Le Mans 2017 : Pesage Day 2 -

After a cool and blustery Sunday night, Monday morning arrived with crisp sunshine and also a heap of traffic on our way into the city of Le Mans. It was worth the effort with the prospect of a long day of scrutineering ahead.

First to go around the square was the Slovakian entry, the ARC Bratislava Ligier - Gibson #49.

www.arcbratislava.sk @ARCBratislava. 

It is (we think) the first Slovakian team to enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans and although not expected to be at the forefront of LMP2 going by their pace on on test day, the team are an interesting addition to the grid. The ARC team was founded in 1997 by Miroslav Konopka and Dusan Vyslozil. Better known for their GT racing efforts in the FIA GT Championship and Blancpain Endurance Series, this year they have embarked upon a season of the Asian Le Mans series and plan to compete in the ELMS from the Red Bull ring onwards.  It will be the first race for their brand new and distinctively bright yellow LMP2 Ligier - Gibson. The team owner/driver Miroslav Konopka has been to Le Mans before in 2006 in a Porsche 996 (ret) and in 2010 in a Porsche 997 finishing 8th in class. The other two drivers Konstantins Calko (LVA) and Rik Breukers (NLD) are Le Mans rookies. Like many drivers, Calko comes a karting background (2nd in the Rotax Max grand finals 2012). Breukers won the Lambourghini Super Trofeo Middle East 2017. 

At 14:10 the first of three Toyota TS050 Hybrids was pushed into the first inspection tent.

Ford GT #68 driver Dirk Muller (right) performs an impromptu pesage day video clip for team-mate Joey Hand (left)

www.algarveproracingteam.com  www.so24.fr  @So24LombardR

The #45 Algarve Racing Ligier JSP217- Gibson has backing from SO (Sarthe Objectif) 24! - an organisation formed in 2011 promoting local businesses and drivers in the Sarthe region including the A.C.O. Driving School.

Dave Davies