Christophe Tinseau, the third driver of the “Team Thiriet by TDS Racing” for Le Mans!
The ELMS page has just been turned with the success we know (pole position, best lap time, victory at the HTTT and leader of the championship), the “Team Thiriet by TDS Racing” works henceforth actively to prepare the next 24 Hours of Le Mans (16-17th June) ! Indeed, this event will be important because the team will participate to the mythical race for the very first time.
To take no chances, the team needed a third driver to complete the existing ELMS line up. But the requested profile was very specific. Indeed, he had to possess the experience of Le Mans, to have both human as technical qualities and the capacity to make a contribution to the team. Quite naturally, the team made its choice on the French driver, Christophe Tinseau!
The man with his 10 participations to the 24 Hours of Le Mans has already worked for some of the biggest manufacturers (Panoz, Cadillac, Riley and Scott) and teams such as Dams, Oreca, Courage or more recently the Pescarolo Team. He will be able to bring all his technical experience and knowledge of this race. With Mathias Beche and Pierre Thiriet, he will constitute one of the strongest line up in the LMP2 class and a good final result is possible.
In order to have the most successful collaboration, Christophe Tinseau will visit the “Team Thiriet by TDS Racing” workshop very soon in order to meet all the staff. Then he will drive the n°46 Oreca 03 Nissan during the 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day on Sunday 3rd June where 62 cars are expected. For this occasion, he will make a better acquaintance with his new team-mates and the whole “Thiriet by TDS Racing” staff…
Christophe Tinseau: “I turn down to the LMP2 category because it pleases me a lot. Among the potential teams to run Le Mans, the “Team Thiriet by TDS Racing” was at the top of my list due to its 2011 results. Thus, I contacted Xavier Combet, the team manager, and we came to an agreement.
I am very happy to join the “Team Thiriet by TDS Racing”. It is a professional team where there is a good atmosphere. I had already realized it during the first free practices of the 6 Hours of Le Castellet when I saw a motivated and well organized team as well as a good engineer close to the drivers. I have a very good feeling with them, people work well and we share the same vision of Endurance. This first meeting strengthened my will to run the 24 Hours of Le Mans with this team.
For that occasion, I could also meet my new team-mates. They are nice, fast, reliable and I liked their analysis with the engineer. I think we are going to have a good line-up ! The race will not be easy because the level in this category is really high, everybody is nearly at the same level. Nevertheless, I think that the HPD and the Judd engines have a small advantage about the power compared to the Nissan one. It would be good if the ACO could modify something before the race. If it is the case, we have a possibility to be on the podium. Otherwise, it remains a 24 hours race and so many things can happen. My objective for my 11th participation is a podium in LMP2 class !”
Thiriet by TDS Racing PR