SECOND GT ACADEMY GRADUATE JOINS THE WORLD CLASS

The 2012 sportscar season officially gets underway on March 17 with the 60th running of the Sebring 12 Hours. This is the moment that Jordan Tresson has been training so hard for as he heads out to compete in a tough category, against the worlds best sportscar racers.

After winning the GT4 class of the Blancpain Endurance Series in the RJN Motorsport Nissan 370Z, Jordan has joined Nissan Partner Team and 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup Champions, Signatech Nissan, for the FIA World Endurance campaign. His team mates are talented and experienced racer, Franck Mailleux, and 2011 Le Mans LMP2 winner, Olivier Lombard. The three Frenchmen will compete in the 2012 Oreca 03 Nissan bearing the traditional Nissan race number, No.23.

“I’m ready for Sebring,” said Jordan. “I don’t feel too much pressure as I know I have to take my time to improve. My confidence has really grown during testing with the team. Franck, Olivier and all of the team members have really helped me a lot with their tips and for that I am grateful. The Sebring track looks like it will be tough. I have heard all about the bumps and the fact there will be 60 cars on track at the same time will make it hard to handle. Overtaking GT cars neatly and quickly will be the key to this race.

“I have prepared for Sebring by watching last year’s race and studying footage from in-car cameras,” he continued. “Of course I have also been practicing on my computer! I have been looking at the data from last year so I know which gear to use, when to brake and so on. Now I just want to get out there and try it out for real and sample some racing American style. The competition will be tough but the Oreca-Nissan is a strong package, the team is one of the best in the world and the driver line-up is strong. Like everyone else, we want to win the FIA World Endurance Championship. There are some really good teams and quick drivers out there but that just means that victory will be worth even more!”

Joining the Signatech Nissan team on the unforgiving Sebring road course will be five other LMP2 cars powered by the championship-winning Nissan engine. In total around 60 cars are entered for the Sebring 12 Hours, a combination of FIA World Endurance Championship entrants and American Le Mans Series competitors. The race gets underway at 1030hrs (local time) on Saturday, March 17.


Q&A WITH FRANCK MAILLEUX – 2011 ILMC LMP2 CHAMPION

Q1: You took a podium finish with Signatech Nissan at Sebring last year. Can you do it again with the new line-up?

MAILLEUX: Yes, we achieved a great result last year considering that we had little time to prepare. This year, even if the schedule is really short, I think that all of us will arrive much more prepared and ready to take some good points. A podium is definitely something we can achieve.

Q2: Both of your team-mates are new to Signatech Nissan. What do you think of them so far?

MAILLEUX: Our line-up looks really strong, I think that Olivier, winning Le Mans and the Le Mans Series has very little to prove on the pace he can have but will still need to adapt to the new tracks he will discover. Jordan has for sure more to learn from this year but I am confident that he can achieve some special things and I will be here to help him as much as I can.?

Q3: Do you enjoy racing at Sebring? Does the circuit hold any particular challenges?

MAILLEUX: Yes I love racing at Sebring. It has an incredible atmosphere and the fans are really close to the action. Sebring is a challenging track because it’s bumpy and narrow, particularly through the first and last corners; and with about 60 cars, it will probably be the toughest race of the year. A real challenge for a first race!

Q4: Do you think the package you have at Signatech Nissan will be as competitive this year?

MAILLEUX: I hope it will be but it is a bit early to know. I am confident that Oreca did a good job this winter to adjust the reliability issues we had last year and to develop a new competitive aero package. The LMP2 field will be really strong with a few other Oreca-Nissans on the entry list so I’m not sure that we will be in such a dominant position as last year. Drivers, reliability and race strategy will be key!


CATCH THE ACTION

LMP2 Qualifying takes place on Friday, March 16 and the 12-hour race starts the following day.

TV: Motors TV (please check listings on the day)

Radio: Radio Le Mans will be on air live during qualifying and throughout the race on www.radiolemans.com.

Online: Every session covered live and free to view on www.dailysportscar.com

Live Streaming and Live Timing: www.alms.com

Twitter: @Nissan_OnTrack @FIAWEC @sebringraceway