French endurance star Pierre Ragues will get his 2015 World Endurance Championship season officially underway this week as the Prologue hosts all of this season’s competitors over a two-day test. 

 

Ragues is joining the newly formed Swiss-Japanese squad TEAM SARD-MORAND for a complete season in the WEC, which will take in eight rounds including the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours. For Ragues, this year will mark his ninth participation in the biggest endurance race in the world, making him one of the most experienced racers in the 24 hour event.

 

Joining Ragues in the #43 Dunlop shod Morgan will be Oliver Webb and Tristan Vautier as the trio look to secure competitive results in the competitive LMP2 class. 

 

The Prologue, run over Friday and Saturday, will be the first chance for Ragues and his new team-mates to establish a baseline setting with the new car in direct comparison with their fellow LMP2 competitors. The team’s main objective will be to prepare themselves and the car for the season-opening race, the 6 Hours of Silverstone, in April.

 

Ragues has strong form in endurance racing having contested WEC in 2012 and securing his best result with a podium at Silverstone. He claimed the European Le Mans Series title in 2013 and scored an additional victory in the series last year at Circuit Paul Ricard, where this week’s Prologue is held.     

 

The 31-year-old will also continue to be supported by his personal backers Group Auto as well as from Sparco. 

 

Pierre commented: “The start of a new season is like the first day back at school and the Prologue is always a special moment. Seeing all the competitors in all classes take part is wonderful and gives a true feeling of excitement for the season ahead. I am thrilled to be joining TEAM SARD-MORAND in LMP2 this year and to have the chance to put the Dunlop-equipped Morgan through its paces alongside my team-mates Oliver and Tristan. We have already built up a good working relationship in private testing and had some time to get acquainted with the car. This week’s Prologue will give us a chance to see how we go at a circuit where I have fond memories from previous seasons. We will keep focused on getting mileage on the car in all the sessions and making sure we are as well prepared for the first race – Silverstone – as possible. It’ll be a busy two days but I hope we will also have some great support when the circuit is open to the public on Saturday!” 

 

 

09:00 – 13:00     Session 1

14:00 - 18:00      Session 2

19:00 – 21:00     Session 3

 

09:00 – 13:00     Session 4

13:15 – 13:45     Drivers Autograph Session and Pitwalk

14:00 – 17:00     Session 5