LE MANS: Signatech Nissan Confirms WEC Lineup

Le Mans / ALMS

LE MANS: Signatech Nissan Confirms WEC Lineup

Franck Mailleux to be joined by team newcomers Olivier Lombard and Nissan GT Academy winner Jordan Tresson...

John Dagys | Posted February 14, 2012 Chicago, IL

Signatech Nissan will embark on the FIA World Endurance Championship with a single-car Oreca 03 Nissan entry. (Photo: Dan Boyd/LAT)

Signatech Nissan confirmed its driver lineup for the FIA World Endurance Championship season on Monday. The 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup LMP2 champions will return with Frenchman Franck Mailleux, who is joined by defending 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Olivier Lombard and 2010 Nissan GT Academy winner Jordan Tresson.

The French squad, led by Philippe Sinault, will continue with its Oreca 03 package, but will feature upgrades developed over the course of the 2011 season, which saw consistent finishes on the podium and an outright LMP2 victory at the season finale in Zhuhai, China.

"The entire team is happy to welcome back Franck [Mailleux] and is eager to experience the performance of Jordan [Tresson] and Olivier [Lombard]," Sinault said. "Choosing Olivier was obvious in his performance from 2011 and his human quantities have enabled him to quickly integrate within the team. Jordan will have the difficult task of succeeding Lucas Ordonez, but [will be well-supported] by his two teammates."

Compared to 2011, which saw only three full-season ILMC entries, Signatech will face increased competition in LMP2, with nine entrants registered for the eight-round WEC and 18 cars slated to take part at Le Mans, including a second Signatech car with a yet-to-be-announced lineup.

"We have shared a lot of important memories together, but none greater than our championship success last season in ILMC," Mailleux said. "This will give us a very solid foundation from which we can mount our challenge for the 2012 WEC title.

"We want to be in a position to fight for victory at each round of the series from Sebring onwards but most importantly to aim for glory at Le Mans, which still remains the pinnacle of the endurance racing calendar."

Tresson, who will be following in the footsteps of inaugural GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez, who has moved onto the European Le Mans Series with Greaves Motorsport, is eager to make the jump into LMP2.

"Discovering motorsport in one season was not easy but I managed to win the GT4 title last year," he said. "I'm proud to succeed Lucas Ordonez but also super excited to participate in the World Championship with Signatech-Nissan after only one season of competition. It's a big statement and challenge but I'm ready for it."

The WEC kicks off with the 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring next month.

John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at

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