23:00 local time

 

Pierre Ragues has made a competitive start to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, after his first stints in the #43 Morgan Sard Evo this evening, with TEAM SARD Morand running 5th after eight hours.

 

The team started from tenth on the grid in LMP2 with Olivier Webb on duties for the prestigious event. Webb made a good start to the race, keeping out of trouble on the opening laps to move up to eighth in class.

 

A safety car period after the first hour reset the gaps but Webb picked up the pace into the second hour to get the car up to fifth place by the time he handed over to Zoel Amberg. Amberg also had to contend with a long safety car period but kept his cool in the hot conditions at Le Mans to keep a top six placing.

 

He handed over to Pierre at 20:00 local time with the experienced Frenchman completing very competitive stints. Setting a good pace, Pierre kept the team firmly in the top six and, with 16 hours left to run, he took fifth place before putting to hand back to Webb. 

 

The team has set some of the fastest pit stops of the entire race, which have allowed them to keep an advantage. There remains plenty of opportunity for the team to capitalise on the performance of the car and the drivers as the event moves into the night. 

 

Pierre said: “I had some great stints in the car this evening. All three of us drivers have run well, getting the most out of the car and we have made up a lot of ground. To be in the top five heading into the night session is a very good place to be. Anything can happen so we will keep pushing and hope for the best. I love this place, the support and the atmosphere – and we are entering the magical night period which is when Le Mans becomes truly special.”