In 2004, Hexis Racing set up shop in workshops adjoining the Lédenon paddock. The last time the team raced at home was in 2007 when it won both rounds of the French FFSA GT3 Championship. Six years later the # 7 and 17 McLaren MP4-12Cs entered for the sixth round of the GT Tour will have plenty of supporters on the squad’s test track, because the headquarters and the main production facility of the Hexis Group are based in Frontignan in the neighbouring Hérault department.
A quick look back at the start of the 2007 season. Hexis Racing had just moved up into a different league with the arrival of two Aston Martins in its workshops. Brière-Yvon had scored a second place finish in the first round on the Nogaro circuit, and left their rivals gasping in their wake at Lédenon. The second car, damaged at the start of race 1, was repaired during the night, and Manu and Julien Rodrigues managed to fight their way up into fourth place in race 2, which completed a stunning overall result for the fledgling team managed by Philippe Dumas. A few days later, Hexis Racing set off for Silverstone with Fred Makowiecki in the driver line-up opening a new chapter in its history – international races crowned by the 2009 FIA GT3 European Championship and 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship titles.
“I reckon we haven’t done too bad a job since 2007,” says Philippe Dumas. “Today we represent McLaren GT and that’s a great honour. In 2012, we shared seven victories, five pole positions and numerous top-3 finishes on the international scene as well as double runner-up placings in the world championship. The 2013 season has been more difficult; it’s not been much fun but that’s racing: we’re still hard at work fighting back.”
The two Hexis Racing McLarens will be driven by Cazenave-Police and Panis-Debard. For the latter Lédenon also has good memories as he was crowned FFSA GT French Champion there in 2009 with none other than Olivier Panis! *
More than 25 cars will take part in qualifying on Saturday 12th October at 10h40. The start of race 1 will be given at 17h05 for an hour of intense combat with a driver change between the 28th and 35th minute. Race 2, which follows the same format, will begin on Sunday at 13h45.