Pierre Ragues and the Signatech-Alpine team have this afternoon taken the 2013 European Le Mans Series title after an intense and incident-filled 3 Hours of Le Castellet at Circuit Paul Ricard in which they took the chequered flag in fourth place.

 

The return of the Alpine brand to endurance racing could not have been marked with a more fitting result as Pierre, together with team-mate Nelson Panciatici and the rest of the Signatech-Alpine crew, did everything that was required of them to take the title against fierce competition. Alpine last won a European endurance championship 39 years ago.

 

The team needed a points-scoring finish ahead of the Thiriet by TDS Racing team to claim the ELMS title and fourth place was more than enough, although the race itself was marked with some nail-biting moments. The result was not only special for the team but also a significant achievement for tyre partners Michelin who have contested this year’s ELMS impressively with just one partner team. It was Michelin’s return to LMP2 this year and to win in their first season back against such established opposition represents a huge result for the French manufacturer.

 

Pierre Ragues started the race from fourth on the grid and in a packed opening lap, he had to be cautious to avoid contact and compromising the race, which in turn lost him a place. As the team’s nearest rivals accelerated away, drama struck as a wheel came loose from the Thiriet LMP2 car which dropped them right down the order. Even so, it was not plain sailing for Signatech-Alpine in the Michelin-shod A450 race car as Jota Sport was still mathematically in contention if points were not scored. 

 

As Pierre pitted for fuel from sixth place, he returned to action determined to make up places, which he duly did, making good use of his own driving skill and the car performance to bring the team into fourth after 25 laps. At the race’s midway point, Pierre had done his job and handed over to Nelson Panciatici still in fourth place and on course for the desired result.

 

However, it was during Nelson’s stint that drama struck once more as the steering wheel broke, which required an unscheduled stop for repairs. The Signatech-Alpine team performed excellently and professionally, as they have all season, to fix the steering wheel losing one minute of time but ensuring Nelson returned to the track in fifth place.  He then focussed on making up as much time and positions as possible, with a precautionary tyre change stop late in the race, to bring the car home in a solid fourth spot – and most importantly the 2013 ELMS title!  

 

The result is additionally an ideal present for Pierre Ragues’s father Marcel, who celebrates his birthday today in championship winning style.

 

2013 European Le Mans Series champion, Pierre Ragues said: “Amazing! What a feeling to take the title after our most stressful race of the season. The entire team, from the guys at Signatech, our partners at Alpine, the fantastic technical support from Michelin, to my sponsors Group Auto and the support we have received from Ellip6 and their simulators, this result means a huge amount. It is particularly special to take my first title in endurance racing and to be part of this historic and memorable return for Alpine to endurance racing. I am proud to be part of Alpine’s return and taking this championship title with Alpine represents a big step in my career. This race had all the drama possible and the team of mechanics performed calmly and professionally to minimise the disruption to our challenge. Without their work, this simply would not have been possible. Both Nelson and myself have made a great partnership this season; I feel that I have driven better than ever and the car and Michelin tyres have provided a competitive race and championship-winning package. I am overjoyed with this result and it will take some time to sink in. For now, we will celebrate as a team and enjoy the special moment, which I am also honoured to share with my father who celebrates his birthday today!”