Virage line-up tweaked
The final two races of the season will see Bronze-rated Georgios Kolovos compete with Team Virage in LMP2 Pro/Am alongside second-generation racer Raphaël Narac, following Tony Wells’ decision to step away to focus on his Le Mans Cup programme with Nielsen.
Tristan Vautier remains in the third seat, as he did at Spa. The former IndyCar racer will also complete the season and race with Virage in Portimao.
Rinaldi LMP2 programme on hold
Amongst the prospective takers for an LMP2 programme in 2025 was Rinaldi Racing.
DSC sources suggest that the German team was prepared to commit to a two-car ORECA entry to the Asian Le Mans Series, ahead of a single-car commitment to the ELMS. But the programme will not go ahead, because there is set to be no room in the ELMS next season.
Drugovich attends IndyCar test
Vector Sport regular Felipe Drugovich has been forced to skip this weekend’s ELMS race due to a clashing IndyCar test at Barber Motorsports Park in the USA.
Stateside, Drugovich – who also acts as Aston Martin’s F1 reserve drive – is down to drive with Chip Ganassi Racing.
In his place, Patrick Pilet has rejoined Vector for the second time this season after subbing for Drugovich at Le Mans when he was called up to race with Action Express in Hypercar.
38 cars for Le Mans Cup race
Saturday’s Le Mans Cup race will be contested by 38 cars, with 27 in LMP3 and 11 in GT3.
This weekend COOL Racing’s #97 duo of David Droux and Adrien Chila look to maintain their lead ahead of the season finale in LMP3, while AF Corse aims to clinch the GT3 titles on home soil with Matthew Kurzejewski and Alessandro Balzan.
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Keilwitz off the Le Mans Cup list after surgery
Daniel Keilwitz is missing from the Le Mans Cup entry this weekend, after a torridly unlucky Spa outing. The rapid German suffered a health emergency, which required surgery. DSC is happy to report that he looks set to make a complete recovery but will miss the remainder of the season.
In his place, Stefan Aust will drive the team’s Duqueine alongside Felipe Fernandez Laser.
DSC wishes Keilwitz well in his recovery.
Test day times
Matteo Cairoli set the quickest time in testing today at Mugello for Proton Iron Lynx. The lap, a 1:33.980, came in the afternoon session and was just three-thousandths of a second up on Inter Europol’s Tom Dillmann.
The quickest times in the other classes, unsurprisingly, also came afternoon as the teams and drivers get up to speed at the circuit, which is new to the ELMS.
LMP3 was topped by Inter Europol’s Kai Askey with a 1:42.607, while LMGT3 saw Nicklas Nielsen set the pace with a 1:46.783 for Formula Racing.
Free entry tomorrow
Fans local to the Autodromo del Mugello can watch tomorrow’s action trackside for free, with the grandstands open for fans.
The schedule begins with Free Practice sessions for the European Le Mans Series, Michelin Le Mans Cup and Porsche Carrera Cup. Ligier European Series practice and qualifying will also take place.
The on-site ticket office at the Palagio gate will also be open for fans who want to buy tickets for Saturday and Sunday.
