LM Series Test Weekend

[Mr Termite]

A dozen or so cars are at LM this weekend, testing on the Bugatti Circuit. Termie and I went along for a couple of hours yesterday, and may return this afternoon if the weather holds! Wheelchair, crutches and rain are not a good mixture, even though Termie has blagged a certificate from the hospital which enabled us to park behind the ACO grandstand! No, she doesn't have a blue badge, although I increasingly think that is becoming a likely outcome - eventually.

Anyway it was quite jolly sitting in the sunshine. There were a number of other people about, and the cars made all the right noises! Bruno was doing the commentary, but, as ever, I failed to make much of what he was saying most of the time.

We hope to get some pics to Werner in due course, but highlights are as follows : No diesels, so Pescarolo 16 was quickest while we were there, followed by sister 17, then the Speedy Lola Aston 13, which looks and sounds just gorgeous!  If only the ACO had stuck to their coupe guns - we could have had a grid led by such lovely beasties! The Courage Oreca 12 was also close to the pace. LMP2 comprised the Danish Porsche, looking much the same as 2008, the Speedy Lola-Judd, also looking gorgeous, and the 41 Zytek. Luc Alphand was slated to be there, but we didn't see his Corvette. GT2 had a couple of Ferraris, a Porsche and the Drayson Aston.

What confused me was the presence of 3 other open LMP cars, all in carbonfibre black, and helpfully numbered 5,6,7. No sponsorship, and those numbers do not appear in the 2009 entry list for LMS, except 7, which should be a Peugeot coupe, of course. Best described as quite quick, I didn't feel they were on the pace of the regulars in LMP1. Apologies for lack of info!

After the 12.30 lunchbreak started, and we wended our way, there were Clios circulating - the Clio China Cup! No, not the sort you have your breakfast tea in - the leading driver seemed to be called Weng Sheng!

Maybe more later, and pics as we can manage.

[Bas]

What confused me was the presence of 3 other open LMP cars, all in carbonfibre black, and helpfully numbered 5,6,7. No sponsorship, and those numbers do not appear in the 2009 entry list for LMS, except 7, which should be a Peugeot coupe, of course. Best described as quite quick, I didn't feel they were on the pace of the regulars in LMP1. Apologies for lack of info!

I think those are the Formule Le Mans cars Mr Termite.

[Kpy]

I think those are the Formule Le Mans cars Mr Termite.

They are indeed
http://www.racingforever.com/phpwebgallery/index.php?/category/4975

[Bas]

Thanks Kpy here are some times from yesterday those Formula Le Mans cars are not terribly slow.

1 - #13 Speedy Racing Team Sebah - Lola B08/60 Aston Martin - 1:23.770
2 - #16 Pescarolo Sport - Pescarolo Judd - 1:23.996
3 - #12 Signature Plus - Courage-Oreca LC70 Judd - 1:25.872
4 - #17 Pescarolo Sport - Pescarolo Judd - 1:27.438
5 - #33 Speedy Racing Team Sebah - Lola B08/80 Judd - 1:28.072
6 - #31 Team Essex - Porsche RS Spyder - 1:28.320
7 - #7 DAMS - FLM09 - 1:30.584
8 - #41 G.A.C. Racing Team - Zytek 07S - 1:30.730
9 - #6 Boutsen Energy Racing - FLM09 - 1:32.042
10 - #5 Boutsen Energy Racing - FLM09 - 1:33.114
11 - #89 Hankook Team Farnbacher - Ferrari F430 GT - 1:37.936
12 - #87 Drayson Racing - Aston Martin Vantage GT2 - 1:38.296
13 - #75 Endurance China Team - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 1:41.468
14 - #78 Team Seattle Advanced Engineering - Ferrari F430 GT - 1:41.952


http://www.planetlemans.com/2009/04/25/lms-bugatti-test-saturday-afternoon-results/

[Nordic]

http://www.endurance-info.com/version2/images/news/2009_LMS_Test_Bugatti_Lola_Acc.jpg

Someones been a naughty boy!

[geoffd]

Just what they need with 2 weeks to go to the Spa 1000km's

[termietermite]

 
It looked beautiful yesterday.

[Bas]

Found some pretty good pictures of what happened to the Speedy car and from the rest of the weekend:



more and bigger pictures (scroll down)

http://www.connectingrod.it/LeMansSeries/2009/LeMans/lemans_eng.html