[14-06-2014]
STRONG START TO LE MANS 24 HOURS FOR PIERRE RAGUES
.jpg&maxsize2=250) 22:00 local time
French endurance ace Pierre Ragues has had a strong start to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with competitive stints behind the wheel of the Larbre Competition LMP2 car.
Starting from 25th on the grid, Ragues got the 24 hour race underway for the Larbre Competition team, making a good start to gain important positions on the opening laps.
Ragues began his eighth Le Mans participation with a double stint in dry conditions rising as high as 19th overall and 11th in the competitive LMP2 class. He handed over the #50 Morgan Judd LMP2 car to his team-mate Ricky Taylor but it wasn’t long before chaos unravelled at the 13.629km Circuit de la Sarthe.
A sudden rain downpour led to a number of accidents which brought out a lengthy Safety Car period. The team used the opportunity to share driving duties between Taylor and Japanese racer Keiko Ihara in the difficult conditions.
Ihara handed over once again to Taylor who had a trouble-free double stint to consolidate 11th place in LMP2. Pierre Ragues took over control of the #50 car at 20:00 local time for a triple stint, although this was cut short due a safety car deployment at 21:45.
Ragues performed exceptionally in his stints, setting competitive lap times in the Morgan Judd LMP2 car to help the Larbre Competition team up to 17th overall and into the top ten of LMP2 after seven hours of 24.
Pierre Ragues said: “I opted for a cautious start because I didn’t want to compromise our race so early on. It was the correct approach because we were quickly able to make up a few positions. I had a very strong double stint to start the race and we made it up to the top 20 overall and 11th in class. Unfortunately, just after I handed over to Ricky, the weather took a turn for the worst and there were a few incidents which brought out the safety car. Ricky and Keiko drove well in the tricky conditions and I was able to take over again in the evening. I was very comfortable in the car, and quick, setting strong lap times to help us into the top ten in LMP2 at over quarter distance of this race. We will now continue to push during the night to try and make up more positions. The team has performed fantastically well and we’re having a good race.”
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