[23-07-2013]
PIERRE RAGUES IMPRESSES AT RED BULL RING AS SIGNATECH-ALPINE CONSOLIDATES SECOND IN STANDINGS
 The Red Bull Ring 3 Hours heralded another outstanding performance from Pierre Ragues and the Signatech-Alpine team as the team battled back from a post-qualifying penalty that saw them at the back of the LMP2 field.
In warm conditions and competing on a short 4.3km track, the race wasn’t without its complications but, from eighth on the grid, Pierre and his team-mate Nelson Panciatici fought their way through to an eventual second place in the competitive A450 race car.
The result has consolidated Signatech-Alpine’s second place in the ELMS standings after three races. Pierre himself finds himself in third place in the championship as a result of fourth place at Silverstone and two runner-up finishes at Imola and Austria, which has taken his points total to 48.
Quick Q+A with Pierre Ragues
Pierre, were you expecting to finish so strongly in your first visit to Red Bull Ring?
“We had a great preparation for this race and worked strongly as a team so I knew we would be capable of a strong result. The weekend did not run as smoothly as it could have done but we overcame the difficulties in a professional manner which helped us achieve our target of a podium. The work I carried out on the Ellip6 simulators definitely aided my own preparations but we had a lot of track time in practice and the pace of the A450 was extremely good.”
What were the difficulties that you mention?
“Nelson did a great job to qualify the car on provisional pole position but he was judged to have set one of his sectors under a yellow flag. The penalty was to put us at the back of the LMP2 field, which was a real disadvantage. Nevertheless, we got on with the job in hand and fought hard in the race to make up positions. I pushed as hard as I could but the hot conditions meant that we had to keep some performance in reserve to manage the car and tyres. It was a measured race but I think we could have competed for the win had we been allowed to start in a more representative position on the grid.”
What are your plans for the summer?
“The summer break gives us a chance to rest after a busy few months and to look ahead to the rest of the season with enthusiasm. We have two more races to build on our performances so far and we will work hard as a team to end the season as strongly as possible for ourselves, the Alpine name and, from my point of view, for my sponsors Group Auto. First, though, we have an important event at the legendary Alpine factory in Dieppe on Wednesday, which I am really looking forward to.”
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