4H Le Castellet: Friday Paddock Notes
Michel handicapped
R-ace GP driver Fabien Michel has been handed a highly unusual pit stop handicap for this weekend’s Le Mans Cup race, following an analysis of his performance in Round 1 by the organisers.
“The Stewards notify all competitors and officials that in accordance with article 6.2.3 of the Sporting Regulations, the MLMC Committee has issued the technical analysis from the Barcelona competition, via email dated 19th April 2024 to all competitors,” the bulletin reads.
“The Stewards confirm the decision of the MLMC Committee that from the technical analysis of driver Fabien Michal, there will be an additional 13 seconds imposed on the Pit Stop Handicap Time for car 85 at this event.”
MV2S & Murphy withdraw from Le Mans Cup weekend
Two LMP3 class cars have been withdrawn from this weekend’s Le Mans Cup race, the #28 Ligier from MV2S and Murphy Prototypes’ #48 Duqueine (for the second consecutive meeting).
This makes three withdrawls following Blackthorn pulling its second Aston Martin Vantage – which is on site in Le Castellet – from the event.
All three teams have been fined as a result. This brings the total number of entries down to 39 cars.
Inter Europol Ligier hits trouble
The #43 Inter Europol Ligier’s Le Mans Cup weekend has been a challenging one so far. The car failed to complete a lap in Free Practice 1 after suffering from broke bell-housing on its outlap.
The car finally joined the track action with 30 minutes remaining in Free Practice 2 after repairs, before suffering another bell-housing issue.
Driver swap at Reiter Engineering
A late change for Reiter Engineering sees gamer-turned-racer Moritz Lohner receed his seat to 2023 GT World Challenge Europe Gold Cup and N24 GT4 race winner Miklas Born in he #50 Ligier.
Jolt Ligier arrives
After missing the opening round of the 2024 Ligier European Series season at Barcelona, newly-established British team Jolt Racing arrives with a smartly-presented JS P4 this weekend.
The Ligier programme will sit alongside a parallel GT Cup effort with a McLaren 570S GT4. At Le Castellet the car will be steered by ex-Ginetta Juniors and JCW Mini racer Thomas Jack Lee. It is currently a one-off appearence for him.
Varrone standing in at AF Corse
2023 FIA WEC GTE Am champion and Le Mans class winner Nico Varrone is a late addition to the 4 Hours of Le Castellet entry list this week on a single race deal.
The Argentinian Corvette driver will race the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3 in the seat previously filled by Ulysse De Pauw in Barcelona alongside Manu Collard and Charles-Henri Samani.
This adds to his forthcoming Nurburgring 24 Hours start in a 296 with Frikadelli Racing.
Le Mans entry news
With the Le Mans 24 Hours entry, including all drivers, due early next week, there are numerous announcements due and questions as yet unanswered affecting multiple teams, in particular, in LMP2 and to a lesser extent LMGT3.
At least three teams have outstanding issues known to DSC that mean it is as yet impossible to confirm their Le Mans line-ups.
It is possible that the reserve list may come into play.
Spotted in the paddock
Romain Dumas, former Le Mans winner and WEC champion, is on-site this weekend giving support to a young driver in the Michelin Le Mans Cup paddock.
With the announcement due soon of the complete Le Mans entry list, we will find out soon whether Romain will be named for a 24th consecutive start in the great race.
Bronze Test times
Giorgio Roda was the fastest driver in this afternoon’s Bronze test with a 1:42.193 in the #77 Proton Competition ORECA, lapping the circuit 1.4 seconds faster than John Falb in the #24 Nielsen car.
In LMP3 Eric Trouillet in the #35 Ultimate Ligier set a 1:51.062, putting him three tenths up on Miguel Cristovao in the #17 COOL Racing JS P320.
LMGT3 saw Duncan Cameron top the times in the #55 Spirit of Race Ferrari 296. He was two tenths quicker than Iron Lynx’s Hiroshi Hamaguchi.
