Photo: ACO
The annual family photo
Tomorrow at 9h00 the 60 cars entered for the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours will take to the 13.629-km 24 Hours circuit for the first time this year as the Test Day gets underway. The eight hours available to the teams before the 84th running of the event on 18-19 June will give them the opportunity to finesse their technical setups, make sure their personnel know exactly what to do, and see where they stand in relation to their rivals.
While waiting to begin testing the 60 cars were lined up for the traditional, annual family photo!
Preparations off track as well as on
For some teams, including Ferrari’s AF Corse in LMGTE Pro, this is the first opportunity for the third, endurance driver in the line ups for the No.51 and 71 Ferrari 488 GTEs to compete alongside their regular FIA WEC colleagues.
Alessandro Pier Guidi will join Gimmi Bruni and James Calado – the trio hoping for a smoother run for the No.51 than they have experienced at Silverstone and Spa – while Ferrari veteran and 2015 LMGTE Am champion Andrea Bertolini will be driving alongside Sam Bird and Davide Rigon. The team took the opportunity to get some photos of the line ups, and give Sam a bit of a raise!
More changes on the driver carousel
Will Stevens, recently announced as the third driver alongside Roman Rusinov and Rene Rast in the No.26 G- Drive Racing ORECA 05 Nissan, had his first look at his new ‘office’ today and a seat fitting. The diminutive Briton acknowledged that it might take more than one attempt at moulding a seat for him as his team mates are somewhat taller than he is so he requires a larger seat packer than they do! Stevens was nevertheless excited to be with G-Drive Racing and get going tomorrow.
Corvette Motors revealed on Twitter that Dutch driver Nicky Catsburg and Larbre Competition veteran Jean Philippe Belloc will be in the No.50 Chevrolet Corvette C7 at tomorrow’s test day in place of the injured Paolo Ruberti. There is no confirmation yet from the team who will be driving in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in two weeks’ time.
Photo: DPPI. Pierre Fillon (left) and FIA WEC driver adviser Yannick Dalmas unveiling the plaque in the Michel Bonté Media Centre
Michel Bonté Media Centre
Le Mans plays host to more than 1400 international media from countries all over the globe and the Media Centre stretches above most of the pit lane.
One of the most faithful and familiar faces from the host nation was that of Michel Bonté, the Sarthois journalist and author having represented the local “Le Maine Libre” daily newspaper for many decades. Michel sadly passed away a few weeks ago after a long illness.
In recognition of his immense contribution to Le Mans, President of the ACO Pierre Fillon today unveiled a plaque dedicated to Michel and announced that the Media Centre will from now on be known as the Michel Bonté Media Centre.
Fiona Miller
