Alpine has announced that car number 36 in the Le Mans 24 Hours will line-up with Nelson Panciatici, Pierre Ragues and Tristan Gommendy behind the wheel.
Nelson Panciatici, the youngest of the team, and Pierre Ragues, were confirmed in the initial programme. They are now joined by Tristan Gommendy for the Le Mans 24 Hours. The three French drivers, all discovered and trained in Renaults single-seater division, have between them accrued ten appearances on the Le Mans circuit.
For Nelson Panciatici, its the impatience to get behind the wheel of the Alpine which prevails: I cant wait to get to Castellet and turn those wheels in blue! Well continue the work we started with Michelin in Magny-Cours. Weve already made huge progress and Im quite sure that after the various trials our engineer, Olivier, has planned for us, we will be competitive enough to aim for victory. Thats our objective and were aware that the LMP2 competition will be fierce! I know I can count on my co-drivers, Pierre and Tristans experience, to help me progress in this discipline. There are a few more trial sessions and two races left to get us ready for Le Mans 24 Hours and Im feeling confident!
Philippe Sinault tells us: Were now heading for the Paul Ricard circuit to put the car on the track and start work. Our aim is to be a front-runner in the highly competitive LMP2 category. We will put the various trial sessions to good use, as well as the first two ELMS races, to prepare for Le Mans 24 Hours, which remains the high point of the season.
From the day he launched Alpine, Jean Rdl had decided to build up the name through sporting success. We know the superb results achieved in the most prestigious challenges, notably the Mille Miglia and the Monte Carlo Rally. What Jean Rdl also quickly realised was that no make of car can really be classed as sporting if it doesnt take part in the Le Mans 24 Hours, which rules supreme in the international racing calendar and is followed the world over with a major impact on the makes image should it win.
NELSON PANCIATICIBorn Reims, France, on September 26, 1988 (age: 24)Single-seater debut 2005 (Formula Renault 2.0)Endurance racing debut 2012Record:2012: FIA World Endurance Championship (Signatech-Nissan), fastest race lap at Fuji / 10th overall and 4th in LMP2 at Le Mans / podium finish at Silverstone2010: FR3.5/WSR (KMP Racing)2010: FR3/WSR (Junior Lotus Racing)2009: One of the youngest drivers in GP22008: 2nd, Spanish F3 Championship2005 Formula Renault 2.0 debut1998-2004: Karting
PIERRE RAGUESBorn Caen, France, on January 10, 1984 (age: 29) Single-seater debut 2003 (Formula Renault Campus) Endurance racing debut 2006Record:2012 World Endurance Championship (Signatech-Nissan LMP2), 4th in class at Le Mans / 3rd in class at Silverstone / 5th in class at Bahrain.2011 5th (LMP1), Intercontinental Le Mans Cup2010 Le Mans Series and Le Mans 24 Hours (Signature Plus, LMP1)2009 7th, Le Mans Series (Signature Plus)2008 Le Mans Series (Groupe Pescarolo Automobiles / Team Saulnier Racing) Le Mans 24 Hours (Groupe Pescarolo Automobiles / Team Saulnier Racing)2007 International Formula Master (Euronova) Le Mans Series (Paul Belmondo Racing), LMP2 Le Mans 24 Hours debut2005 FR 2.0 (Epsilon), French Championship and WSR2004 2.0 (SG Formula)2003 2nd, French Formula Campus Renault Elf Championship
TRISTAN GOMMENDYBorn Chesnay, France, on January 4, 1979 (age: 34) Singles-eater debut 1999 (Formula Renault) Endurance racing debut 2003Record2011-2012 Development driver (Ligier)2008-2012 Superleague Formula (Team France-Olympique Lyonnais, Girondins de Bordeaux, FC Porto, Galatasaray), 5 wins, 11 podiums2010 8th (LMP2), Le Mans 24 Hours (WR Salini) Development driver (Audi Team Joest, Audi R15+)2007 Champcar World Series (PKV Racing), 1 pole position, 5 top-five finishes, 2 fastest race laps and 6 top-10 finishes2006 GP2 Series (Team Is Sport), 5 races, 4 top-five finishes and 1 fastest race lap2005 , World Series by Renault FR 3.5 (KTR), 2 wins, 5 podiums Le Mans 24 Hours (WR)2004 World Series by Nissan (Team Saulnier Racing), 5 pole positions, 6 podiums2003 Formula Renault V6 (Signature), 6 wins, 5 podiums, 6 fastest race laps Le Mans 24 Hours (factory driver for Dome LMP1 / Racing for Holland), 8th in qualifying2002 1st, French Formula 3 Championship (ASM), 5 wins, 10 podiums, record number of pole positions in French championship (10), 1st in Macau F3 GP2001 Formula 3 (ASM), 3 pole positions, 4 podiums1999 4th, French Formula Renault Championship (Team Mygale), Rookie of the Year
