ART Grand Prix ended their 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series campaign in the best way possible, by finishing on the podium at the Nürburgring 1000km with their Pro team of Andy Soucek/Mike Parisy/Antoine Leclerc.
Third in Germany, the three men completed their championship battle in 6th place overall. Meanwhile, the Pro-AM team was less successful after they were hit by an opponent they had overtaken and were forced to retire in the final third of the 6-hour race. They were in a very promising place in the top six of their class at the time.
Under mild conditions, free practice and qualifying allowed ART Grand Prix and their two crews to work on their McLaren MP4 -12C’s in view of the race. Pro team’s Andy Soucek/Mike Parisy/Antoine Leclerc and Pro-Am’s Grégoire Demoustier/Yann Goudy/Gilles Vannelet smartly juggled their efficiency in endurance test whilst being fast in qualifying trim and preserving their tyres. They respectively secured the 3rd and 20th (6th in Pro-Am class) spots on the starting grid.
At the start of the 1000km Nürburgring, given under a light drizzle, the objective of the first stint was to avoid the pitfalls of the opening moments of the race and take advantage of every opportunity that presented itself without taking unnecessary risks. Mike Parisy and Gilles Vannelet applied this objective to the letter and put their contenders among the front runners of their respective categories. Antoine Leclerc and Andy Soucek took over from Mike and delivered a masterful performance. The No 11 McLaren drew finished the season with a brilliant podium while the No. 12 was deprived of a possible finish in the top 3 when an opponent hit their McLaren they had just overtaken.
ANTOINE LECLERC :
“The start was not easy to manage because the track was damp and it was tricky to maintain a good pace without making a mistake. At the Nürburgring, we made a step forward in terms of performance and we touched on a lot of little things that will help us prepare for the future. In addition, it is very promising to have been able to complete the 000km without any trouble. The whole team is to be congratulated, from the drivers to the mechanics who did a very good job, including pit stops. The strategy was also the best ever. We will return even stronger.”
YANN GOUDY :
“Gilles and I did not know the circuit, but we quickly found our marks thanks to the hard developmental work from ART Grand Prix and McLaren. The car was very efficient in our hands. Gregory was able to show his masterly skill with a superb qualifying performance and it was a good omen for the race. The stints were well executed when it was my time to take the wheel for the first time, despite losing a little time in the pits. I also had a puncture which forced me to return to the pits. Coming up behind a Mercedes that had braked very early, I naturally took the inside line to overtake, but my opponent hit me inexplicably. This was extremely frustrating because everyone had done a very good job and the podium was within our reach. We missed out due to something that was beyond our control. Overall, the results are still very positive and very encouraging for the future.”
FREDERIC VASSEUR :
“It was never going to be easy to be up among the leaders in such a complex race as the 1000km Nürburgring complex where the endless parameters are difficult to master. But ART Grand Prix and its drivers managed this feat superbly and I extend my congratulations to them. Finishing the season with such a good performance and raw speed, with a podium in the bag, is always a motivating factor for the offseason and preparing for next year.”