Team Modena completed their Wednesday night running at Le Mans with 30-minutes of the Free Practice session to spare, having given all three drivers a run in the daylight and in the dark, and with Le Mans rookie Leo Mansell having enough laps under his belt to qualify for Saturday’s race. Conditions at the classic French circuit were changing all night, the team never having an opportunity to put slick tyres on the LM GT2 category Ferrari 430 GT and go for an outright lap time – but all three drivers were on the class pace when running on the wet track.
“We have had a great evening,” summed up Sporting Director Rik Bryan. “Despite the changeable conditions we have achieved exactly what we wanted to do and it is a great spring board for moving things forward tomorrow – when hopefully we get some quick running in the dry.”
On of the key objectives was giving Leo sufficient time in the car to complete his compulsory qualify laps, and a run in the dark and the wet was enough for him to prove himself for the race organisers.
“It was first time in the wet in the car as well as my first time in the dark, so it was an interesting combination,” said Leo. “The car felt great and I pushed as hard as I needed to and qualify for the race, but it was good to get some experience of where the track goes, it is very dark at the back of the circuit and you need to have a feel for it.”
Pierre Ehret went out in the dark once Leo had completed his run, and Roman Rusinov finished off the evening with two flying laps to sample the Ferrari 430 GT in the wet.
“It was difficult as it was my first time in this car," said Roman, "the track was slippery but we did a good job today and we need to continue tomorrow now. We have done some positive testing – although I think it will be dry for qualifying tomorrow it was good to get some wet running in. The car was good to drive, well balanced, and I am happy, I always am when I am out in a Ferrari!”
The track action resumes at 19.00 local time tonight with the first of the two qualifying sessions that will set the grid for Saturday’s 24-Hour race.
