Pegasus Racing is keeping to its time table. The Morgan-Nissan LM P2 in the team’s emblematic blue has just had its first run without incident at Magny-Cours. It’s now in the Strasbourg workshops where everybody’s working flat out to prepare for its second test at the end of the week at Hockenheim!
The meeting with the Onroak Automotive management and engineers took place at Le Mans at the beginning of the year. The assembly and painting of the car were completed at the end of January in keeping with the schedule. In parallel, the entry forms were sent off to the Selection Committee for the European Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 Hours. On 4th February the car was given its first test by Julien Schell at Magny-Cours.
“First of all, I’d like to congratulate and thank all the guys at Onroak Automotive, starting with Philippe Dumas and his technical team,” underlines Schell. “Despite a packed timetable they respected their undertakings and together we were able to carry out a successful first test. Obviously, the aim wasn’t to go for a time but to get to know the car. We fettled it in the morning as the track started to dry out, and then we had ideal conditions in the afternoon for the first runs. I felt at home straight away and I really enjoyed driving it.”
In a few days the Pegasus Racing Morgan-Nissan LM P2 will be back on the track for another test session at Hockenheim. This time Schell and Niki Leutwiler will relay each other at the wheel. The reigning Speed EuroSeries champions are continuing together for the 2014 season. However, the French squad will take advantage of its trip to the Baden Württemberg region to test other drivers who may join them for the five rounds of the European Le Mans Series, and maybe the Le Mans 24 Hours.
“We can’t wait for the decision on 13th February,” admits Julien Schell. “We’ll know the list of cars invited by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s Selection Committee for the coming Le Mans 24 Hours. I’m feeling confident as we’ve put together what could be a winning package. Our Morgan-Nissan with Dunlop tyres is identical to the car that won the LM P2 category at Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship. It’s got the tweaks adopted by OAK Racing at the end of 2013. It’s a well-honed car that’s proved itself. We can also count on our experience in endurance thanks to which we’ve won several titles, in particular the one in the 2011 Le Mans Series in the FLM category with four victories and a second place in five races.”