Fire at AF Corse
Thursday evening during the driver’s briefing a pool of smoke was spotted that indicated a problem down on pit lane. It proved to be a significant fire in the garage of the #83 AF Corse ORECA.
DSC believes that no crew members were hurt. The fire was attended to by the AF Corse team and the adjoining GMB Motorsport crew.
There was visible damage to pit equipment, with no word at the time of writing about any damage to the ORECA. The #44 GMB Motorsport crew removed their Aston Martin from the pit lane to the garage to avoid any risk if the fire spread.
Le Mans safety car process trialled
The Afternoon Session today for the ELMS Prologue saw multiple teams in all classes assist with a trial run of the new-for-2023 Le Mans 24 Hours safety car procedure.
The field was controlled by two safety cars on track, before the second car was withdrawn, allowing the train sat behind it to form one continuous train, after which a wave-by was undertaken.
The field was arranged for release, class by class; LMP2, LMP3 and GTE.
New layout proving popular
This year’s European Le Mans Series round at Barcelona is utilising the Grand Prix layout of the circuit without the chicane at the end of the lap.
Feedback from drivers during DSC’s tours of the paddock has been overwhelmingly positive, with every driver pleased by the change.
In terms of lap times, the 4.6km layout being used this weekend is significantly quicker than the previous route used by the ELMS.
Last year’s LMP2 pole time was a 1:31.788 from Nyck de Vries, while the fastest time in testing this week set by James Allen in the #25 APR ORECA was a 1:29.691. Allen’s time is expected to be bettered during Friday and Saturday’s running.
It must be noted though that the ELMS LMP2 teams have been given a power increase for this season which is believed to put the 18 ORECAs present close to the original performance levels of the current ruleset when it was introduced in 2017. This in turn will also have an impact on the lap times.
Harper-Ellam impresses on ELMS debut
Nielsen Racing driver Ryan Harper-Ellam has enjoyed a perfect start to his first season in the ELMS’ LMP3 class. The Briton set the fastest time of anyone in the category during the two-day test, a 1:36.403 in the #7 Ligier during this morning’s run.
“It was a really positive start to the year,” he told DSC. “I haven’t done a lot in Barcelona, so it was nice to come here and be on the pace straight away. We all worked really hard over the two days to fine-tune the set-up.”
Full grid shot
The full 42-car ELMS has assembled for the traditional pre-season team shot, which was taken down at Turns 1 and 2 this year.
Video footage from behind the scenes of the shot has also been published by the ELMS on social media.
Something’s cooking. Stay tuned for final result! #ELMS #4HBarcelona pic.twitter.com/SycChPb1bl
— European Le Mans Series (@EuropeanLMS) April 18, 2023
Onboard lap
The ELMS twitter account has released a full onboard lap of the Barcelona circuit with the pre-season Prologue pace-setting #25 Algarve Pro Racing ORECA.
Your first onboard action of the year has just dropped.
Take a lap around @Circuitcat_eng with the No.25 @APRacingTeam during the #ELMS Test. Enjoy the ride! #4HBarcelona pic.twitter.com/ccYXcuB22r
— European Le Mans Series (@EuropeanLMS) April 20, 2023
Previous winners
This weekend’s 42-car entry list features nine previous winners of the 4 Hours of Barcelona.
– Louis Deletraz (no34 Racing Team Turkey) – 2022 / 2021 LMP2
– Nico Pino (no30 Duqueine Team) – 2022 LMP3
– Christian Ried (no77 Proton Competition) – 2022 LMGTE
– Gianmaria Bruni (no99 Proton Competition) – 2022 LMGTE
– Francois Perrodo (no83 AF Corse) – 2022 LMP2 Pro/Am
– Matteo Cressoni (no60 Iron Lynx) – 2021 LMGTE
– Matthieu Lahaye (no35 Ultimate) – 2021 LMP2 Pro/Am
– Jean-Baptiste Lahaye (no 35 Ultimate) – 2021 LMP2 Pro/Am
– Job Van Uitert (no65 Panis Racing) – 2019 LMP2
The paddock by the numbers
With the two support race fields now on site following the arrival of the Ligier European Series and Porsche Carerra Cup France teams arriving the paddock here in Barcelona is occupied by no fewer than 128 sports prototypes and GT cars.
There are 42 apiece for the ELMS and Le Mans Cup, 18 in the two-class single-make Ligier European Series and 26 Porsche Cup cars.
