As the Pre-qualifying session has been cancelled, the 24 Hours of Le Mans competitors have an only opportunity to run on the Bugatti circuit before June thanks to the Le Mans Series Test Days. It’s a small consolation for the teams since this track is not of great interest compared with the 24 Hour track and more generally with the other tracks visited by the series. The entry list is short, as expected, with only 12 cars.
Among the competitors, Speedy Racing Team Sebah may play the lead during the test session. After testing in Algarve and running full of hope for the first time at Barcelona, in LMP1 as well as LMP2, the team takes part in the session with their two Lolas Coupé. They have jumped at the chance to keep on preparing the B08/60 Aston Martin and B08/80 for Spa in a few weeks.
Team Pescarolo Sport also enters two LMP1s. Henri Pescarolo’s crew is home to carry on the development of the new car. It should be noted that Jos Vertappen may join the “Green” team for the first time. To be confirmed. Last but not least, Team Signature-Plus aims to discover the series more deeply with a Courage-Oreca, which was able to get out while the going is good in Catalonia.
As to the LMP2 class, in addition to the Lola Speedy/Sebah, Team Essex Porsche will run as well. After the HTTT, the Danish team will run for a final rehearsal before entering their only pre-24 Hour race, the 1000Km of Spa. This test session should give some information on the Lola/Porsche dual. G.A.C. Racing Team Zytek will run alongside these two cars, but we have to wait a little bit more before seeing one WR in Sarthe again. Although on the podium at Barcelona, Team Racing Box and Team Quifel-ASM won’t be there.
There will be only one car in the GT1 class with Team Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette, whose garage stands only a few meters from the paddock. Five cars will liven up the GT2 class. One of them, Team Seattle Ferrari – Advanced Engineering, is a newcomer in the Le Mans Series and will only try to get ready for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
No less than three marques will be represented in this class: one IMSA-Performance (the reserve car?) Porsche and the Drayson Racing Aston Martin. If we are not mistaken, the Vantage GT2 will debut at Le Mans… on the small track. Team Hankook-Farnbacher Ferrari will complement the grid as the tire manufacturer is probably looking for information. Endurance China Team Porsche may also be there.
Despite a small entry list, the Test Days on the Bugatti circuit should be worth seeing. See you on April, 25 and 26, for no less than 15 hours of testing!
Anthony Megevand et Cécile Bonardel