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[16-07-2018]
PIERRE RAGUES RETURNS TO ACTION AT RED BULL RING Photo News
Pierre Ragues returns to track action this week as the 2018 European Le Mans Series resumes at the 4.318km Red Bull Ring in Austria. 
 
The third round of the season will see 42 cars line up for battle, two months after the previous race at Monza in Italy back in May. 
 
Pierre will once again race for Duqueine Engineering, driving the #29 Oreca 07 LMP2 car alongside Nelson Panciatici and Nicolas Jamin. The trio scored a podium at the season-opener at Le Castellet before enduring a more difficult weekend at Monza after starting impressively from the front row. 
 
Duqueine Engineering holds fourth place in the LMP2 teams’ classification on 23 points with Pierre aiming to improve upon fifth place in the LMP2 drivers’ standings in Austria this weekend.
 
The performance of the Oreca 07 car, and the Michelin tyres, has already demonstrated its potential to fight at the front in class. Pierre is well acquainted with the Red Bull Ring from previous endurance events, so will be expecting to get quickly up to speed once free practice begins on Friday. 
 
The slower nature of the ten-turn Spielberg circuit will offer a different test to both Paul Ricard and Monza tracks, with a competitive field of 18 LMP2 cars all vying for glory. Pierre will have chance to prepare for the weekend by taking part in a collective test at the track on Wednesday.
  
For Pierre, who will again be supported by GroupAuto, Yacco, Spaco and Ellip6, the objective will be firmly set on securing one of the steps on the Red Bull Ring podium, as the ELMS season approaches its halfway mark.  
 
Quick Q+A with Pierre Ragues
 
How are you feeling after a two-month break since Monza?
“I am feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready to get back to racing. It feels like an eternity since Monza but I’ve had the opportunity to spend some time with my family and to prepare – mentally and physically – for the final four rounds of the season with Duqueine Engineering, and my team-mates Nelson and Nicolas. We are close to the halfway mark of the 2018 season so it will be important to build some positive momentum.”  
 
Did you feel sad to miss Le Mans this year?
“It was a strange feeling not to be racing at Le Mans, having competed there every year for ten years. It’s such a special event but it was certainly a different feeling watching it from outside of the cockpit. Of course, I followed it very closely but I would be much happier being a competitor rather than a viewer. I certainly hope to be racing there next season.”
 
Red Bull Ring is a track you are familiar with; what’s your plan for this weekend?  
“I enjoyed my previous visits to Red Bull Ring, and I am expecting to be competitive in this year’s ELMS round. The Duqueine Engineering team are a great bunch of people and our Oreca 07 car and Michelin tyres make a very competitive technical package. I am also fortunate to have the support of some great partners, too, with GroupAuto, Yacco, Sparco and Ellip6. LMP2 is a hotly contested category so we have to be on top of our game in all sessions in order to be in the mix. We certainly have all the ingredients to perform well this weekend. We will make good use of the collective test on Wednesday to find the right set-up on the car and to get into a rhythm before practice begins in earnest on Friday.”
 
4 Hours of Red Bull Ring Schedule
 
Wednesday 18 July
09:00-11:00 Collective Test Session 1
13:00-15:00 Collective Test Session 2
17:00-19:00 Collective Test Session 3
 
Friday 20 July 
11:15-12:45 Free Practice 1
 
Saturday 21 July
09:15-10:45 Free Practice 2
14:20-14:30 LMP2 Qualifying
 
Sunday 22 July 
12:00-16:00 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring
 
LMP2 Teams’ Standings (before Red Bull Ring)
1. G-Drive Racing 37
2. TDS Racing 36
3. Racing Engineering 35
4. Duqueine Engineering 23
 
LMP2 Drivers’ Standings (before Red Bull Ring)
1. Andrea Pizzitola / Roman Rusinov 37
2. Francois Perrodo / Loic Duval / Matthieu Vaxiviere 36
3. Norman Nato / Olivier Pla / Paul Petit 35
4. Jean-Eric Vergne 25
5. Pierre Ragues / Nelson Panciatici / Nicolas Jamin 23