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Centenary Le Mans: Friday Morning Scrutineering Notes

News and notes from the first day of administrative checks at the Place de la République...

Rexy revealed!

Project 1 AO’s ‘Rexy’ livery has been shown off ahead of race week, with a set of photos taken on the circuit!

As predicted, the dinosaur-themed colour scheme looks stunning on the GTE-spec Porsche.

“I had no idea just how big the reaction would be,” PJ Hyett told DSC today. “It’s great to bring Rexy to Le Mans, I love seeing the kids reactions to it. It’s also really nice to be able to contribute something like this to an event as important as this.”

First sight of the new-look 9X8s

Peugeot Sport’s new colour scheme, which the team will utilise for the remainder of the FIA WEC season, was shown off for the first time yesterday at the circuit.

Nasr’s new helmet

Porsche Hypercar driver Felipe Nasr has shown off a special helmet for the Le Mans 24 Hours, with a new design inspired by the one-off livery the factory 963s will run this week.

Kvyat: “Everyone in F1 talks about Le Mans”

Prema Racing LMP2 driver Daniil Kvyat told DSC that he is hugely excited to get his first Le Mans start under his belt, after following the race while competing in Formula 1.

“It’s still one week to go, and still it’s already quite crowded,” he said. “A lot of things going on. I start to realize how legendary this event is. And it’s very cool to be part of it. You know, I always heard a lot of things about this race. So it’s cool to be here.

“In F1, everyone talks a lot about the Indy 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans, for example. So, this is one of these legendary races which everyone wants to be a part of, at least once in their career.

“Everyone in the F1 paddock was talking about Le Mans, most of the drivers. I always had my TV on.”

Ahead of the race Kvyat has spent time on the sim to learn the track and asked multiple Le Mans winner Allan McNish for advice.

“This track is new to me. So I will have to just get in there and learn, and be a good learner,” he continued. “I think it’s one of those tracks, which is legendary. A lot of tricky corners. high-speed corners, challenging track, racing at night. A lot of traffic to manage and yeah, it’s gonna be interesting.

“I’m lucky to kind of know Allan McNish quite well. We sometimes like have a little catch-up. And last time we spoke, I asked him a few questions about Le Mans, and I think he’s one of the best guys ever to ask about this track.”

Vautier on his late-call up

Tristan Vautier is a late addition to the Le Mans entry. The Frenchman will drive the Floyd Vanwall Vandervell in the seat filled by Jacques Villeneuve earlier this season, His call-up has caused quite a stir, with the 1997 Formula 1 World Champion releasing a pointed statement criticising the team’s decision to replace him.

Vautier though has a job to do, and is thrilled to be a part of what is set to be a hugely significant event. Speaking with DSC today, he explained the story behind his new drive and outlined the challenges to come in during what will be a hectic week with the team.

“It was a set of circumstances I’d say. I ran into Esteban (Guerrieri) in Sebring – who was my rival in 2012 to the Indy Lights title, and my team-mate as well. So we just started catching up. Then Tom (Dillmann) was there as well. We were by the Vanwall structure in the WEC paddock and we started just chatting, all together, and Colin Kolles was close by. Tom introduced me. And that was it. We just went on and then I guess it was about two or three weeks ago after the three-day test in Monza, they called me.”

“Tom put my name forward when they decided they needed someone. And yeah, it worked out.

“To be honest, I don’t really know what their situation is, you know, for the rest of the season with the seat, with their reserve driver and all that. But I know I’ve been cautious for Le Mans. So I take it one race at a time and I try just to focus on that challenge for now. And let’s see what happens.”

“I will have to learn everything during the test day, which is a very similar experience to what I had last year when I showed up from Detroit and I had to learn the Oreca LMP2 all on the spot. So I certainly don’t underestimate the challenge but I really look forward to it.”

Hull looking to get up to speed

For Walkenhorst Motorsport driver Chandler Hull it’s going to be a challengeing week, as he gets up to speed with the Ferrari 488 GTE, a car which he has only had one chance to drive before Test Day.

“I’m super excited to be here after winning the Asian Le Mans (GT3) championship. We were able to find a car, even though we changed manufacturers with the long-standing BMW team at Walkenhorst.

“I was fortunate enough a couple of weeks ago to fly to Italy and get a few laps in the car, even though it was really cold and wet. It was good just to familiarize myself with the controls and everything.”

Andrade taking a ‘wait and see’ approach to 2024

WRT driver Rui Andrade says he is currently looking at his options for the 2024 season, when the LMP2 class is set to be dropped from the FIA WEC.

The Angolan, who is still fresh from an LMP2 win at Spa in the WEC six hours last month, says he plans to continue competing in the championship if he can. He feels LMGT3 may be the most likely category for him to join.

“Obviously, there are some big changes coming, you know, in order to make space for all the Hypercars that are joining the grid, and obviously next year, getting rid of the GTEs and going to the GT3 route,” he said. “At the moment, I think you’d have to wait and see how it all pans out.

“At the moment, I think you’d have to wait and see how it all pans out. Because I think the FIA and the ACO are doing a great job. I mean, as they say, we’re going into a new golden era of sportscar racing. So it seems to be working out at the moment. Obviously, a lot of doors will be closing – especially for LMP2 drivers but other doors will open up at the same time. So it’s a matter of being patient and see how it all works out. And hopefully, it’s for the best.

“It’s (the WEC) an incredible championship. I love the events, I love all the races. I mean, Le Mans is a must for any driver. It’s the most competitive championship for sports car racing in the world. So yeah, I’d like to stay here and compete for wins.

“Next year, the championship will be limited to GT3s and Hypercars. Obviously, the route upwards is quite limited at the moment because of all the factory teams and everything. And it’s unrealistic for customer teams to join at the moment and to be as competitive. But for sure, GT3 is an option. There are some great teams, great names coming. So yeah, why not?”

Pin: “I’ve been waiting for this race for a long time”

Prema Racing driver Dorinae Pin is beyond excited to be a part of the Le Mans 24 Hours. The Frenchwoman, who is aiming to score her first LMP2 class win in her home race, says she hopes that this is just the beginning for her in the WEC prototype ranks, as she hopes to graduate to Hypercar in the coming years.

“I’m really grateful to have this opportunity this year. I was waiting for this race for a long time and now I get to be here with the French fans and everything it’s just amazing,” she told DSC. “I am looking forward to what I think it will be the most beautiful week in in my life.

“I have worked really hard for this and I’m really happy that the job I have been doing has been good since the beginning of the of the year, we are constantly fighting for the win in each race with Mirko (Bortolotti) and Danny (Kyvat, in the #63 ORECA). We have a good atmosphere in the team and we work well together.

“First we focus on Le Mans, and then the championship. I don’t know what is next after that. For sure my main goal in the next (few) years will be hypercar and we’ll work hard to to be in this in this category.”

Busy week for Fjordbach and Magnussen

Inter Europol’s Danish duo, Anders Fjordbach and Jan Magnussen, have a busy week ahead! The pair will be competing together with the Polish team in LMP2 for the 24 Hours, and in the Road To Le Mans races as part of their full-season commitments in the ELMS-supporting series.

Fjordbach told DSC that managing the schedule will be a real challenge.

“We may have to start having Teams video meetings, as there will be a lot of moving between paddocks” Fjordbach said. “I haven’t got my head around it all yet, as Jan and I will need to make sure we are free and available for all the track time we are required to take part in.

“It will also be hard to drive two very different cars, a Porsche GT3 and ORECA during the week, especially as Le Mans is so important but I also have a shot at the Le Mans Cup GT3 title (with HCR with CaffeineSix)”

Magnussen meanwhile, is pleased to be back for a 24th start. He will race a Honda NSX GT3 with GMB Motorsport in Road To Le Mans alongside his LMP2 commitments with Inter Europol.

“I’ve been around here for about a quarter of its history! I mean, it’ll look different, it’ll feel a little a little bit different. There’s a lot more going on. But I’ll try to do what I normally do. I’ll try and keep a normal rhythm and not get put out of that. But it is 100. It is a special one, and we’ll see how special it’s gonna be.”

Keating: “I have counted myself out of a full season in LMGT3”

Ben Keating is back at Le Mans in 2023 as part of Corvette Racing’s C8.R GTE farewell tour. He leads the Am title race in the WEC with Nicky Catsburg and Nico Varonne after an incredible start to the season which has seen the trio score two wins in three races.

Beyond this year though, Keating is unlikely to form part of the full-season WEC pack, as the incoming LMGT3 category doesn’t interest him and LMP2 will not have a place on the grid outside of Le Mans.

“I am very comfortable saying that have counted myself out of a full season in the WEC in GT3,” he said. “As for Le Mans, I hope to be back here if I can get a spot in LMP2.”

High Class enjoying life in IMSA

Danish team High Class Racing is enjoying life in the IMSA LMP2 category according to driver Anders Fjordbach. Along with longtime driving partner Dennis Andersen, Fjordbach told DSC that the team enjoys the camaraderie in the IMSA paddock and the friendly relationship the team has with the championship organisers.

The IMSA LMP2 class is set to see a further boost to its entry in 2024 and beyond, with the category gone from the WEC and LMP3 removed from the WeatherTech Championship.

Will the High Class team, which has previously competed in both the ELMS and FIA WEC full time, continue to race in the USA beyond 2023? “We sure hope so!” Fjordbach said.

Yoluc gunning for overall LMP2 glory

Turkish racer Salih Yoluc, who with TF-Sport run outfit Racing Team Turkey is set to be the first Turkish-flagged entry in the Le Mans 24 Hours this year, takes a lot of pride in representing his home nation in the big race.

He has large-scale ambitions for the race too. He heads into the Le Mans 24 Hours full of confidence, having won the opening ELMS race in Barcelona overall as part of an LMP2 Pro/Am line-up. While the LMP2 class at Le Mans isn’t fully split like it now is in the ELMS, Yoluc isn’t phased.

“We are here to win the class, that’s why we are here, and we have a line-up to do it,” he said. “I want to be on top of the LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am podium here.”

Racing Team Turkey will race with Yoluc, Tom Gamble and Dries Vanthoor, and is one of nine cars gunning for the Pro/Am honours as well as LMP2.

Reverse livery for TF

TF Sport’s #25 ORT by TF Aston Martin Vantage GTE will run with a striking orange colours scheme, which is a reverse of its livery in the FIA WEC.

“You certainly won’t be able to miss it out on track!” Commented TF Sport team owner Tom Ferrier this morning.

Images courtesy of AO Racing & Lemans.org

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