LMS Test Paul Ricard - Sunday Morning Notes

Team Modena were settling into their new GT2 rhythm nicely midway through the first track session of the day – Leo Mansell was out in the car, the young Englishman has never run at the HTTT before and was sensibly easing himself in.

Graham Schultz confirmed that the car was in it’s definitive, and very handsome, 2009 livery, red with grey highlighted features and pointed out that “Everything else in the garage has been painted red if it wasn’t nailed down!” 

At Aston Martin Racing Darren Turner was waiting patiently for a few niggles to be worked through with the #009 car.  A proud and relieved George Howard Chappell popped over with a reassuring word or two that the car was almost ready to go (and by 11am it was out and running).

Hugues de Chaunac confirmed that Bruno Senna would be the only driver testing in the #10 Oreca Courage AIM – The lead #11 car meanwhile set the fastest time of the test so far in early running (a 1:42.109) before being temporarily sidelined with “a minor accelerator issue.”  The car though was not seen back on track for the remainder of the morning.

Marcel Fassler at Speedy Sebah was happy with his off season’s work so far, about to go out in the #13 Lola Aston Martin ahead of a full LMS season with the team plus of course the endurance races with Corvette Racing – Was there any chance of a return to the Spa 24 Hours “I have no deal yet,” said the affable Swiss.  Form an orderly queue.

Waiting his turn in the LMP2 Speedy Sebah Lola was Jonny Kane – “I’m looking forward to seeing how the car feels – I’ve driven a coupe before though – I had a four day test with the Bentley back in 2003 – but this will be different of course.  The car was quick last year of course and I know that the team and Lola have been working hard to iron out some of the little niggles that cost them time last year.”

Red Flag at 11:58, the first interruption of the session after almost 2 and a half hours of green flag running, apparently for the recovery of the JMB Ferrari, no visible damage apparent as the car was towed  wrong way down the pit straight. 

We already knew that the Hankook Team Farnbacher Ferrari was running on – wait for it – Hankooks! But there was a surprise in the Pegasus racing pit, their Courage LC75 is shod by Avon!  When was the last time, if ever, that a prototype ran on Avon rubber – emails to the usual place!!

The mystery of the second Saleen has, as Inspector Clouseau would say been solv-ed.

Team Manager Kaneko confirming that the team will run the older of the two chassis in LMS this season (this the same car that has raced in G2 in recent FIA GT races) whilst the newer, all yellow car was an ex Larbre car purchased as the team’s car for the Le Mans 24 Hours.  With no entry forthcoming from the ACO though the car is for sale once again and there was an interesting tableau this morning with Christophe Bouchut preparing to test the car, Jonathan Cochet trying it for size and Alexander frei paying very close attention to proceedings.

Frei later confirmed to dsc that he was looking closely at the car to see whether it would be suitable for him to enter for the LMS (potentially with Cochet) but that he was waiting for the ARC Bratislava team to confirm their participation in Barcelona – The ARC Bratislava Kaneko team would likely run the car on his behalf.

Close inspection revealed too that the Saleens were wearing different rubber, the older S7R on Michelins, the newer car Pirellis – So what would the team be running with in the LMS Kaneko?  Dunlops!!

Dsc caught up with Olivier Beretta as he emerged from the LAA Corvette – Testing or preparing for a race with the team Olivier?  “I may do a few races in Europe, it remains to be seen, perhaps Olly (Gavin) too.  The team (Luc Alphand Aventures) have confirmed LMS and FIA GT so there are several options, they have the Spa 24 Hours on that schedule so we will see.”

Red Flag number two came at 12:15 for the recovery of the Pegasus Courage. 

The HTTT’s very efficient recovery team towed it back quickly though with less than a 4 minute delay to proceedings.