[08-02-2019]
PIERRE RAGUES REVEALS 2019 EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES CAMPAIGN WITH DUQUEINE ENGINEERING
 French race ace Pierre Ragues will re-join the highly regarded Duqueine Engineering squad for a full 2019 European Le Mans Series campaign in the LMP2 Oreca 07.
Pierre will line up in a competitive field of racing talent alongside teammates Nicolas Jamin and Richard Bradley for the six-event season which get underway in mid-April.
In his debut season with the team in 2018, Pierre demonstrated his impressive credentials, fighting regularly in front-running positions. Showing maturity and speed, Pierre helped the team to claim a podium at the opening round of the season, and then to feature strongly in each of the subsequent rounds.
A full season programme in 2019 continues Pierre’s illustrious endurance racing career that dates back to his inaugural season in 2006, in which he also contested the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time. Since then, he has gone on to become one of the safest pairs of hands in endurance. He has twice finished on the Le Mans 24 Hours podium, including fourth overall in the prestigious event in 2017, as well as being crowned ELMS champion in 2013.
Returning to Duqueine Engineering, whose owner Gilles Duqueine was named “Man of the Year” for his efforts in ELMS in 2018, Pierre will look to capitalise on the promise shown with the Michelin-equipped Oreca 07 last year.
A pre-season test session at Le Castellet will take place on 8-9 April before the championship begins in earnest at the same venue later that same week. The series will then take in four-hour races at Monza, Barcelona, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and Portimão.
Pierre will benefit once again from the support of his portfolio of personal partners, including GroupAuto, Yacco and Ellip6 throughout the season.
Pierre commented: “I am thrilled to be returning to Duqueine Engineering for a complete ELMS campaign in 2019. They are a highly motivated and professional team, whose unrelenting passion for racing equals my own. We had a generally positive season last year, regularly in the fight for podiums with the Oreca 07 and Michelin tyres. It was only misfortune that prevented us from finishing in a better overall position. My aim for this season is to repeat those sorts of performances but to translate that into the results we know we are capable of. I am humbled by the team’s faith in me, and the continued support of my sponsors, and hope we can enjoy a competitive season, together with my talented teammates Nicolas and Richard. It promises to be a great year. Le Castellet can’t come soon enough!”
Duqueine Engineering Team Principal, Yann Belhomme commented: “We are delighted to welcome Pierre back for a second season with our team in the competitive ELMS series. Pierre is an exceptional talent, and he proved many times last year that he can compete with the very best in endurance racing. We have signed him for his speed inside the car, his professionalism and experience out of it, and overall for the team spirit that he displays. He’s a valuable part of our team and we are confident we will enjoy a competitive season together.”
2019 European Le Mans Series Calendar
8-9 April Prologue (Le Castellet)
12-14 April 4 Hours of Le Castellet
10-12 May 4 Hours of Monza
19-21 July 4 Hours of Barcelona
30-31 August 4 Hours of Silverstone
20-22 September 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
25-27 October 4 Hours of Portimao
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