Signature Plus : Franck Mailleux and Pierre Ragues visits Aston Martin HQ

Franck Mailleux and Pierre Ragues took time out from their pre-season preparations to visit the Prodrive headquarters in Banbury, UK last week, home to the Aston Martin Racing team.

Franck and Pierre, who are preparing for their second season with Signature Plus in the LMP1 class and their first as Official Aston Martin Racing Team Partner Drivers, spent the day acquainting themselves with the Aston Martin brand and the racing heritage of Prodrive.

Trip with a taste of the celebrity life after a professional studio photo shoot, before taking an exclusive tour around the Prodrive museum. The museum showcases some of the most celebrated cars in Prodrive's illustrious racing portfolio, whether from the world of rally, Le Mans or Formula 1.

A subsequent visit to the workshop area allowed them a glimpse behind the scenes of where his 2010 race car came to life. The Lola Aston Martin LMP1 was not present during the visit because of its participation in the 12 Hours of Sebring in the American Le Mans Series, but their duo were still able to get a better feel for the illustrious Aston Martin brand. Both drivers were given a 45 minute opportunity to test a range of Aston Martin vehicles with six different models at their disposal.

Franck Mailleux
"Following the first proper test with the Lola Aston Martin LMP1 at Paul Ricard, both Pierre and I were given the special opportunity to visit Prodrive, home to the Aston Martin Racing team, to see where the magic happens," said Franck. "It was a really good day and we were able to mix business with pleasure, looking around the facilities and the heritage of Prodrive, but also having a test drive of some of the Aston Martin road cars, which was really a lot of fun. As a racing driver, it is always nice to see where the cars have come from and all the work that has gone into creating them. When we start the season in just a few weeks time, I will have a better appreciation for that work, for the car and for the Aston Martin brand. I'd like to thank everyone at Prodrive and Aston Martin for this tremendous opportunity."


Pierre Ragues
"I felt truly honoured to be visiting Prodrive, the home of Aston Martin Racing, last week," said Pierre. "We started our day with a photo shoot in a professional studio, actually the first one I have ever experienced, before moving to the Prodrive facility. Looking around the museum was incredible and we were able to see lots of legendary cars. It was also fantastic to see the workshop where all the cars, including the Aston Martin LMP1, are worked on. Just as thought the day could not get any better, we were given access to six Aston Martin road cars to try out, including the V8 Vantage and DBS. It was an unforgettable moment and I'd to thank all the people at Aston Martin and Aston Martin Racing who made it such an exceptional day."