24h Le Mans
After the 4 Hours of the Red Bull Ring last July, French driver Pierre Ragues will once again team up with Christian Klien and Gary Hirsch for the two remaining rounds of the 2014 European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
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Photo : CHRISTOPHE JOUNIAUX / VSA
After finishing fifth in Austria the driving squad of the #43 Morgan-Judd BMW with Dunlop tyres entered by the Swiss team is confirmed for the end of the ELMS season. Aged 30, Pierre Ragues is the ELMS reigning champion in the LMP2 class, and also started the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times. With Christian Klien (former Peugeot driver in LMP1 and only former Formula 1 driver to compete in LMP2 in the 2014 ELMS) and Gary Hirsch (the ELMS defending champion in the LMPC class), this line-up combines speed and experience to continue the battle in the top 5 of the 2014 ELMS.
Pierre Ragues: “I received a great welcome from the team and I rapidly felt comfortable. At the Red Bull Ring I even was at the wheel for the start for my first race with NewBlood by Morand Racing. You can feel that Benoit lives his passion for motor racing to the max with a great family spirit which I appreciate since I come to events with my father and also my family.”
Benoit Morand (team owner): “Pierre drove for great LMP2 teams, he brings an enormous amount of experience and his point of view is very interesting. He adapted in a very professional way with great respect for all team members and he also gets along very well with Christian and Gary. He is calm, he is dedicated and these qualities will be very important for the end of the season.”
Pierre Ragues: “In 2013 NewBlood by Morand Racing was one of my major competitors and I saw them becoming a regular contender for victory. We have a good driving line-up with Christian and Gary, and the crew knows the car very well. We had a good pace at the Red Bull Ring and the aim is to score the best possible result at the Paul Ricard and Estoril as well.”
NewBlood by Morand Racing currently holds the sixth position in the LMP2 class in the teams’ provisional standings of the 2014 ELMS. The last two rounds of the season will take place on the Paul Ricard circuit (France, September 13-14) and at Estoril (Portugal, October 18-19).
NewBlood by Morand Racing press release
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY JUNE 14TH 2014, RACE.
