Round 4 of the ELMS season this
weekend, at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France. The High Tech Test Track that has been re-opened to the public in 2009 is situated in the Var region between Marseille and Toulon. 5.861
meters long, 11 corners and the impressive Mistral straight of 1,8
km, simulating the Le Mans Hunaudières straight together with an impressive backdrop in the mountains behind the cote d'Azur make this track one of the teams and drivers favourites. Le Castellet has
been on the ELMS schedule since the beginning and has always given us
exciting races.
JOTA Sport announced this morning the addition of a full season WEC entry to their program in 2016. The British
team will compete in the LMP2 class with an Oreca 05-Nissan. Given
their succesful entry's in WEC at Spa and Le Mans in the past years, and an impressive track record in the ELMS, this will be stiff competition for the other LMP2 teams in WEC. Next
to their new WEC entry, JOTA Sports stays loyal to the ELMS
championship with the Gibson 015S-Nissan in 2016. No words yet on possible drivers, but there's no doubt Simon Dolan & co will have a very competitive line-up next year.
Ibanez Racing withdrew its 2 cars for
Paul Ricard, but will be back at the last race in Portugal
mid-October. The updated entry list now shows a grid of 27 cars for
the weekend. SMP Racing changed its name into AF Racing from now on,
and will race their 2 BR01-Nissans with #20 and #21. They will also
change to Dunlop tyres from this race on instead of Michelin.
A few driver changes for the weekend :
Olivier Pla takes the wheel of the Krohn Ligier again this weekend,
after driving the car at Daytona and Sebring. Eurasia Motorsport
adds Richard Bradley to its line up at Le Castellet. Bradley won the
LMP2 class at Le Mans and the Nürburgring last week at the wheel of
the KCMG Oreca05. 2 new faces at JMW Motorsport in the Ferrari F458
Italia : Jonny Cocker and Rory Butcher will drive together with
Robert Smith.
Gérard Neveu will announce the
provisional 2016 ELMS schedule on a press conference tomorrow,
together with some “exciting changes for next season”.
United Autosports first Ginetta LMP3
has been delivered, and had his shakedown at Blyton Park in
Gainsborough this week. Countdown to 2016 to see this car added to
the ELMS startgrid.
Sunday's race will be broadcast live
on Motors TV and streamed on the ELMS website. For those making the
trip to Paul Ricard; general admittance is free, a ticket for the
paddock (including pitwalk and autograph session) is priced at a very
reasonable 10 euros. Free practice sessions will be run on Saturday at 10.30h and 15h and qualifying Sunday morning starting at 9 am. Green flag will be shown Sunday at 13h for the 4 hours of Le Castellet.
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