Status Grand Prix will make its Le Mans 24 Hours debut next month with Romain Iannetta, Yelmer Buurman and Alexander Sims confirmed as the three drivers of the team’s Lola LMP2 contender. Buurman and Sims raced the Judd-powered Lola B12/80 Coupe to a podium finish on the team’s sports prototype debut at the Paul Ricard ELMS race in April this year, and were then joined by French sportscar regular Iannetta at the FIA WEC event at Spa three weeks ago.
The trio will now be re-united for the Le Mans race on June 16/17, and continue their preparations for the French classic at this weekend’s official Le Mans Test Day. For Iannetta, this year’s race will be his fifth start at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Single-seater aces Buurman and Sims will both be racing at Le Mans for the first time.
Silverstone-based Status GP has rebuilt the Lola-Judd following an accident at Spa, and with the sleek closed-cockpit design perfectly suited to the aerodynamic requirements of the fast Le Mans circuit, the team goes to the Circuit de la Sarthe track hopeful of a competitive showing among the strong 20-car LMP2 field.
Ex-GP2 racer Buurman is dovetailing his LMP2 programme with a full-time drive in the FIA GT1 World Championship this year, and the 25-year-old is looking forward to his Le Mans debut. “It’s been my ambition for a long time to race at Le Mans, and I’m really looking forward to experiencing it in a prototype sportscar,” said the Dutchman. “We have a strong package technically, and with a consistent and reliable run we are capable of achieving a good result.”
Sims, 24, switched to sportscar racing this year after race-winning seasons in the GP3 Series and F3 Euroseries. Now a McLaren GT factory driver as well as a Status GP LMP2 regular, the Briton feels the driver line-up is well balanced.
“Yelmer and I have worked well together this year, and Romain brings really valuable Le Mans experience to the crew,” said Sims. “It’s a fantastic event, and one in which I hope to compete for many years in the future. The Test Day is an important part of the learning process, but I know we’ll go into the race well prepared.”
This year’s event will be Iannetta’s first Le Mans since 2009, when he raced the Creation LMP1 car. The 32-year-old impressed the team with how quickly he adapted to the closed-cockpit Coupe at Spa, and will impart his knowledge of the 8.46-mile circuit to his co-drivers. “Le Mans is so special, with a unique atmosphere,” he said. “It’s gruelling, but we have a team and drivers up to the challenge.”
Status GP’s experienced engineering team, led by technical director Rob Arnott, played a supporting role to Level 5 Motorsports’ Top 10 overall finish with a Lola Coupe at Le Mans last year, and go to French classic this year knowing what is required.
“After the rebuild, the car is in perfect condition,” said Arnott, “The LMP2 class has an incredibly strong entry this year, and finishing the race is always the first target. But with the car well-suited to the long Mulsanne Straight, and we believe we will be competitive.”
Source : Status Grand Prix