Pierre Ragues and the Signatech-Alpine team have set a blistering pace around the Red Bull Ring so far this weekend with provisional pole position in this morning’s qualifying session underlining their competitiveness. 

 

Unfortunately, Pierre’s team-mate Nelson Panciatici was subsequently reprimanded as a result of an adjudged yellow flag infringement on his quickest lap, pushing the A450 from pole to eighth place – at the rear of the LMP2 line-up. However, the team, while being disappointed at the penalty, knows it has the pace to compete at the front in this afternoon’s race.

 

The first visit to the Red Bull Ring for the European Le Mans Series and for most teams and drivers has put a premium on track time in the sessions so far. Signatech-Alpine has hit the ground running with 67 laps completed by Pierre and his team-mate Nelson Panciatici in Friday’s two practice sessions.

 

In hot and dry conditions, the Signatech-Alpine A450 has performed admirably with Michelin also providing tyres that are working well around the 4.326km Austrian track. Pierre will be starting the three hour race later this afternoon hoping to translate the obvious pace of the car into another fine result to follow up the team’s fourth place at Silverstone and second at Imola in May.