The HTTT Paul Ricard circuit on the 29th and 30th of March, will be the venue for the FIA World Endurance Championship 2013 official test, that also includes many competitors of the 90th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Prior to the Test Day for the 90th anniversary edition of the 24 Hours, which will take place Sunday, the 9th of June, 21 cars, a little more than a third of the grid, will meet for the first time together on the track in 2013.

LM P1 prototypes
In the absence of Audi and Toyota, it will be the two main private teams that will run at Le Castellet. Fourth at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2012, the Lola-Toyota of Rebellion Racing will meet the Honda HPD of Strakka Racing, who were their main opponents both in La Sarthe and in the FIA/WEC LM P1 private team trophy last year.

LM P2 prototypes
New LM P2 prototypes are expected at Le Castellet. With three Morgans, the French team OAK Racing will want to continue the pace they showed in their superb start in 24 Hours in 2012, and their excellent performance since the adoption of Nissan engine. For both Lotus, it will be the first real test run, two years after the return of the British manufacturer in LM GTE Pro at the 24 Hours 2011. In addition to Lotus, the Lola of HVM Status GP, and both cars of Gulf Racing Middle East (absent in Le Castellet) are the five closed prototypes of the P2 class invited to Le Mans this year. ADR-Delta, G-Drive Racing and Pecom Racing, although they all intend to deliver a victory in La Sarthe for the Oreca chassis, represented this year at Le Mans with six cars. They have been remarkably reliable, yet beaten in 2012 by Honda at the finish of the 80th edition of the 24 Hours.

LMGTE Pro
Winners of the class at Le Mans in 2012 and World Championship title holders, the Italian team AF Corse will bring a Ferrari 458 Italia that will face the Porsche 911 of the new factory team led by Olaf Manthey. The 2012 target for the German manufacturer, that holds the record for victories at Le Mans (both overall and in all classes) will regain supremacy in LM GTE, pending the return LM P1 prototypes in 2014.

LM GTE Am
Eight competitors will travel to Le Castellet, including the Larbre Corvette and the Porsche of IMSA Performance Matmut, who finished first and second in class at Le Mans last year. Although 8 Star, who have entered a Ferrari 458 Italia, are newcomers, the team boss is not unknown. In 2012, Enzo Potolicchio won the LM P2 class with Starworks Motorsport at Le Mans and in the World Championship. Enterd in both GT classes, Aston Martin send only one V8 Vantage to Le Castellet, while five vehicles (three in LM GTE Pro and two in LM GTE Am) will be present in La Sarthe. Class regulars AF Corse and Proton Competition are also expected ..

The 90th anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans is on the 22nd and 23rd June.  Click HERE for ticket information.
Entry List HERE.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO

Photo : SEBRING (FLORIDA, USA), SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, 12 HOURS OF SEBRING, FREE PRACTICE 14th MARCH 2013. Rebellion Racing are expected at Castellet on the 29th and 30th of March after finishing 3rd at the 12 Hours of Sebring. They are hot favourites in the private teams of the LM P1 class, both at Le Mans and in the World Championship.