Former F1 driver Pastor Maldonado a top LMP2 contender
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Former F1 driver Pastor Maldonado a top LMP2 contender

One year after his first participation in the 24 Hours, the Venezuelan driver is back to win. He finished fifth at the 2018 edition of Le Mans before winning the Spa-Francorchamps of the FIA WEC this past May.

Pastor Maldonado has 95 Formula 1 Grand Prix to his credit, with 32 retirements, earning him the reputation as an unreliable hothead. But, by the time he left F1, he had won a victory and scored a pole position as well. Some awaited his arrival in endurance racing in 2018 with some reservation. But the Venezuelan driver (age 34) quickly showed he was perfectly capable of finishing endurance races. "I learned quite a lot last year, of course, for everything. It was my first year in this category, in this kind of racing. So, of course, you need a period of adaptation, but yeah, I'm having fun."

Maldonado did not take long to adapt, finishing fifth in the LMP2 class for his first 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2018. And, he won the LMP2 class at the Spa-Francorchamps round this May. He feels confident going into this second participation. "You have more experience with the track, not only the track but the tyres, the approach, the strategy, how to save fuel and those kind of things. So it's going to be easier just because you are not discovering anything. But it's a very long race. It's not just about doing things well, it's about pushing very hard. We are three drivers and a lot of persons in the team working hard, and we need to have it all come together to get the best result."

DragonSpeed's #31 ORECA 07 shared by Anthony Davidson, Roberto Gonzalez and Pastor Maldonado is one of the top contenders among many in the LMP2 class.

Click below to learn more about the DragonSpeed team:

24 HOURS OF LE MANS – DRAGONSPEED (LMP1 AND LMP2)

 

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), DOWNTOWN LE MANS, SCRUTINEERING 2019. The 2012 Spanish Grand Prix winner is looking to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year in the LMP2 class!

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