A look back at ELMS team's Le Mans Test day

While, for some, it was particularly important to qualify drivers (newcomers and those who have not participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the last five years), for others it was time to work on the cars' set up in order to be better adapted and prepared for a race that lasts six times longer than the ELMS events. All ELMS teams first of all safely passed through the technical and administrative checks on Friday 30th and Saturday, May 31st which were held inside the circuit.

Sunday, June 1st, track action begins

During the first part of testing on Sunday morning, Signatech Alpine, JOTA Sport, Murphy Prototypes and NewBlood by Morand Racing occupied the first four places in the LMP2 class, demonstrating that even while entered in a series as elevated as the FIA World Endurance Championship, they are more than capable of holding their own in endurance racing.  In the LMGTE Am category, JMW Motorsport and IMSA Performance Matmut set their best laps of the day in this morning session.

On Sunday afternoon, under bright sunshine and a dry track, the lap times improved for most of the teams present. This was also the case for all ELMS LMP2 entries, as well as for SMP Racing and Team Sofrev ASP in LMGTE Am.

After having held the fastest time in the LMP2 class throughout the afternoon, Murphy Prototypes was pipped to the post in the dying moments of the session by G-Drive Racing, an FIA WEC team. The Irish team set the second fastest LMP2 time ahead of Signatech Alpine.  Race Performance was sixth in LMP2, the Swiss team ahead of JOTA Sport, Sébastien Loeb Racing and Thiriet by TDS Racing which ran the Ligier JS P2 for the first time. Caterham Racing and the youngest driver on the grid finished up in 11th place in the category ahead of NewBlood by Morand Racing, Pegasus Racing and Greaves Motorsport. Larbre Compétition was 16th in LMP2.

In LMGTE, SMP Racing managed to secure 2nd place in the Am category behind the Ferrari of 8Star Motorsport (FIAWEC), while Team Sofrev ASP and its driver Fabien Barthez were 6th in class. JMW Motorsport took 12th place, IMSA Performance Matmut 14th and 16th positions. The two AF Corse Ferraris (Nos.55 and 62) ran relatively few laps and finished 17th and 18th in LMGTE Am.

But the test day for the 24 Hours of Le Mans was primarily all about getting to grips with the car and learning the circuit in preparation for the Le Mans week which starts with the technical and administrative checks for the race on Sunday, June 8th at the Place de la République in the centre of the city. 

Drivers will be back on track on Wednesday, June 11th for the first round of testing.

Results and classifications HERE