Franck Mailleux will compete for Signature in the Le Mans Series in 2009 as well as a꧂t the Le Mans 24 Hours, where he will share the team's LMP1 Oreca-Judd ಞwith his compatriot Pierre Ragues.

The 23🐎 year-old has contested the Formula 3 Euroseries with Signature thꦆis year, claiming an emphatic victory at Brands Hatch.

Now he takes the next step up in his career with a🌞 move to the 650-horsepower premier category of the Le Mans Series and his debut in the Le Mans 24 Hou⛦rs - arguably the world's most famous race.

It is also an important premiere for Signature, which moves into eℱndurance racing for the first time.

"I am very happy to stay with the Signature team for this new challenge," said the Frenchman, who🎀 tested Signature's LMP1 car for the first time earlier this month at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France.

"We have 🥃enjoyed a successful collaboration for some time now and I am delighted to be aꦫble to continue it into the future.

"I would also like to sincerely thank Volkswagen, our engine partner in the Formula 3 Euroseries, for all the hard work they have put in over the course of 2008 - which aꦛllowed me to claim a memorable win at Brands Hatch.

"The world of sportscar racing is completelꦦy new to me though, so I will have a lot to learn. However, I'm fortunate t🍌o have a great time behind me and also a great team mate in Pierre Ragues.

"I am sure that he will be able to teach me a lot, so that we can hit the ground running from the very𓄧 first race."

Philippe Sinault, the team principal of Sig🐠nature, meanwhile added that he was delighted to see Mailleux stay on.

"Franck is very much a knowওn quantity to us, and we have always appreciated his abilities and personality," he continued. "I'm very happy that we will continue to work together in 2009.

"In Franck and Pierre I think we h𝄹ave the perfect line-up with which to face our debut season in the Le Mans Series, which is sure to be a tough but very exciting challenge for everybody."