[12-09-2016]
PIERRE RAGUES LOOKING TO CHASE AMERICAN DREAM IN 6H COTA
 It’s a quick turnaround for Pierre Ragues as the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship continues this week with the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas. The sixth round of the season comes just two weeks after the inaugural Mexico race.
Although Mexico was new ground for Pierre – and a difficult weekend for the Larbre Competition team – COTA will be a return to familiar territory as the Frenchman raced there in 2015.
Pierre had a competitive Mexico race, showing impressive pace in his stints, so he will be hoping to tap into the full potential of the #50 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R this weekend.
There are six entries in the competitive GTE-Am class once again, and with the pace of the Larbre Competition entry proven by the team’s podium results at Silverstone, Spa and Nürburgring earlier in the season. Pierre will be joined by team-mates Ricky Taylor and Yutaka Yamagishi in COTA, as the trio aim to return to the podium – this time on American soil.
The 5.513km 20-turn circuit offers an anti-clockwise challenge for drivers, along with a naturally undulating layout and an immense 133-foot hill running up to turn one. It’s a thrilling track that will offer Pierre the chance to bounce back and help the team win back its third place in the Championship.
Pierre commented: “I really enjoyed driving at COTA when I visited there for the first time last season. It’s an exciting and demanding track, one which is very rewarding to get right. We had a difficult weekend in Mexico but our pace was still good, so I hope we can have a trouble-free COTA event and make a bid for the podium. The Corvette is a pleasure to driver whatever the circuit but to be able to get to grips with the car on this awesome circuit will be very special. I’m looking forward to working alongside Ricky and Yutaka again. To have an American driver with us will hopefully just add to what promises to be a memorable COTA weekend. My partners Group Auto, Sparco and Ellip6 will be an important part of this American adventure, as well!”
Schedule
Thursday 15 September
8:00-9:30 Free Practice 1
14:45-16:15 Free Practice 2
Friday 16 September
10:30-11:30 Free Practice 3
17:45-18:05 Qualifying GTE
Saturday 17 September
17:00-23:00 6 Hours of COTA
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