Endurance – Thiriet by TDS on two fronts

The year 2013 has barely begun when the Thiriet by TDS Racing team announces its various programs which will be oriented around three axes: LMP2, GT and 24 Hours of Le Mans !

This season, the Thiriet by TDS Racing team first wanted to continue its involvement in Endurance through the prototype category! For this reason, and with its results in LMP2 last year (champion of the 2012 European Le Mans Series both as drivers and as teams), the team has decided to continue in this very tough championship. The Oreca 03, still powered by the Nissan unit, will therefore be entered year-round in ELMS (first race at Silverstone, England, April 13). In terms of drivers, nothing has been decided yet but one thing is certain: Pierre Thiriet, whose progress is dazzling, will be there again to take on this new challenge.

Still on the prototype side and following its very good result at the 24 2012 Hours of Le Mans (2nd in the LMP2 category with the Beche / Thiriet / Tinseau crew), the team will honor its offered place for the next edition. Of course, the team will do everything possible to get on the podium again in the biggest Endurance race in the world (June 22 and 23)!

The big news for this 2013 season will be the team's commitment to a new category: GT. Indeed, the team will compete in the French championship (GT Tour) and the European championship (Blancpain Endurance Series) with a BMW Z4. At the wheel, we will find Ludovic Badey (driver with whom TDS Racing sought several Mégane Trophy podiums in 2005 and 2006) and Henry Hassid, the very fast reigning French GT Champion. The team is particularly happy to participate in its national championship for the first time!

Xavier Combet, team manager: “First of all, the entire team and I would like to wish all our partners, championship organizers, members of the press, supporters of Thiriet by TDS Racing as well as all sports fans automobile a happy new year 2013! I take advantage of these wishes to announce our team's programs which will revolve around the European Le Mans Series, the GT Tour, the Blancpain Endurance Series and of course the 24 Hours of Le Mans! On the prototype side, seeing our results in ELMS last year, we were motivated to participate in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). Unfortunately, not all the parameters could be brought together to align with it. This is why the team decided to put its ELMS Champion title back on the line. On this occasion, we will display the number 1 on the side of the car and we intend to fight to defend our two titles.

“We are also very proud of not having to wait for the decision of the Selection Committee to be able to participate in the next 24 Hours of Le Mans. The big news of this new season will be our entry into a completely new category, GT. We are really determined and delighted to participate in these two very competitive championships! We will therefore enter a BMW Z4 in the Blancpain Endurance Series and in the GT Tour. The team is also studying the possibility of entering a second BMW Z4 GT3?