03/08/2010
On March 7 and 8, the official test days were a rehearsal before the "8 Heures du Castellet", the race which will kick off the endurance season on April 10 and 11.
During these week-end, some "premieres" happened and emotions were sharing.
On Saturday March 6, the Oreca Matmut team took the opportunity of unveiling the great novelty of the 2010 season during the official test days: the Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP has been left to them by the French manufacturer for the whole season as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Former F1 stars gave made race-fans' toes curl and made happy the spectators presented on Sunday. Jean Alesi et Giancarlo Fisichella took over from each other at the wheel of the Ferrari F430 GT of AF Corse. During the press conference on Monday, the stars drivers made themselves available and Jean Alesi said he was happy to his new challenge and also to be back on the Paul Ricard track, where he started his first Grand Prix in 1989. More get used to endurance and present regurlaly at the circuit, Olivier Panis drove the Peugeot 908 of Team Oreca Matmut. Nigel Mansell was also present with his sons Léo and Greg at the wheel of the Ginetta-Zytek (Beechdean Mansell).
On the occasion of the Ladies day, Matech Competition announced on March 8 that the team will enter one of its Ford GTs in the 1000Km of Spa with a 100%-lady drivers line up: Swiss girls -Cyndie Allemann, Natacha Gachnang and Rael Frey.
During two days, the 41 cars of LMP1, LMP2, LM GT1 and LM GT2 shared the 1AV2 track (5.791 km). Some teams chose to make a night simulation until midnight last Sunday to prepare the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Watch the video of the test session: here
More information on www.lemans-series.com
Photo: DPPI
