A private test session took place on the Bugatti circuit yesterday. Although it was open to everybody only Audi Sport, the Pescarolo Team , Toyota Racing and Starworks Motorsport took part. They used the day to improve and validate the final setups for the Le Mans 24 Hours on 16-17 June.
Audi started the ball rolling this morning running its three cars on a dry track and the fourth in the afternoon. The German team used the session to adapt its setups. The Pescarolo squad ran the no. 16 Pescarolo-Judd 03 and the no. 17 Dome, but was obliged to stop the test because of the rain in the afternoon. Henri Pescarolo, the team principal said: “It’s a good idea to be able to test today on the Bugatti circuit as we can fine tune and improve the setups, even if the rain was a problem this afternoon. We have to be competitive and we’ll continue improving the setups on the big circuit in free practice on Wednesday 13th June.”
Toyota began testing in mid-afternoon in the rain with its two hybrids, nos 7 and 8: “It’s only just a test run to rack up the mileage to develop the cars,” said John Steeghs, the team manager of the Japanese firm.
The no. 44 Starworks Motorsport HPD ARX-03a entered in LM P2 also tested in the early afternoon. There was no official timing during the two sessions (09h00-midday and 14h00-18h00). After admin checks and scrutineerning on 10-11 June the cars entered for the 80th Le Mans 24 Hours will take part in official practice starting on Wednesday 13th June.
Benoît Tréluyer and Romain Dumas were invited to Roland Garros by France Television, the broadcaster of the French Open Tennis Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours. The two winners, Tréluyer last year and Dumas in 2010, were there to cheer on Jo-Wilfred Tsonga from Le Mans in his quarter final against Novak Djkovic: they also took part in the France Television programme.
The 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours80th event3rd round of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship
Dates: 16-17 June 2012
General enclosure ticket: 69 eurosFree for young people born after 17th June 1996 accompanied by an adult.
Scrutineering and admin. checks: Sunday 10th (14h30 – 19h00) and Monday 11th June (10h00 – 18h00).
Wednesday 13th June: Free practice from 16h00 till 20h00, qualifying from 22h00 till midnight.
Thursday 14th June: qualifying from 19h00 till 21h00 and from 22h00 till midnight.
Start of the 80th Le Mans 24 Hours: Saturday 16th June 2012 at 15h00.
