[27-09-2013]
TROUBLE-FREE START FOR PIERRE RAGUES AND SIGNATECH-ALPINE IN PAUL RICARD PRACTICE
 It was the calm before the storm at Circuit Paul Ricard today as teams began their initial preparations for the final race of the European Le Mans Series, the 3 Hours of Le Castellet, which is set to take place tomorrow afternoon.
Pierre Ragues and the Signatech-Alpine team had a trouble-free day completing a total of 65 laps across both free practice sessions as they mount a challenge against the Thiriet by TDS Racing team for the 2013 ELMS championship title.
Both teams are equal on points after the four rounds of the season so far with everything still to play for in this thrilling season finale. The opening practice session showed how closely fought the two teams are as the Michelin-shod Signatech-Alpine A450 took the top spot by just 0.002s.
As the team focussed on tyre evaluation in the afternoon, Pierre and his team-mate Nelson Panciatici claimed the fourth best time concentrating on their own particular programme ahead of the all-important qualifying and afternoon race.
Pierre Ragues said: “Today was all about completing our own run plan and not getting too distracted with lap times and performance. We worked hard and completed a lot of laps in both sessions which has given us valuable information to prepare the car for tomorrow’s qualifying. It is an important weekend and we will be doing all we can to put up the best fight for the title as we possibly can. The Signatech-Alpine A450 and Michelin tyre package has been strong at each round this season so I am confident we will be able to continue this performance level tomorrow when it will really count! I look forward to the challenge.”
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