battle to the track from the start of the session because rain looked imminent and the risk later would be too great. The Alpine driver still managed the third best time under the watch of Carlos Tavares, Renault’s Chief Operating Officer, who came to support the whole Signatech-Alpine team.
The track was dry when all the competitors launched into the race but it started to rain during the formation lap. Nelson Panciatici, who started from third position on Michelin’s slick tyres, was in the lead from the opening corner until the safety car came out for the first time at the end of lap one, cancelling the advantage of his excellent start. Nelson went back into the pits after five laps to change tyres to intermediate and set off again in ninth position before climbing back to join the three leaders and made the second best time of the race while he was at it.
His co-driver, Pierre Ragues, then took the relay on Michelin’s wet tyres. Starting in fifth position, he rapidly gained a place before the safety car came out on the track again.
After an hour of neutralisation, the Race Directors decided to stop the race and fix the positions which cancelled the offset strategy the Signatech-Alpine team had adopted. Frustration was evident:
“It was an important weekend for the whole team, » Philippe Sinault, Signatech-Alpine’s Team Principal, underlined. « It was hard work which got us ready for this first meeting. It’s a shame to have to suffer such a frustrating race… Our drivers get a star for bringing the Alpine A450 back intact but these terrible conditions cut the competition short. We had a good strategy which could have paid off if we’d had the full three hours. The safety car and the red flag stopped us from achieving our objective.”
Nelson Panciatici is torn between disappointment and satisfaction: “We had the means to win from first practice and whether it be in the rain or the sun, it’s a good sign for the rest of the championship. I had a very good start and put the Alpine A450 in the lead. It’s a shame there was the safety car because our pace could have given us a considerable advantage. Under the rain it’s difficult not to make a mistake. I attacked really hard but on intermediate tyres, the end of my relay was particularly difficult. I should have taken the wheel again for the end of the race but it was interrupted too soon, which discounted us from reaching the podium. In any case, the points we’ve made in fourth place will certainly be very important when it comes to tallying all the scores of the championship. »
The Signatech-Alpine team and their drivers will now get ready for the next round of the European Le Mans Series which races on May 17 and 18 on the Imola circuit in Italy where they will definitely want to make the colours of Alpine shine!