Backed by its experience and its 2012 results (2nd in the 24 Heures du Mans in LMP2 category), the Thiriet by TDS Racing team is preparing to conquer yet again this mythical race. To have the best possible line up, the team announces the reinforcement of an official BMW driver, Maxime Martin, and Ludovic Badey!
The criteria for these men were straight forward! It had to to choose safe and very fast drivers able to bring their experience to the team’s benefit. They quite obviously chose Maxime Martin and Ludovic Badey!
The 27-year-old Belgian driver has already a solid experience in Endurance racing with 4 victories in World GT1 Championship, a class victory at the 24 Hours of Spa in 2009 and a title of vice-champion in the Blancpain Endurance Series! He has also participated twice in the 24 Heures du Mans (in 2011 and 2012)! The team Thiriet by TDS Racing is not the only team to have noticed Maxime’s performance. BMW offered him a contract as an official driver in the United States of America for 2013!
The team had to recruit a third man who combines speed, wisdom and experience. They naturally chose Ludovic Badey. He showed many times he could compete with the most talented drivers. Moreover, the tests he did on the Oreca 03 during the winter were very satisfactory. Finally, Ludovic knows the Thiriet By TDS Racing perfectly well because he was the first driver to participate in motor racing with the team!
The two men, as well as Pierre Thiriet, will drive the n°46 Oreca 03 Nissan for the first time during the 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day on Sunday 9th June where 61 cars are expected.
Maxime Martin : “I am delighted to take part in at Le Mans again in a prototype! This will be my third time! I am also very happy to be able to join the Thiriet by TDS Racing team. I often fought against them but I had never had the pleasure to join the team. This is a done deal now! I am looking forward to discovering this team which collects good results.
The 24 Heures du Mans is one of the biggest and most mythical races in the world. I am going to be able to fight with a good car in an extremely tough category. Our first objective will be to end this race and this is extremely difficult! The team finished 2nd last year and this motivates me even more to give my best to get to the first place next June!
To finish, I wish to thank the partner, Thiriet, to give me the opportunity to join the team.”
Ludovic Badey : “I am very happy because we discussed for a long time with Thiriet by TDS Racing. I have to admit I had two choices in LMP2 : to do Le Mans with this team or with nobody. With the result of the last year, it makes me want to run with them.
I trust in the team because I know them well, they are efficient. I know the car will be good and reliable for 24 hours. That is the reason why I look forward to driving it ! Regarding the line-up, it is homogeneous with team-mates easy to live.
In Le Mans, there are so many obstacles, we will try to get through them and we will see at the end. I am convinced that we can get a very good result !
The 24 Heures du Mans is the most famous race of the world. Few drivers are lucky enough to compete. This event has its own history and a soul. Everybody wants to win it. I am so happy to be able to take part in it with the Thiriet by TDS Racing team !”
Source : TDS Racing