LMP2 European Endurance Champion – A look back on an exciting season

For the second consecutive year the Signatech Alpine team claimed the European championship title, thanks to its consistency throughout the 2014 European Le Mans Series.  With its 2013 title under its belt which guaranteed an invitation to participate in the LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans plus its LMP2 ELMS title at stake, the French team led by Philippe Sinault was fired up and determined to do just as well in 2014, if not better.                    

The three-driver line up for the2014 odyssey included 2013 LMP2 champion Nelson Panciatici, one of the 2013 LMPC champions, Paul-Loup Chatin, and an ELMS newcomer, Oliver Webb.

With an Alpine A450b entered for the second year of the new-look ELMS, Signatech Alpine would go on to win the 2014 title with 78 points, four more than its biggest rival, the British JOTA Sport team (Zytek Nissan Z11 SN of Simon Dolan, Harry Tincknell, Filipe Albuquerque) and 10 more than the Swiss NewBlood by Morand Racing team (Morgan Judd – Gary Hirsch, Christian Klien, Romain Brandela, Pierre Ragues).

The Alpine A450b’s season started with a fifth place at Silverstone, followed by podiums for the next three rounds. Third at Imola, winners of the Austrian race, and on the second step of the podium at the team’s home race at Paul Ricard, Nelson Panciatici, Paul-Loup Chatin and Oliver Webb arrived at Estoril in Portugal 10 points ahead of JOTA Sport, 18 ahead of NewBlood by Morand Racing and 23 points in advance of Race Performance. The four teams were all in with a chance of winning the championship at the season finale.

In front of a large crowd of Portuguese spectators and race fans, plus strong support for local star Filipe Albuquerque (JOTA Sport), Signatech Alpine should have led the battle throughout in order to maintain their title hopes.

But, in a hotly contested race, the team incurred two heavy penalties after which the drivers and entire team had to do everything in their power to bring the car home in fifth place. For its part, JOTA Sport had some issues and only finished on the third step of the podium which meant the French team left Portugal with the winners’ trophy for the season for the second time in two years.

2014 has been a good year for Signatech Alpine as the Frenchmen also showed well at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with third place on the LMP2 podium and seventh place overall … what will 2015 bring for such a well-balanced team?

Philippe Sinault (Team Principal Signatech Alpine): “I am pleased and proud of the work done by the entire team. It is difficult to retain a title, so keeping our European crown is all the more satisfying. We progressed further by always being in the race for victory and by adopting the right strategy each time. Despite a testing final round, the team remained calm just as we’ve done since our podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Thank you to Alpine for trusting us; together we have shared some great emotions. Sometimes it’s hard, but we love it…roll on next year! Our goal for 2015?  We would like to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 with two cars … watch this space!”

Nelson Panciatici: “Despite the penalties at our last race, we were able to clinch the title. I am pleased to be the first driver to successfully retain the LMP2 crown. The team showed that it was strong and we didn’t win by chance. This superb season has once again seen the Alpine marque at the top and it is the result of all the hard work put in by the entire team. I want to thank every member of this team and my teammates.”

Paul-Loup Chatin: “I think we had a perfect season despite the mistakes at the last round. The performances were there and I’m really happy.  The three of us have bonded very well throughout the season as drivers, becoming friends as well, and we worked to use what we are each best at to be even stronger as a team. I’d like to say a big thank you to all the team at Alpine, Philippe, Nelson and Oliver; we have together established very strong ties. My goal for the future?  Of course I’d like to run in LMP1 … when the time comes.” 

Oliver Webb : “2014 has been one of the best years of my racing career. To be associated with Alpine and Renault as a factory driver and to win the championship with such a great team in my first year is unbelievable. Le Mans podium was a highlight for me and something that will never leave my thoughts. I hope to do the same in 2015 but even better!”

 

Adam Sinclair