Sébastien Loeb Racing to take on Baku challenge

Following the double success at Navarra in the previous round of the FIA GT Series in September, Sébastien Loeb Racing looks to the final round of the 2013 season with an appetite for victory, determined to end its first international season in GT on a high note.

#9 Sébastien Loeb Racing McLaren MP4-12C: Sébastien Loeb, Alvaro Parente

Photo by: Lucien Harmegnies

Only pole position escaped Sébastien Loeb Racing during the Navarra meeting… A total domination resulting in the first double victory for the team in GT. Winners in the qualifying race, the Sébastien Loeb/Alvaro Parente pair returned to the top step of the podium in the championship race, ahead of teammates Andreas Zuber/Mike Parisy, who themselves had a fantastic comeback effort the day before.

It was an excellent weekend that the teams hope to repeat in the streets of Baku as Mike Parisy (McLaren MP4-12C #10) confirms: "I’m going into this final stage of the season more motivated than ever as there will be a lot of high level competition. It will certainly be a nice finale and racing in anger on a street circuit will make it all the more intense. Since last year, the track has changed completely.

I discovered it using a simulator and at first glance it’s faster and offers more corner variety, from hairpin to fast corners. It’s a track that will suit the McLaren well. For this last race weekend, our goal is to take third place in the championship and notch a victory. It will be a difficult mission with a lot of high level competition but our double victory at Navarra shows how competitive Sébastien Loeb Racing is right now. We have a legitimate chance at winning!"

Teammate Alvaro Parente (McLaren MP4-12C #9) agrees: "The level of competition will be even higher with new formidable entries for this race. It will be a tight battle making the challenge even more interesting. Like all street races, we will have to drive without making mistakes because the walls are never far away.

Since last year, the track has been significantly modified. I was able analyse a few portions of the circuit on video but I will get my first real chance to see it when we arrive. As for our objectives, those remain simple : be as competitive as we can be to aim for victory in both races. On Sunday night, we will see what our final place will be in the championship."

Starting positions for the qualification race will be determined at 4 :15pm on Saturday, Nov. 23. The following day, the start of the qualification race will be given at 9:45am followed by the championship race at 1pm (local time). These will be shown on the Sébastien Loeb Racing website.

A few words about the circuit …

Located in the downtown streets of Bakou, Azerbaijan capital, the new 4km course surrounds the impressive “ Government House “ and has the Caspian sea, the largest land-locked sea, as its backdrop. Once a high class destination for Soviet Russians, Baku was also known for its rich petroleum resources.

Sébastien Loeb Racing