Ο Sebastien Loeb πήρε τη νίκη στον πρώτο αγώνα της χρονιάς στο πρωτάθλημα European GT 2013 στη πίστα του Nogaro. Ο 9 φορές παγκόσμιος πρωταθλητής του WRC, οδήγησε την McLaren MP4-12C GT3 2013 στη νίκη μαζί με τον συνοδηγό του Alvaro Parente. Ο Γάλλος φαίνεται ότι βρήκε νέο παιχνίδι να παίζει μιας και το WRC πλέον δεν το καλύπτει. Να θυμίσω ότι ο Loeb θα τρέξει και στο φετινό Pikes Peak με ένα ειδικά διαμορφωμένο Peugeot 208 T16.
Bonus! Δες και ένα video με μια MP4-12C GT3 να συντρίβει το ρεκόρ της πίστας Highlands Motorsport Park στη Νέα Ζηλανδία.
[Πηγή: McLaren]
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2013-SPECIFICATION McLAREN 12C GT3 OFF TO A WINNING START IN EUROPE AS SÉBASTIEN LOEB RACING CLAIMS VICTORY IN FRANCE
- Nine-time World Rally Championship winner Sébastien Loeb wins on his FIA GT Series debut in 12C GT3 partnered with McLaren GT factory driver Alvaro Parente to take victory in France
- Victory for the 2013-specification 12C GT3 on its competitive European debut
- The highlights of the victory can be viewed here – http://bit.ly/Z1WBn8
McLaren GT kicked off the 2013 European GT season in style, with French rally-ace Sébastien Loeb claiming victory in the opening round of the FIA GT Series at Nogaro. The nine-time WRC world champion, racing one of two 12C GT3s being campaigned by the French-based team, has chosen to share driving duties with the young Portuguese driver Alvaro Parente, who is part of the McLaren GT factory driver programme.
The weekend got off to a strong start with the team qualifying on the front and second rows for the FIA GT Series Qualifying Race. From here, Loeb and Parente went on to claim a hard-fought victory, recording a win for the 2013-specification 12C GT3 on its European debut, and its third in as many outings.
The second race saw Loeb start from pole position, and maintain a lead up until the pit window opened for the mandatory pitstop and driver change. The sister 12C GT3 of Mike Parisy and Andreas Zuber showed competitive pace, and steadily moved through the field despite the tricky, wet conditions. However, during the second half of the hour-long race, both Sébastien Loeb Racing 12C GT3s were hit with driver penalties, dropping them back before finishing 11th and 12th.
Commenting on the weekend, and the team’s victory, Sébastien Loeb explained: “This was a really good event for us, and I am really pleased that we came away with the win on Saturday. We made a few small mistakes over the weekend, which affected the final result in the second race but, overall, I am happy with the performance of the team, and with how I drove.
“Over the course of the weekend the 12C GT3 felt great, especially in the dry conditions. There are some areas of set up where I feel we can find some more pace, and we need to work on optimising the balance in the wet, but I really enjoyed the event, and we showed good pace.”
The results, in one of the most competitive GT series, build on last week’s winning result in Asia, and see Sébastien Loeb Racing joint second in the standings in the Pro Championship.
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