Pierre Ragues has made a strong start to his 2019/2020 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) campaign at the traditional start-of-season Prologue at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain. 

 

In extremely hot conditions, Pierre joined his team-mates Andre Negrao and Thomas Laurent for the first time in the #36 Alpine A470 Gibson with which they will contest the new WEC season. 

 

Across four separate sessions, each of four hours in duration and run over two days, Pierre and the team carried out a range of work in preparation for the opening race of the season, the Silverstone 4 Hours that takes place end of August/start of September. 

 

Focusing on long runs primarily, they gathered a huge amount of valuable data around the 4.627km Barcelona track, completing a total of 260 laps, or 1,203km. The pace and performance of the car, and its Michelin tyres, showed great encouragement for the season ahead with a best time of 1:31.856 in the final session on Wednesday. 

 

Pierre said: “We have had two very productive and enjoyable days at the Prologue, carrying out an extensive range of work. It was fantastic to be back as part of the Signatech Alpine Elf team alongside Andre and Thomas. I have worked with Andre previously, but this was the first time with Thomas. We got on very well as a car crew, and I am privileged to be sharing the car with two such great team-mates. I am incredibly excited by the challenge that awaits us, starting at Silverstone in just over one month’s time. Taking to the track with the class of 2019/20 gives us a special feeling ahead of the new season, in which we hope to showcase the pace of the competitive Alpine A470 Gibson. We have a big job to defend the honour of the reigning world champions in LMP2, but I am looking forward to it immensely. If the Prologue is anything to go by, it’s going to be an amazing experience.”