming at 4am with full wet weather tyres. In the difficult conditions, Pierre had a spin early on in his triple stint but came back to complete his run into the early daylight hours, switching from wets to slicks as the track dried out.  

 

Pierre handed over to Nelson Panciatici shortly before 7am as the team carries on in 24th overall.

 

Pierre said: “We are still doing all we can to regain the ground and positions we lost in the first part of the race yesterday. The night-time session was controlled for some time as a result of the long safety car period but we have been able to use the racing conditions to make headway even if we are still a long way off where we know we should be competing. Still, there are plenty more hours to run of this race and we know just how difficult these last hours can be, so we will continue to work hard. The Signatech-Alpine mechanics have been fantastic, as always.”