Four months after its creation, Loeb Racing will make its racing début at the 6 Hours of Castellet, the first round of the 2012 European Le Mans Series season. Nicolas Minassian, Stephane Sarrazin and Nicolas Marroc will drive the Oreca 03 #19.

The big day has arrived for Loeb Racing, which has been waiting impatiently since early December. After testing the Oreca 03 a few days ago, Nicolas Minassian, Stephane Sarrazin and Nicolas Marroc will represent Loeb Racing. Sebastien Loeb will follow his team remotely from Portugal, where he will be racing in the fourth round of the World Rally Championship: "I very much would have wanted to be there" said the eight-time WRC champion. "I’m so excited to see how this first race will go for the team. Everything has been done to be ready. That said, I know racing and I know there will be a lot of things to take from this weekend. There will likely be a few corrections to make, but the team is very focused and ultra motivated. We surrounded ourselves with experienced guys, from the engineers to the mechanics to the drivers." With a trio of top drivers composed of Nicolas Minassian, Stéphane Sarrazin and Nicolas Marroc, Sébastien Loeb Racing will be closely watched by their competitors. Nonetheless, Sébastien Loeb will be going into the 6 Hours of the Castellet with humility. "There’s a little bit of apprehension » he admits. « It’s the big jump into the unknown. The goal is to do our best, without putting a lot of pressure on ourselves. We have the advantage of running on the Paul Ricard circuit, a track ORECA, the builders of our prototype, knows well, and that our drivers know well. We have everything in our favor to obtain a good result from the outset."

Like Stéphane Sarrazin, and alongside Nicolas Marroc, Nicolas Minassian brings his experience of endurance racing. « Our role is to help the team. We can aid the team to gain time on some parameters, including the car setup or pit stops. I already know
our engineer, Léo Thomas, and ORECA, who were with us during the car’s assembly and at the shakedown. This facilitates things even if we are up against a huge challenge. As we go, I’m getting to know the members of the team, who all have a great desire to do well. We can’t rush things, but instead progress steadily. We are working toward the race and definitely not for qualifying performance."

As a home track, Nicolas Minassian is determined to shine for his return to the Paul Ricard circuit. "I haven’t raced here since 1995 !  Le Castellet is so special for me…I started there in karting, and ran there in single-seaters several times and I’m happy to see the track once again open to the public. My family and friends will be there. It’s my home race and I want to win ! I’ve never had the chance to win there and I’d really like to !"

Practice for the 6 Hours of Le Castellet is on Saturday, March 31 at 9:15. After a second session at 13:00,  qualifying will be held at 15:50. The start of this first round of the European Le Mans Series  2012 will be at noon on Sunday 1st April .

(Source: Sébastien Loeb Racing)

Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), LE MANS 24 HOURS, 17 & 18 JUNE 2006. Souvenir photo: six years after finishing second in 24 Hours with Eric Helary and Franck Montagny, Sebastien Loeb will make his return to endurance Castellet as a team owner ... while driving his Citroen in Portugal!