24h Le Mans
Drivers and teams alike are big fans of social media. They post and tweet (often with a great deal of humor) their results and more. Here are some of their reactions in the wake of Test Day.
The driver of the #8 Toyota TS050 Hybrid got his bearings at the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit during Test Day. The two-time F1 world champion wasn't going to settle for simply making progress and learning more and more with each subsequent lap. He went on to clock the fastest overall time of the day (3:19:066), calling the track a "mega circuit" on social media.
French driver Thomas Laurent did his first laps at the circuit for Test Day, in the LMP1 class at the wheel of the #3 Rebellion R13-Gibson. Clocking the second fastest time of the day (3:19:680), he once again confirmed he's a rising star in endurance. "The work is going well. We were able to do everything we set out to do despite several red flag interruptions. I feel good in the car. I'm ready for the 24 Hours!"
Never mind 17 participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to hit the track with a new car is truly a special moment. Stéphane Sarrazin, driver of SMP Racing's #17 BR Engineering BR1-AER, discovered the potential of the new non-hybrid LMP1 prototype at Test Day, resulting in the sixth fastest time (3:21:761).
The eight Ligier JS P217s set to take the start at this year's 24 Hours took advantage of Test Day to try out a new aerodynamic kit specially designed for the Le Mans circuit. They covered as many as 556 laps (7,576 kilometers) without encountering any mechanical problems. The fastest Ligier was the #22 entered by American team United Autosports driven by Philip Hanson, Filipe Albuquerque and Paul Di Resta. The car placed 16th overall and sixth in the LMP2 class. The fastest top speed went to the #23 Ligier JS P217 fielded by the Panis Barthez Competition team (333.9 km/h).
The driver of Jackie Chan DC Racing's #38 ORECA 07-Gibson tweeted a photo of his car at the Indianapolis Corner with the following caption: "[No] emojis can describe the feeling!"
The French team and Vincent Capillaire, one of three drivers for the #39 ORECA 07-Gibson, seemed extremely satisfied with their preparations for the 86th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car clocked the 17th fastest overall time and seventh in the LMP2 class at Test Day. Capillaire will share the #39 with Tristan Gommendy and Jonathan Hirschi for the big race.
How do drivers feel at the wheel of a prototype at the 24 Hours of Le Mans? Tristan Vautier, alternate driver with the Panis Barthez Compétition team, shares his thoughts on that after not only discovering the circuit but the #23 Ligier JS P217-Gibson as well.
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES DU MANS, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, TEST DAY. Russian team SMP Racing's #17 BR Engineering BR1-AER makes its big debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit for Test Day.
