 [29-12-2008]
MAILLEUX TO CONTEST LE MANS SERIES WITH SIGNATURE
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 [22-12-2008]
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 [10-12-2008]
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[28-11-2008]
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 [28-11-2008]
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[29-12-2008]
MAILLEUX TO CONTEST LE MANS SERIES WITH SIGNATURE
 Frenchman Franck Mailleux will compete for Signature on the Le Mans Series in 2009 as well as the Le Mans 24 Hours, where he will share the team’s LMP1 Oreca-Judd with his compatriot Pierre Ragues.
The 23 year-old has contested the Formula 3 Euroseries with Signature this year, claiming an emphatic victory at Brands Hatch in England. Now he takes the next step up in his career with a move to the 650-horsepower premier category of the Le Mans Series and his debut in the Le Mans 24 Hours: arguably the world’s most famous race. It is also an important premiere for Signature, which moves into endurance racing for the first time.
After starting his career on mountain bikes, Franck moved into karts and subsequently single-seaters, claiming the 2006 British Formula Renault Winter Series title. He then graduated to the prestigious Formula 3 Euroseries, marking himself out with some assertive drives that underlined his obvious natural talent. This year, he delivered a win at Brands Hatch as well as two podiums, having finished second in the 2007 rookie rankings with a win at Mugello, as well as pole position at the Zolder F3 Masters.
He tested Signature’s LMP1 car for the first time earlier this month at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France, and is now delighted to conclude a deal with the team – which has traditionally been a dominant force in single-seaters both at home in France and abroad.
“I am very happy to stay with the Signature team for this new challenge,” said Mailleux. “We have enjoyed a successful collaboration for some time now and I am delighted to be able to continue it into the future. I would also like to sincerely thank Volkswagen, our engine partner in the Formula 3 Euroseries, for all the hard work they have put in over the course of 2008 – which allowed me to claim a memorable win at Brands Hatch. The world of sportscar racing is completely new to me though, so I will have a lot to learn. However, I’m fortunate to have a great time behind me and also a great team mate in Pierre Ragues. I am sure that he will be able to teach me a lot, so that we can hit the ground running from the very first race.”
Philippe Sinault, the team principal of Signature, said: “Franck is very much a known quantity to us, and we have always appreciated his abilities and personality. I’m very happy that we will continue to work together in 2009. In Franck and Pierre I think we have the perfect line-up with which to face our debut season in the Le Mans Series, which is sure to be a tough but very exciting challenge for everybody.”
The six-round Le Mans Series gets underway in Spain from April 4-5 and also takes in races at classic tracks such as Spa and Silverstone. The 77th Le Mans 24 Hours will take place from June 13-14. Prior to the start of the season, an official test weekend is scheduled at Paul Ricard in France from March 8-9.
For more information:
www.franckmailleux.com
www.quadrasports.com
Ajaccio, 29 December 2008
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