The pre-season Test Days at Paul Ricard for the 2013 FIA WEC will give media (28-29 March) and fans (on Saturday 29 March only) their very first opportunity to see all three of the factory LMP1 teams in action back to back with all six full season cars featuring on the 27 car entry list.
With the Audi and Porsche already launched we’ll get to see the Toyota for the first time on the Thursday before the Test Day.
What we won’t get to see are either of the two new Privateer LMP1s
The appearance of a pair of Rebellion Lola Toyotas on the WEC Prologue entry list is a mark of just how complex the issue of designing, building and developing a new design of LMP1 is nowadays.
The team have opted to concentrate on production quality and structured initial testing for their new Oreca designed and built cars rather than rushing to appear at a non-competitive test.
All involved are moving full tilt towards a Silverstone debut for the pair of new Rebellion R Ones but with the Lola’s able to be grandfathered it remains to be seen whether that’s a choice they’ll choose to take for the opening race of the season.
On the driving front meanwhile the three TBAs against the second car hide a far more positive picture with Dominik Kraihamer now already named as one of the TBAs.
Another known quantity in LMP racing and one new face to sports cars likely to be announced as part of the team soon.
There’s no sign either of the new LMP1 Lotus T129, the team opting to miss the test completely.
Another car that will be seen in public for the very first time is the Strakka Dome Nissan 103 LMP2 coupe.
SMP Racing will field both of their new Oreca Nissans too as well as Millennium Racing, though apparently the Delta Motorsport run effort will not have all of their 2014 drivers on parade.
G-Drives Morgan Nissan will be there too, together with KCMG’s new Oreca Nissan for a full house of 2014 LMP2 entrants.
GTE Pro will see all teams present but AF Corse and Aston Martin Racing will only field one car each for the test. RAM Racing though will be there for their WEC on track debut.
GTE Am also sees just one of the full season pair of AMR Vantage GTE’s the all Danish crewed #95 will be present, together with the remainder of the full season entry.
