[15-07-2013]
FRANCK MAILLEUX RETURNS TO ELMS ACTION FOR DEBUT RED BULL RING RACE
 French endurance star Franck Mailleux will be looking to capitalise on his strong performances this season as the European Le Mans Series resumes this weekend with the Red Bull Ring 3 Hours in Austria.
Franck, will once again be at the helm of the Morand Racing Morgan Judd LMP2 car with Natacha Gachnang, as he aims to build on their seventh place in the championship standings. The duo impressed in the opening two rounds of the ELMS championship earlier this year with a race-leading performance at Silverstone followed by a maiden podium of the season at Imola in May, in which they finished in third place.
Franck is well rested and raring to go following the gruelling Le Mans 24 Hours week which saw him put in a sublime performance to help the Morand Racing team into the top six of the competitive LMP2 category in some of the toughest conditions ever experienced at Le Mans.
The team is now fully focussed once again on the ELMS championship with Red Bull Ring making its debut on the championship calendar. It will be the first time that Franck and Morand Racing contest the 4.326km circuit, formerly known as the A1-Ring, which underwent significant redevelopment before its reopening in 2011. Competition will be as fierce as ever with 29 cars and 60 drivers participating with ten LMP2 cars vying for the podium places.
Quick Q+A with Franck Mailleux
Franck, are you looking forward to returning to ELMS action this weekend?
“We have had a couple of weeks to recover from an intense Le Mans week so it will be good to return to the cockpit and compete at the Red Bull Ring, a new venue for me and for ELMS; it promises to be an exciting challenge. We showed strong pace at Le Mans so I would like to continue where we left off at the last ELMS race in Imola with a podium finish and to build on our seventh place in the championship.”
Do you think the Morand Racing team has gelled well this season?
“I have had a fantastic time with the Morand Racing team and it has been a great experience to work with them, and together with Natacha. We get on very well and I think our experiences and abilities are an ideal fit. The LMP2 field is really competitive this year so we have to be on top form at all times. The Morgan Judd LMP2 and Dunlop tyres is a strong package and I know that when things run smoothly, we are more than capable to fight for the podium and even the win, as we showed with our competitiveness at Silverstone and Imola. Red Bull Ring will be a level playing field and I am confident we can do well.”
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