Le Mans Series

Paul Ricard Test Days – Sunday evening report

© Planetlemans – Marcel ten Caat

Just after seven o’clock fifteen teams were allowed to get back on the track for the night test session. BMW Team Schnitzer with their BMW M3 and the Matech Competition Ford GT were the first ones out on track, and it took a while before they were joined.

One hour into the session just 10 cars had completed laps. The #4 Team ORECA Matmut Peugeot 908 HDi FAP was quickest, followed by the #008 AMR Lola and the #13 Rebellion. But just after the clock had shown 20:00:00 it was the Rebellion Racing #13 that moved up into second place and one lap later it set the fastest session time. Shortly afterwards the Lola came back into the pit.

Most cars came in and only a few cars were lapping at the same time. At 20:30 only 3 cars were out on the track, the Strakka Racing HPD ARX-01c, the #35 OAK Racing Pescarolo Judd and the BMW. Best lap by then was an 1:45.908 set by the #008 Lola Aston Martin. Gap between 1st and 2nd was only 0.061s.

At 20:45 the Young Driver AMR Aston Martin DBR9 went out, making it eleven teams that had been out on track out of fifteen that planned this session. With only a few cars on the track there was silence for the first time in hours.

Times at 21:15

#008 – Signature Plus – Lola Aston Martin – 1:45.908
#13 – Rebellion Racing – Lola B10/60 Rebellion – 1:45.969
#4 – Team Oreca Matmut – Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – 1:46.113
#42 – Strakka Racing – HPD Acura ARX01c – 1:50.345
#35 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 Judd – 1:52.163
#24 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 Judd – 1:54.523
#45 – Boutsen Energy Racing – FLM09 – 1:55.986
#61 – Matech Competition – Ford GT – 2:00.134
#39 – KSM – Lola B08/47 Judd – 2:01.322
#78 – BMW Team Schnitzer – BMW M3 – 2:02.042
#52 – Young Driver AMR – Aston Martin DBR9 – 2:02.466
#12 – Rebellion Racing – Lola B10/60 Rebellion – no time

*Only the #008 Signature Plus Lola Aston Martin at the back of the track right now and the #12 Rebellion Racing Lola joining the track, making it twelve from fifteen. Session continues, we’re off to the hotel. Back tomorrow!*

In the remainder of the session only the Matech Competition Ford GT went out and improved its time.

Times at the end of the session

#008 – Signature Plus – Lola Aston Martin – 1:45.908
#13 – Rebellion Racing – Lola B10/60 Rebellion – 1:45.969
#4 – Team Oreca Matmut – Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – 1:46.113
#42 – Strakka Racing – HPD Acura ARX01c – 1:50.345
#35 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 Judd – 1:52.163
#24 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 Judd – 1:54.523
#45 – Boutsen Energy Racing – FLM09 – 1:55.986
#61 – Matech Competition – Ford GT – 1:58.894
#39 – KSM – Lola B08/47 Judd – 2:01.322
#78 – BMW Team Schnitzer – BMW M3 – 2:02.042
#52 – Young Driver AMR – Aston Martin DBR9 – 2:02.466
#12 – Rebellion Racing – Lola B10/60 Rebellion – no time
#40 – Quifel ASM Team – Ginetta-Zytek 09S – no time