With just one week to go to The Prologue and the start of the 2015 World Endurance Championship, this will the first opportunity for fans of endurance racing to meet some of the drivers and teams that will compete in the 2015 world championship.
After meeting the teams and drivers from the LMGTE and LMP2 categories, it is time to look at the premier category, LMP1.
The no1 is always attached to the championship winning car from the previous season and after three years of the no1 being worn by an Audi R18, in 2015 the coveted number will be seen on the Toyota TS040 hybrid of world driver champions Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi, who will be joined in 2015 by race winner Kazuki Nakajima. Alex Wurz and Stephane Sarrazin will be joined in the no2 Toyota by Mike Conway, the British driver getting his full season call up to the works team after three successful races in 2014, which included a win in Bahrain alongside his two teammates.
The two Audi R18 e-tron quattros run by Audi Sport Team Joest will wear the no7 and no8 in 2015, with 2012 world champions and 2014 24 Heures du Mans winners Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer racing together once again in the no7 car, while 2013 world champion Loic Duval will be joined once again by Lucas di Grassi in the no8 car with Britain’s Oliver Jarvis getting the call to replace ‘Mr Le Mans’ Tom Kristensen who retired at the end of last season.
Porsche have left their driver line ups unchanged after a successful debut 2014 season that saw the German manufacturer score a win at the last race of 2014, with Marc Lieb, Neel Jani and Romain Dumas standing on the top step of the podium in Sao Paulo. The two 919 hybrids will wear the no17 and no18 this season with Timo Bernard, Mark Webber and Brendon Hartley in the no17 car.
Team Bykolles will field their AER powered CLM P1/01 in 2015 with Swiss driver Simon Trummer the only confirmed pilot for the test at Le Castellet. The Austrian team will be hopeful of a strong start to the 2015 season.
Nissan Motorsports and Rebellion Racing will both be absent from The Prologue as both teams continue to develop and test their cars ahead of the 2015 season.
The Prologue – FREE ENTRY FOR THE PUBLIC ON SATURDAY 28 MARCH
The Prologue will take place at the Circuit Paul Ricard on 27/28 March 2015. On Saturday 28 March the event will open for the public to attend free of charge. The fans who attend will have the opportunity to see the cars on track during two open test sessions and at lunchtime they will be invited to take part in the pit walk and autograph session, which is all part of the free event. A full provisional entry list is available HERE
More details on The Prologue, including ticket information, can be found on the Circuit Paul Ricard website HERE
Provisional Timetable for The Prologue
Friday 27 March
09:00 – 13:00 Session 1
14:00 - 18:00 Session 2
19:00 – 21:00 Session 3
Saturday 28 March
09:00 – 13:00 Session 4
13:15 – 13:45 Drivers Autograph Session and Pitwalk
14:00 – 17:00 Session 5
