We have hardly turned the page regarding the 2023 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and various teams and drivers are already focussing on the second part of the season. The Belgian ProSpeed Competition team and two of its drivers, François Perrodo and Emmanuel Collard, are part and parcel of that group. On 19th and 20th July they will be in action in Austria, at the Red Bull Ring, a circuit previously known as the Österreichring and the A1-Ring. Having been acquired by the owner of European Le Mans Series is being hosted there, in the vicinity of the town of Spielberg, in the heart of the Styrian Alps, between Zeltweg and Knittefeld. On the occasion of a “World Series by Renault” weekend. The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR #75 decorated with Brittany ermine will be out to play up front in the LM GTE category. François Perrodo and Emmanuel Collard will benefit from the experience recently gained during the 24 Hours of Le Mans… 4061,44 kilometres that the team covered at the wheel of the reliable German GT without committing a single mistake.
The renewal of the European Le Mans Series is a highlight of the 2013 season for teams competing in endurance races. The third round of this European championship, bringing together ” Prototypes” and Grand Touring cars, will once again be welcoming some thirty teams. The start of the three hours race will be given on Saturday at 16.30hrs.
Rudi Penders (ProSpeed Competition Team Principal): “With François, Sébastien (Crubilé, ed) and Emmanuel, we experienced a thrilling human adventure during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In Austria we will be continuing our programme putting into practice some of the lessons learnt at Le Mans… and, together identifying new opportunities to progress. The professionalism that prevails in the “Grand Touring” cars category is impressive. At Le Mans, after 24 hours of competition, the first four in the LM GTE AM category were split by just one lap… in other words just over five minutes! So it is in this extremely competitive environment that we have to fight and prove our worth, an ambition that is shared by Emmanuel and François also.”
François Perrodo (Driver – Porsche 911 GT3 RSR #75 – LMGTE): “I discovered the Red Bull Ring earlier this season, with a “coach” named Emmanuel Collard, and this during an “Open” test day. It’s a great layout, with several hard braking points. This test day and the driving of the Porsche 911 RSR in the Le Mans 24 Hours allow me to start the second half of the season in a confident way. I’m looking forward to see the team again.”
Emmanuel Collard (Driver- Porsche 911 GT3 RSR #75 – LMGTE): “The challenge that we have both decided to take on, namely the European Le Mans Series is truly a defiance. We are systematically progressing. As from now we need to master all the smallest details on the track, those that just make all the difference but also those that make this such a great competition!”
Source : ProSpeed Competition