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American LeMans
LMS: Paul Ricard Test Roundup
Forty-one cars take part in two-day official test at Paul Ricard.
John Dagys  |  Posted March 08, 2010   Chicago, IL
Paul Ricard Test (DPPI)
The Le Mans Series annual pre-season test at Paul Ricard concluded Monday with Team ORECA Matmut topping the time charts. But there were just as many story lines off the track as there were on, as a bevy of unveilings and driver announcements made headlines over the course of the two-day test in chilly southern France.
Team ORECA Matmut was 1-2 at the end of the test, with its new Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP surprisingly trailing the team's self-built ORECA 01 AIM. (DPPI)

Among the news was the unveiling of ORECA’s Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP that it will race in the five-round European championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The French squad’s traditional Matmut livery has been beautifully transformed to the LMP1 coupe, which Nicolas Lapierre and Olivier Panis will pilot this season. They’ll be joined by Loic Duval for the season-opening Le Castellet 8 Hours and the twice-around-the-clock June classic.

But ORECA’s Peugeot wasn’t the star of the show, as the team’s self-built ORECA 01 AIM was quickest over the two days of testing. Soheil Ayari’s best lap time of 1:42.963 was nearly eight-tenths quicker than the multi-colored diesel-powered prototype, which ended the weekend second best overall.

Ayari, the only confirmed driver in the AIM-powered prototype thus far, was joined by fellow Frenchman Didier Andre and Welsh driver Andy Meyrick, fresh from the American Le Mans Series Winter Test with Dyson Racing. All three drivers racked up considerable miles in the ORECA 01, now Dunlop-shod for 2010.

Rebellion Racing ended the test third and fourth quickest overall with its pair of Lola B10/60 Rebellions, although not gaining as much track time as it had hoped for. Engine problems on Sunday delayed the No. 12 car, which was to be driven by Marco Andretti. The third-generation star instead gained seat time in the sister No. 13 machine before later getting back in his designated car for the remainder of the test.
Two legendary families have united for an attack on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. (DPPI)

Andretti, along with co-driver Nicolas Prost were joined by their legendary grandfather and father, respectively. 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti and four-time Formula One World Champion Alain Prost were on-hand to give their young drivers advise. Both Mario and Alain were originally slated to climb behind the wheel of the LMP1 machines for a few test laps, but those plans were shelved after the cars’ issues developed on Sunday.

In addition to the Andretti and Prost names, there were no less than dozen other former F1 drivers taking part in the test, including Jean Alesi, Giancarlo Fisichella and 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell, who will compete with his two sons, Leo and Greg, in a Ginetta-Zytek this season.

The test also marked the debut of various aerodynamic developments for 2010. With revised ACO rules forcing prototype manufacturers to make considerable changes to the rear bodywork, cars such as the Lola B10/60 and Ginetta-Zytek 09S were in slightly different form compared to last year.

But the most highly anticipated debut was Strakka Racing’s Honda Performance Development ARX-01C, which sported the first-ever low-downforce package for the LMP2 contender. Danny Watts, Nick Leventis and Jonny Kane all took turns in the former Fernandez Racing machine, posting the quickest time in its class.

Watt’s best lap of 1:46.174 set Monday morning was 0.410 seconds quicker than reigning P2 champions Quifel-ASM Team, which was second quickest in class. RML’s new Lola-HPD combination wound up third, but nearly 1.5 seconds behind.

After what’s essentially been a two-horse race between Porsche and Ferrari, GT2 has expanded into a much more competitive category for 2010. With a beefed up Aston Martin program from JMW Motorsport and BMW Team Schnitzer debuting its E92 M3, no less than four manufacturers could be in contention for race wins.
ORECA's FLM09, run in the ALMS' LMPC category, will also be a part of LMS races in 2010 with its Formula Le Mans class. (DPPI)

At the end of the test, though, it was still the familiar faces atop the time sheets. Former Porsche factory driver Richard Westbrook was quickest in his Prospeed Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, which has submitted a last-minute entry to the championship following the cancellation of the FIA GT2 European Championship.

Westbrook was originally announced to pilot the JMW Aston Martin Vantage with Rob Bell, but a pre-existing contract with the Belgian Prospeed outfit has taken priority. AMR factory driver Darren Turner has been named as Westbrook’s replacement at JMW.

Ferrari squad CRS Racing, another team defecting from FIA GT2, ended up second quickest in the test, with Pierre Kaffer setting a time just 0.059 seconds slower than Westbrook’s best. The No. 96 AF Corse Ferrari F430 GTE of Jamie Melo and Gimmi Bruni was third, a further 0.119 seconds back.

Despite temperatures barely rising above freezing, 41 teams recorded laps around the High Speed Test Track, including a handful of heavily revised GT1 cars and LMPC-spec Formula Le Mans entries. Both categories are expected to be featured in the five-round series, which kicks off at Paul Ricard on April 11.

PAUL RICARD TEST PHOTO GALLERY

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