Box Latest News
Photo News[18-04-2013]
FRANCK MAILLEUX REFLECTS ON CHALLENGING DEBUT RACE FOR MORAND RACING [Full Article]
Photo News[18-04-2013]
PIERRE RAGUES BUOYED BY ENCOURAGING SILVERSTONE RESULT FOR SIGNATECH-ALPINE [Full Article]
Photo News[13-04-2013]
PIERRE RAGUES BATTLES HARD TO FOURTH AS RAIN ENDS SILVERSTONE 3 HOURS EARLY [Full Article]
Photo News[13-04-2013]
WET SILVERSTONE 3 HOURS ENDS IN DISAPPOINTMENT FOR RACE-LEADING FRANCK MAILLEUX [Full Article]
Photo News[12-04-2013]
FRANCK MAILLEUX SNAPPED UP BY MORAND RACING FOR COMPLETE 2013 ELMS SEASON [Full Article]
[18-04-2013]
FRANCK MAILLEUX REFLECTS ON CHALLENGING DEBUT RACE FOR MORAND RACING Photo News

French endurance racer Franck Mailleux was denied the chance to compete for glory at last weekend’s 3 Hours of Silverstone having superbly led the opening race of the season for much of the first hour thanks to a brilliant team strategy. 

The Silverstone circuit was hit by heavy rain, which ultimately brought Saturday afternoon’s race to an early conclusion with a lengthy safety car period followed by a red flag. For Franck, though, the race was over just before the one-third race distance when, while leading, he hit standing water and aquaplaned helplessly into the tyre barrier.

In the conditions, Franck was unable to rejoin the race and registered a disappointing DNF, but in his maiden race with the Morand Racing squad, there were plenty of positives to take from the weekend. The team made an excellent strategic call at the start of the race to put Franck on full wet weather tyres, setting him up to lead the race until his unavoidable retirement. Franck now gears up for a full ELMS programme in the Morand Racing Morgan Judd LMP2 car.

Franck, obviously a disappointing result but a positive weekend nonetheless…?

“Yes, it was a frustrating – and early – end to our Silverstone 3 Hours but with plenty of positives to take forward as we prepare for Imola. Firstly, I was pleased to be confirmed as race driver for Morand Racing for the complete ELMS campaign at the start of the weekend and to have the opportunity to get a feel for the Morand Racing Morgan Judd LMP2 in competitive conditions. We are still in the early stages of our new partnership so it was encouraging to be battling at the sharp end, to lead the race and to show that we will be contenders in ELMS this season." 

How difficult is it to adapt to changing weather conditions like we saw at Silverstone?

“For the first race of the season, especially when still getting to grips with a new car and tyres, it is preferable to have consistent conditions, rather than the wet-dry-wet that we had at Silverstone. It is the same situation for everybody but Saturday’s race was just one of those things. The team made an exceptional call to pit me early for full wet tyres and that enabled me to lead the race. When you are setting the pace in wet conditions it’s tough but I felt comfortable and competitive which is why it was such a shame to aquaplane out of the race. It was still a positive weekend, and a good team experience, but I definitely hope for better in Imola."