[04-11-2019]
PIERRE RAGUES DETERMINED TO HUNT HIGH IN SHANGHAI 4 HOURS
 The third round of the 2019/2020 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) takes place at the Shanghai International Circuit in China this weekend with Pierre Ragues aiming to return to the WEC podium.
Pierre and the Signatech Alpine Elf team are keen to move on from a difficult weekend at the previous round of the season in Japan in which they finished down in seventh place in LMP2.
The pace and potential of the #36 Alpine A470 was demonstrated perfectly at the opening round of the season, the 4 Hours of Silverstone, in which Pierre scored his best-ever WEC result, with second place in LMP2.
Alongside his team-mates Thomas Laurent and Andre Negrão, Pierre hopes to return to podium form around the 5.451km Shanghai circuit, which is known for its long straights and unique slower corners, including the ever-tightening right-hand sequence that opens the lap at turns one and two.
Eight LMP2 cars are entered into the 4 Hours of Shanghai, among a field of 31 cars across the four classes. Pierre will once again look to find a strong baseline set-up and confidence in the #36 car, as well as understanding the behaviour of the Michelin tyres, during Friday and Saturday’s free practice sessions.
Pierre said: “We are aiming to put the disappointment of Fuji quickly behind us as we take to the magnificent Shanghai International Circuit this weekend. It’s a track I know from previous seasons and one that has significant demands. The long straight puts emphasis on outright power, but negotiating the complex slower corners demands efficient car performance and driveability, so we need a good compromise. We will aim to get a good feeling from our #36 Alpine A470 in practice and hope that we can enjoy a fun, trouble-free race. The competition in LMP2 is always tough but we want to repeat the sort of pace that we showed at Silverstone and target a return to the podium. Everyone at Signatech Alpine Elf, as well as my team-mates Thomas and Andre, are all ready to fight back after Fuji.”
4 Hours of Shanghai WEC Schedule
8 November
11:00-12:30 Free Practice 1
15:30-17:00 Free Practice 2
9 November
09:50-10:50 Free Practice 3
14:30-14:50 LMP1 and LMP2 Qualifying
10 November
12:00-16:00 4 Hours of Shanghai
FIA World Endurance Championship (after two rounds)
Trophy for LMP2 Drivers
1. F. van Eerd / G. van der Garde 41 points
2. A. Borga / N. Lapierre 35 points
3. G. Aubry / H-P. Tung / W. Stevens 31 points
4. A. Negrao / P. Ragues / T. Laurent 26 points
Trophy for LMP2 Teams
1. Racing Team Nederland 41 points
2. Cool Racing 35 points
3. Jackie Chan DC Racing 31 points
4. Signatech Alpine Elf 26 points
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