French GT experts keep their noses clean in treacherous conditions#50 Corvette C7.R currently holds fourth spot in class
After five hours of running in the 84th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours 2016 (June 18/19), Larbre Competition holds a strong fourth position in the LMGTE Am category following a rain-hit start to the French endurance classic.
The #50 Corvette C7.R of Pierre Ragues, Jean-Philippe Belloc, and Yutaka Yamagishi managed to stay out of trouble in particularly tricky conditions early on before upping the pace as the track dried out.
2013 European Le Mans Series champion Ragues gave Larbre its 24th Le Mans start on Saturday (June 18) 15:00, local time, from sixth on the grid. While famous US actor Brad Pitt waved the cars off the line, the event got under way behind the Safety Car after yet another downpour had the 13.629km venue awash with standing water shortly before the action kicked off.
At the end of the fifth lap, Larbre pitted for a first time, with Pierre taking on a fresh set of Michelin tyres for drying conditions while the race was still neutralised. The team’s bold strategic call went slightly unrewarded as the #50 Corvette CR.7 had to wait for several long seconds at the red light on pit exit before rejoining the fray.
The race started in earnest two laps later, as the Safety Car peeled into the pit lane and set the 60-strong field loose on Circuit de la Sarthe. On a track that was still very damp in places, Pierre showed poise to lap at a competitive pace in tricky conditions.
As the sun poked its head in between the clouds, Ragues quickly stopped for slicks and carried on his good work aboard the Corvette C7.R. The Caen-born racer actually extended his opening stint, making a fast and error-free third spell at the wheel before handing the car over to Jean-Philippe.
The Frenchman quickly encountered the first Slow Zone of this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, as the #89 Porsche ended up in the gravel at the first chicane. With a few other incidents occurring around the same time, several portions of Circuit de la Sarthe were temporarily under yellows.
But that did not hamper the #50’s smooth progress as Belloc completed his double stint in fourth position. At 20:00, local time, Yutaka headed out on track for his first stint in the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Pierre Ragues: “I am happy with my opening stints. Visibility under the rain made the start of the race quite tricky. There was little grip on track so we went for the full wet Michelins and it was clearly the right call. We then played it safe with the strategy, swapping first for the intermediates before bolting on the slicks. The three compounds are working really well, while the Corvette C7.R is stable and competitive in all conditions, making the feeling behind the wheel very nice. So far, so good!”
Jean-Philippe Belloc: “Our Corvette C7.R handles beautifully since the start of these 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car is perfectly balanced and competitive, but also gentle on the tyres. I am satisfied with how my double stint went and confident for the remainder of the race.”
