Spa: Simon Pagenaud preview

A FULL-SCALE PREPARATION RUN

Last year's visit of the LMS to the celebrated circuit nestling in the Belgian Ardennes saw Simon Pagenaud celebrate the start of his association with Peugeot Sport by claiming pole position, the fastest race lap and victory in the Peugeot 908 HDI FAP. The Poitiers-born driver turned his trial into a masterful performance which played a significant part in his being recruited by the French carmaker for its 2010 program. Following his second consecutive win through the streets of Long Beach a few weeks ago in the Highcroft-run Acura, which is contesting the 2010 American Le Mans Series, Simon Pagenaud will be looking for similar success in this weekend's 1,000km de Spa-Francorchamps. He will be sharing one of the three factory Peugeot 908 HDI FAPs with fellow- Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais and Portugal's Pedro Lamy. The race is above all seen as a chance for the squad to finetune its preparations for June's Le Mans 24 Hours, but a second straight win in the Belgian endurance classic would clearly delight Simon and his new team-mates.

SIMON PAGENAUD

"After my ALMS win in Long Beach, I travelled back to France to join Peugeot Sport and my eight teammates for a fitness training week in the French Alps. I'm looking forward to returning to Spa --which is one of my favourite circuits --and to forming part of Peugeot Sport's full line-up which it is fielding for the first time this season. The 1,000km de Spa- Francorchamps forms part of the team's build-up to the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours which is Peugeot Sport's chief objective this year. As is the case every time I race, my aim in Belgium will be to stack up as many cards in my favour as possible with a view to winning. It will also be a great opportunity to work with my new team-mates, Sebastien Bourdais and Pedro Lamy. The 1,000km de Spa is a race apart, since it's a full-scale dress rehearsal ahead of Le Mans. I have fond memories of last year's event when I came away with pole position, the fastest race lap and victory."

-source: simon-pagenaud.com