All 50 drivers who missed their slots at scrutineering on Friday and Saturday due to fixture clashes at Detroit (IMSA), Jakarta (Formula E) and GT World Challenge (Paul Ricard), arrived in time to take part in the Test Day.
Several arrived in the wee small hours of Saturday night with a combination of Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
The same situation is likely to raise in 2023 even if, as suggested by FIA Vice President Robert Reid, the FIA move to ‘protect’ the date of the centenary race.
Lap Times At Test Day
Although today’s Le Mans test session was purely that, the natural reference tends to be one of lap time comparison, particularly regarding year-on-year pace.
There was a brief period of light rain, but this year’s test day stayed mostly dry, allowing clean running. But perhaps the ‘green’ nature of the track surface following a week of changeable weather, not to mention last year’s 24 Hours happening later in the year in warmer August temperatures, would inevitably affect lap times across the classes.
Hypercar
Toyota GR010 – Hybrid
2021 – 3:29.115
2022 – 3:29.896 (+0.781 seconds)
LMP2
Oreca 07 – Gibson
2021- 3:31.105
2022 – 3:32.099 (+0.994s)
GTE-Pro
2021 – Porsche 911 RSR-19 – 3:52.901
2022 – Corvette C8.R 3:54.001 (+1.100s)
GTE-Am
2021 – Porsche 911 RSR-19 – 3:54.472
2022 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – 3:54.827 (+0.355s)
With the prototype classes having the best part of a second to make up on last year’s pace and this year’s Corvette C8.R a full second slower, it is just the GTE-Am runners getting close to last year’s class pace, noting that the top times there were set by some very capable drivers usually employed in other categories.
Inevitable off-track excursions aside, all of this overlooks the fact that in a very large entry there were very few serious mechanical issues that kept cars in their garages, proof positive of the technical maturity and integrity of sportscar racing’s premier platform.
Costs Soaring
Running costs, parts availability and the supply chain are going to be matters of discussion for some time it seems. One team owner told DSC that a recent enquiry about a new gearbox got the response that it could be supplied early next year.
Freighting costs meanwhile are proving to be a significant challenge, several team sources confirming that the FIA WEC’s trip to Fuji later this year is seeing costs over 200% up on the 2019 levels.
And it isn’t just ACO rules racing. A note to teams from SRO last weekend confirming an immediate 8% hike in tyre prices from Pirelli and a further substantial increase in fuel costs, believed to have risen from 4.6 Euros per litre to 6.0
Sixth Le Mans For #66
JMW Motorsport is just a little miffed that the AF Corse paddock panelling celebrates the Le Mans achievements not of the Italian team, but of the Ferrari marque, the British team took the GTE-Am win in 2017 in their then brand new Ferrari 488 GTE, the achievement recognised but not the team name!
The #66 Ferrari meanwhile is about to start its sixth Le Mans campaign, JMW getting some incredulous looks from the ACO scrutineers when they observed the matches collection of scrutineering stickers in the car.
Corvette Switcheroo
Nowhere close to the heritage of the Ferrari but Corvette has brought back the same two C8.R chassis that contested Le Mans last year, but with a twist! Corvette #63 is chassis 005, whilst #64 is chassis 004.
The same two chassis raced in the opposite order in the C8.Rs debut last year!
ORECA Photocall
25 of the 26 ORECA 07s that will contest the race this weekend formed up for a photocell on Sunday evening (the #31 RealTeam by WRT car was unavailable).
The 27 car entry for the class is a record with the CD Sport Ligier the only non-ORECA class entry.
Reserves
Jota’s paddock panelling namechecks the whole team, including naming Jazeman Jaafar as their reserve driver.
The Malaysian WEC LMP2 race winner will, unless called up for driving duty, form part of the International Feed TV team alongside Peter Dumbreck and Anthony Davidson, with Martin Haven, Graham Goodwin and Ben Constandurous in the booth plus Louise Beckett and Duncan Vincent patrolling pit lane. The team will be providing the English language commentary not only for the LM24 App but also for Eurosport, Motor trend on Demand and many other stations worldwide.
Amongst the other reserve driver nominees for the race week Mathieu Jaminet and Harrison Newey completed short stints in the #5, Jaminet also the nominated reserve for Porsche’s GTE Pro effort.
Di Resta Does Test Day
Paul di Resta was on duty with United Autosports to assist Josh Pierson on Test Day as the team awaited the arrival of Oliver Jarvis and Alex Lynn from Detroit. Di Resta and Pierson combined for two race wins in the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series at Yas Marina in the days following the American’s 16th birthday.
Fisichella’s Face
DSC’s Martin Little got a quizzical look out of Giancarlo Fisichella with his opening statement to the Italian ex F1 veteran revealing that his wife’s regular choice of nightwear for something approaching two decades is a prized T-Shirt prominently featuring Fisi’s face!
Tuesday Attractions
Tuesday at Le Mans meanwhile sees the first pitlane walkabout here since 2019 with the newly introduced teams Pitlane Challenge taking place late afternoon, the successful crews will be awarded trophies on the Le Mans podium!
