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ELMS, Official Test
Paul Ricard - Session 1 Report The first session of the European Le Mans Series official test saw 12 cars take to the track, with two further in the wings and two others on the entry not in attendance at the test. Jota Sport’s Zytek Nissan Nismo topped the times, Oliver Turvey setting a 1:48.582, four tenths clear of the nearest competitor.
Second was the Race Performance Oreca Judd, with Thiriet by TDS racing third. The Lola of DKR, meanwhile, suffered a series of troubles and only managed 11 laps (compared to 58 for TDS), with experienced French pilot Christophe Bouchut behind the wheel. Debutant Formula Le Mans team Algarve Pro Racing Team were fastest in the class.
Dutchman Nick Catsburg, Briton Michael Munemann and Swede Richard Kressner all drove. As the only GTE cars to set times, the two Ram cars finished top of the group. The #52, with Johnny Mowlem and Matt Griffin, was top with a 1:59.061, with Gunnar Jeanette and Frank Montecalvo following up just under two seconds behind.
There were changes to the entry list. Neither the Kessel Ferrari nor the third Oreca prepared Team Endurance Challenge FLM are at the track. Reports suggest that the Kessel artic arrived at the circuit on Monday but there is no evidence of it now at the circuit. Signatech Alpine completed their line up with Tristan Gommendy joining Ragues and Panciatici, while DKR engineering have utilised the aforementioned Bouchut in their Lola.
Morand Racing added Franck Mailleux to their Morgan Judd, while Algarve Pro Racing Team added Catsburg. The Team Endurance Challenge FLMs are piloted by Soheil Ayari and Anthony Pons in #48 and Alex Loan Ventura in #47. Frank Montecalvo has joined the Ram team after a successful test – he joins Jeanette, with whom he raced in America. Finally, the OAK Racing Morgan, listed for Jeffrey Lee and Ronnie Liu, is scheduled to test for just a single day tomorrow. JY |
