CRS Racing Paul Ricard test report 2011-03-12

#82 CRS Racing Ferrari F430: Klaas Hummel, Adam Christidoulou, Phil Quaife

Photo by: DPPI

RS Racing has wrapped up the official two-day test at Paul Ricard and, despite inclement weather conditions, is ready for the first Le Mans Series race of the season in just three weeks' time.

The No.82 CRS Ferrari 430 ended today's running in third place in the new LM GTE Am class but as Phil Quaife explains, today's times aren't representative of true pace.

"The weather has been quite frustrating here," said Quaife. "Wet, dry, wet, dry conditions mean we had to abort our run on new tyres so everything you see on the timesheets is on old rubber. I know this track well now and I know the car well too so it was good to have the opportunity to get back into the groove with the team and knuckle down to our set up work. Although we were hampered by the weather we think we know where we are at now and we'll just need a few tweaks to find our race set-up when we return. It's good to be back and I'm looking forward to the first round."

Adam Christodoulou also made the most of his time in the Ferrari during the test. Although he knows the car from the International GT Open races he did last year, he hasn't raced at Ricard before.

"It was good to have plenty of time in the car so that I could learn the track," he said. "The weather was a shame though. I thought 'Great, a test in the south of France will be nice' but the weather was better in Milton Keynes! We had on-off drizzle practically all the time so didn't really have the consistent conditions you need for testing. Having said that I had a great time in the car, it felt good to be back with the team and I can't wait for the season to start now."

Phil and Adam's team-mate is of course Dutchman, Klaas Hummel. After previously racing in the SLR Trophy, FIA GT3 and GT Open, this test was Klaas' first time on track with the prototypes. CRS MD Mark Busfield says he coped very well.

"Klaas handled the prototypes being on track really well," said Busfield. "Hats off to him as he took it all in his stride. All three drivers got up to speed very quickly. I won't go on about the weather but suffice to say we got through the test programme and I'm pleased with how well everything has come together."

The team will travel back to the UK tomorrow to say 'hello and goodbye' to their loved ones before heading straight out to Florida for the Sebring 12 Hours, the first round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

-source: crs racing