ORECA 05 shines in Paul Ricard test
The brand new Thiriet by TDS Racing run ORECA 05-Nissan of Tristan Gommendy set a best of 1m48.432 in the final day of official pre-season ELMS testing at Paul Ricard today.
#46 Thiriet by TDS Racing Oreca 05 - Nissan: Pierre Thiriet, Ludovic Badey, Tristan Gommendy
XPB Images
The lap was just 0.277 slower than yesterday's quickest yesterday by Nathanael Berthon in the Murphy run ORECA 03-Nissan.
Gommendy will share the new LMP2 car with teammates Ludovic Badey and Pierre Thiriet this season.
There were few overall improvements at the track today due to slightly less favourable ambient conditions. The afternoon session was held on a mostly wet track, with most teams electing to downscale their programs and save engine mileage for the season ahead.
Joining the action during the test was the Krohn Racing-entered Ligier JS P2. This was not the same chassis that raced at Sebring last weekend but an Oak Racing spare chassis that was readied for Niclas Jonsson and Tracy Krohn to learn the Paul Ricard circuit for the race to be held here in early September.
The new Ginetta LMP3 car managed to accrue more laps in the hands of Team LNT drivers Michael Simpson, Chris Hoy and the owner of Ginetta Cars - Lawrence Tomlinson.
Priaulx leads LMGTE class
Andy Priaulx set a 1m58.376s lap to head the LMGTE class in the BMW Team Marc VDS Z4. The British racer arrived in France straight from the Sebring 12 Hours last weekend to undertake laps on the new Dunlop GT tyres.
Like Monday's action, there was little drama apart from a small fire that stopped the #64 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia on the track. Driven by Mads Radsmussen at the time, the fire was swiftly extinguished and the car re-emerged briefly during the afternoon running.
Auto GP race winner Andrea Roda headed the timing screens in the mostly wet afternoon session. The Italian, driving the Algarve Pro Racing entered Ligier set a best of 1m51.487s.
The 2015 ELMS kicks off at Silverstone on Saturday 11th April, the same weekend as the FIA WEC field which race on Sunday 12th.
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