ELMS – Signatech-Alpine switch to the head

THEAlpine A450, title holder in ELMS, had not yet crossed the finish line as a winner in this 2014 season. This has now been done since yesterday, and the victory of the Panciatici-Webb-Chatin trio at the 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring in Austria, third round of the European Endurance Championship. A first success which allows the team and the driver to move into the second half of the season at the top of both championships.

?It?s a great victory for the whole team, with panache. But you must not give up. There are many contenders for victory. The objective was to stay in the title race. By being at the top of the championship, we are necessarily in a good position, explains Philippe Sinault, Team Principal of the team. Extraordinary work was put in throughout the weekend to achieve this result. The team, in the broad sense, is to be congratulated. We weren't necessarily the fastest during free practice. The drivers and engineers managed to reduce the gap. We have also adapted our strategy to give ourselves a chance to win. We pushed when necessary and saved fuel when possible. Part of the race was also played out during the pit stops, which were impeccable. »

Oliver Webb, last driver to take the wheel of theAlpine A450, did not give the Zytek of Jota Sport the slightest chance, and took the lead again at the start of the stint to maintain a lead of almost 12 seconds at the finish. “  We will be able to spend the summer as leaders, declares the Briton. It is even more motivating to prepare for the rest of the season, with the objective of maintaining this position. »

There are two meetings left in the ELMS, which will resume from the weekend of September 13 on the Paul Ricard track in the Var in France where Signatech-Alpine won the title last year. The season will end in Portugal at Estoril on October 18 and 19.

Find the report from the Austrian round of the ELMS, in issue 1970 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version and on newsstands from Wednesday.