[07-05-2014]
PIERRE RAGUES JOINS LARBRE COMPETITION FOR LE MANS 24 HOURS
.jpg&maxsize2=250) French race ace Pierre Ragues is set to compete in his eighth Le Mans 24 Hours after announcing a new partnership with Larbre Competition for the most prestigious event on the endurance calendar.
The partnership will see Ragues compete at Le Mans in a Michelin-shod Morgan Judd LMP2 car with support from Onroak Automotive as GT specialists Larbre Competition make their prototype debut this season.
The French driver is no stranger to Larbre Competition or the Morgan Judd LMP2 car as he joined the team for testing at Paul Ricard earlier in the season. Preparations for Le Mans will get underway fully at the official test day at La Sarthe on 1 June where Pierre will share driving duties with his new Le Mans team-mates Rick Taylor and Keiko Ihara.
With its illustrious GT history, Larbre and Le Mans are a proven combination. The team has won countless races and championships across the full range of ACO organised championships, and has been present at Le Mans for the past 20 years. The team was recently granted its entry into the Le Mans 24 Hours and in its first season of prototype racing, Larbre will benefit significantly from Pierre’s vast experience at the forefront of Le Mans.
Pierre Ragues said: “I am delighted to announce this partnership with Larbre Competition, one of the most successful teams in endurance racing, and to have the chance to compete in my eighth Le Mans 24 Hours. No racing season is complete without this fantastic event so I am pleased to be joining Larbre for this year’s spectacle. I had the opportunity to test the Morgan Judd LMP2 and Michelin tyres at Paul Ricard earlier in the year but our preparations for the big event will intensify at the official test at the circuit at the start of next month. I have a lot of experience at Le Mans, including podium success, so I am sure I will be able to contribute a lot to Larbre’s first Le Mans with a prototype. I’d like to thank Alpine for allowing me to compete with Larbre and also my personal sponsors Group Auto.”
Jack Leconte, Team Owner added: “Larbre Competition is thrilled to have the services of Pierre for our first Le Mans with a prototype racer. His expertise in Le Mans and endurance racing are vast and we will really benefit from his insight and driving skill in this new chapter of Le Mans for our team. Pierre’s ability to settle into our team and to integrate himself so quickly to the working operations of our squad in the Prologue at Paul Ricard was a key factor in including him in our Le Mans 24 Hours line-up. We look forward to working with him more.”
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