ILMC/ LMS, Imola – Friday Morning Notes

The dsc team is assembled in the media room after flight delays across Europe failed completely to affect our attempt to prove the concept that low cost airlines are becoming anything but!

Whilst Marcel ten Caat made his way from the land of tulips and dykes the dsc Ed and the three stooges (Messrs Lord, Downes and May) were powering across the continent courtesy of a loaner Audi Q7 – We’d estimated that even the cheapest flights, plus additional charges and a hire car would cost us something north of £1500 – We’ll report back post weekend on just how much cheaper it was to do it this way!

Imola is bathed in sunshine, 30 degrees plus and rising even at 10 am.

There are a number of changes to the entry – Guess who isn’t here?

Yup it’s the Guess Racing Lola – “Electrical problems” This effort is fast becoming a bad joke.

The last minute let down left Kyle Marcelli and Chapman Cupote high and dry – both have now appeared on the entry aboard the #99 JMB Oreca FLM car together with the rapid Nicolas Marroc.

There’s been a minor reshuffle at Felbermayer Proton – The #88 car has Christian Ried and Horst Felbermayer Jr aboard – Felbermayer the elder is still recovering from his LM shunt.  – The #63 ‘Am’ car meanwhile sees rapid gentleman Gianluca Roda paired with Pat Long  - a potentially rapid combination.

Lucas Lichtner Hoyer is, as planned aboard the #64 Lotus with Tor Graves replacing Marroc at Hope Racing in their FLM Oreca.

Oak Raing have their #49 LMP2 machine repainted in Gulf livery as previously announced with Alex Premat joining Jacques Nicolet this weekend.

Both new Audi R18s are here and looking splendid as are the Rebellion Lola Toyotas – the #12 and #13 cars both sporting heavily revised new front aero that is going to be used in anger this weekend for the first time – It was seen in free practice at Spa but has not been used since.

Level 5 are here with their open topped Lola HPD, its time in the ALMS apparently over – We’ll catch up with Scott Tucker as soon as we can this weekend.

First track action for the combined ILMC/ LMS field will be at 12:15 local time (11:15 in the UK) Radio Le Mans are here and ready to go – they’ll be covering all sessions across the weekend on www.radiolemans.com