Pierre Ragues is returning this weekend to the KZ karting world championship for a one-off appearance at the Jean Brun circuit in Varennes, just a week before the Frenchman aims to take the 2013 European Le Mans Series title at Paul Ricard. 

Karting has always played a key role in Pierre’s career and is an activity he carries out as part of his race craft and physical preparation for endurance races. His presence at Varennes with a Sodi chassis and Bridgestone tyres will be a refreshing and equally challenging competition for Ragues as he prepares for the ELMS season finale.

Pierre won at the 3 Hours of Hungaroring last weekend so is in victorious mood but his objectives for the Varennes karting event will be far lower key: to qualify for the final race of the weekend. 

Taking the helm of a 125cc KZ kart, Pierre began free practice on Wednesday with official timed sessions getting underway on Friday afternoon before the qualifying round on Saturday. The pre-final will take place on Sunday lunchtime with the final later in the afternoon at 4pm CET.

Pierre said: “It is well known that I am an enthusiast of karting so it is a pleasure for me to be joining a competitive and packed field for this weekend’s Varennes world championship event. I am one of almost 40 competitors in the KZ category so I will have my work cut out for me but above all I am using this weekend as a way of preparing myself for next weekend’s ELMS final. It is an ideal way to keep my fitness levels in peak condition and also to maintain my race craft. I am still buzzing after last weekend’s win in Hungary but this will be a very different race weekend and I just aim for the final on Sunday afternoon. Whatever happens it will be a  useful build up to the ELMS season finale at Paul Ricard next weekend.”

Karting enthusiasts can follow the live timing on ww.cikfia.com