24h Le Mans
The Swiss driver Mathias Beche fittingly celebrated his return to Thiriet by TDS Racing with Pierre Thiriet, with a win for the Oreca-Nissan of the French team, who are 2012 ELMS title holders. After finishing fourth the first round at Silverstone last month the Signatech Alpine prototype (based on an Oreca chassis) A450 scored a first podium finish. A female driver on the podium too, the Swiss Natacha Gachnang with Franck Mailleux, finished third at the wheel of the Morgan-Judd of Morand Racing. Paul-Loup Chatain and Gary Hirsch won the LM PC class.
In LM GTE the race finished with Ferrari 458 Italia occupying the top three places. Ram Racing took victory and third place: the winners Johnny Mowlem, Matt Griffin and Gunnar Jeannette, Frankie Montecalvo in third. Second were Federico Leo, Piegiuseppe Perazzini and Marco Cioci (AF Corse). Another 458 Italia victory in the GTC class with SMP Racing, with Fabio Babini, Viktor-Shaitar and Kirill Ladygin. In third place was the Lamborghini Gallardo of Peter Kox and Niko Pronk.
This second round of the European Le Mans Series is the final endurance race before the 24 Hours of Le Mans (22nd & 23rd June). The next ELMS round is on the 19th and 20th July in Austria on the Red Bull Ring.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO
Photo : First podium for the Alpine Nissan A450, thanks to Pierre Ragues and Nelson Panciatici. It's partitcipation in the 90th anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans is eagerly awaited by French race fans.
