All-French Lineup for Duqueine LMP2 Effort

French outfit Duqueine Engineering has confirmed its LMP2 driver lineup ahead of its European Le Mans Series category debut.

Nelson Panciatici and Pierre Ragues, who won the ELMS title together in 2013, will partner Indy Lights race-winner Nicolas Jamin in an all-French crew.

The trio will share an Oreca 07 Gibson for the six-round ELMS campaign, which begins next month at Paul Ricard.

Duqueine is switching to the LMP2 class, having spent the past two years racing Ligier and Norma machinery in LMP3.

Despite its parent company’s purchase of the Norma brand at the end of last year, the team opted to go forward with its graduation to the LMP2 ranks with a view to competing at Le Mans in 2019.

“I am very excited about this new ELMS season in an LMP2 category, which we will discover at the wheel of this Oreca 07 that has proven its abilities in endurance racing,” said team manager Yann Belhomme.

“We have a competitive crew composed of three distinct driver profiles just waiting for the opportunity to assert themselves on the track.”

After winning the 2013 LMP2 title with Signatech Alpine, Panciatici returned to successfully defend his crown the following year, while Ragues embarked on a three-year spell in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

In 2015, Panciatici signed with Duqueine Engineering for its various national GT and prototype ventures, while also making appearances in the WEC with Alpine.

The pair raced together alongside Andre Negrao at last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing fourth overall and third in LMP2.

Jamin, meanwhile, is set to make his European sportscar debut having sampled LMP3 and GT4 machinery in North America.

The 22-year-old made sporadic appearances in the IMSA Prototype Challenge and Pirelli World Challenge competitions, dovetailing his full-season Indy Lights role with Andretti Autosport.

“I have had three amazing seasons with Duqueine Engineering and being present for the team’s participation in LMP2 makes me very happy,” said Panciatici.

“I won my first ELMS title with Pierre, and it is good to be back in the same lineup with him this season.

“We will give Nicolas the warmest welcome we can. The ELMS competition has never been as close as this year and we will make efforts to fight relentlessly to achieve positive results.”