[05-02-2016]
PIERRE RAGUES LANDS CORVETTE SEAT FOR 2016 WEC SEASON
French racer Pierre Ragues has today revealed a brand new partnership with Corvette and Larbre Competition for 2016, which will see the 32-year-old endurance ace take part in a full FIA World Endurance Championship programme in the GTE/Am class.
Ragues has built up an enviable career with 2016 marking the Frenchman’s tenth season in endurance racing, which will include a landmark tenth participation in the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours.
The Caen-born racer will join Japanese Yukata Yamagishi and Italian Paolo Ruberti in the cockpit of the #50 C7 R Corvette in the competitive GTE/Am category. As a multiple endurance race winner and 2013 European Le Mans Series Champion, Ragues brings to Corvette and Larbre Competition a wealth of expertise and driving skill, which will be a significant asset in helping the team position themselves at the forefront of GT racing this season.
QUICK Q+A WITH PIERRE RAGUES
Pierre, why have you made the switch to the GT class for 2016?
“This season will mark my tenth season in endurance racing and my tenth participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – at just the age of 32 – so I saw it as a turning point in my career. I started out in GT back in 2006 and I have since accumulated a great deal of experience alternating between LMP1 and LMP2. The idea of tackling the GT class in 2016 is very exciting and especially with great partners Larbre Competition and Corvette. I have always closely followed what was happening in GT racing, and it’s clear that the level is very high. The races are all hotly contested and often culminate in a thrilling championship battle. The GT class is fantastic and attracts a lot of manufacturer support alongside established greats like Corvette. The interest in the sport is important and will undoubtedly continue to grow.”
What gives the World Endurance Championship such appeal for you?
“I am very motivated to return to the WEC this season and to take the start of a global Championship is always special. The fact that the 24 Hours of Le Mans – a season highlight– is included in the calendar added to the appeal of this particular project, not only for me but also the team and our partners. This year’s Le Mans will be my tenth anniversary of taking part so it will be extra poignant. I had the fortune of winning the ELMS title in 2013 and fighting for victories in WEC is especially exciting. This is a championship that brings together some of the most famous manufacturers and that’s what sets it apart.”
Why the partnership with Corvette and Larbre Competition?
“I am very happy to join Larbre Competition. I had the opportunity to rub shoulders with them at Le Mans in 2014 and it is truly a great team. Corvette is a legendary brand with an amazing history and legacy. The idea of driving the C7 R already crossed my mind last year. Corvette's track record speaks for itself and it's very rewarding to join the ranks of a manufacturer with competition in its DNA. I want to congratulate them for their magnificent double at the 24 Hours of Daytona! Everything has come together with GT, Larbre and Corvette and I am looking forward to what promises to be a mutually rewarding season.”
WEC CALENDAR 2016
26/03 - 27/03 Prologue, HTTT Paul Ricard France
15/04 - 17/04 6h of Silverstone, Great Britain
05/05 - 07/05 6h of Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
04/06 - 05/06 Pre-test for 24h of Le Mans, Pays-de-la-Loire
18/06 - 19/06 24h of Le Mans, Pays-de-la-Loire
22/07 - 24/07 6h of Nürburgring, Germany
01/09 - 03/09 6h of Mexico
15/09 - 17/09 6h of Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas
14/10 - 16/10 6h of Fuji, Japan
04/11 - 06/11 6h of Shanghai, China
17/11 - 19/11 6h of Bahrain, Sakhir
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