While waiting to see what the future holds, Hexis Racing was back in the top 3 in the last leg of the 2013 GT Tour on the Paul Ricard circuit. In qualifying Eric Debard set the sixth-quickest time and made a great start to race 1 after cleverly avoiding getting caught up in the scrum in the first corner! Olivier Panis relayed him in the no. 17 McLaren at half distance and came out on top in a spectacular three-handed scrap to finish on the third step of the podium.

The team’s other driver line-up also came close to causing a sensation. Nicolas Métairie, who was having his first outing with Hexis Racing and the McLaren MP4-12C, was the revelation of the afternoon! He qualified eleventh, made up six places on the opening lap and spent most of his stint in second spot. Unfortunately, no. 7 tumbled down the time sheets on the 32nd of the 41 laps when it spun with Laurent Cazenave at the wheel.

No miracles, however, in race 2 as the cars qualified in 20th and 23rd places and saw the flag in 12th and 16th positions.

“On Saturday our McLarens had a superb race and both had the potential to finish in the top five,“ analysed Philippe Dumas. “I’m happy for the drivers and for everybody that we’ve finished the French Championship on the podium at a meeting which received the best entry of the 2013 GT Tour. The last round attracted a field of thirty cars backed up by some top-class international teams. I’d also like to congratulate Nicolas Métairie who put on an exemplary performance both on and off the track.”

The Hexis Racing team spent an extra day at the Paul Ricard circuit to prepare for its last event of the year, the Baku World Challenge, which will be the most challenging, hotly-contested and wildest Grand Touring sprint race in 2013! Rendezvous in Azerbaijan on 22-24 November 2013.