Blazing sunshine and the South of France go hand in hand so it is particularly disappointing that it is (again) freezing this afternoon here at Paul Ricard!
Thiriet by TDS Oreca 05
The Thiriet by TDS Racing Oreca 05 Nissan is here and in full livery, the frontal styling significantly different from the Ligier that the car replaced in the team’s inventory.
SMP Update
We’re likely to see the BR01 Nissan LMP2 coupe at some point tomorrow now, the team determined, perhaps particularly in the current climate with reference to the future of the class, to present the car in good order.
For now the SMP garage contains the #37 Oreca from last year’s WEC and a GTC Ferrari.
Krohn Racing
The only team listed to appear at the test that are not currently present are (unsurprisingly) the Krohn Racing team, Tracey Krohn and Nic Jonsson are due to arrive tomorrow and are, reportedly due to drive an Oak Racing Ligier with their uniquely Judd engined Ligier having finished the 12 Hours of Sebring late last night.
Pegasus Racing
Julien Schell from Pegasus Racing was overseeing the preparations for the team’s Morgan Nissan, the car one of a pair the team now have available.
“The cars, for now at least, are to the original specification (not the new for 2015 ‘Evo’ spec).
We will run just one for now in the ELMS but I am talking to potential customers and we might have options either later in the ELMS or in Asia.”
Tincknell on Jota Duty
Nissan factory driver Harry Tincknell is suited and booted at Jota and will run in the car tomorrow, together with Simon Dolan and Filipe Albuquerque, his first opportunity to experience the Gibson 015S update to the car he had so much success with last season.
No news quite yet though of Nick Yelloly’s replacement. Watch this space!
With the Porsche factory LMP1 team already on site here (though the trucks and garages are firmly locked after their testing last week) there was at least one member of the team on site this afternoon as Brendon Hartley briefly appeared to give a thank you present to his ex team boss and now manager Greg Murphy.
Greaves Guys
Bjorn Wirdheim, Jon Lancaster, Gary Hirsch and Saud Al Faisal are all on parade for Greaves Motorsport for the test, Jon Lancaster arriving from Oman where he has been race instructing members of the ruling family.
