Tentative steps for the AMR teams as they prepare for Spa Francorchamps
Friday, September 23, 2016
Today saw the teams and cars of the European Le Mans Series and GT3 Le Mans Cup complete their first laps of the Spa Francorchamps circuit as they readied themselves for the penultimate round of their respective series.
With both the Beechdean AMR Vantage GTE and the TF Sport Vantage GT3 more than competitively in with a chance to taking their respective championships by the end of the season, a solid points finish at the Spa round is critical for both of them.
In the GT3 LM3 the #34 vantage GT3 of Salih Yoluc/Euan Hankey car made for a slow start in FP1 finishing two thirds of the way down the timing screen before slowly creeping up the screen with quicker lap times during FP2 later in the afternoon. The appearance of local team Autoclub Excelsior had a more turbulent introduction to the series, having already been fined by the Series for their latte driving line up confirmation, ending the day dropping from fifth to eleventh during the first day.
Over in the ELMS paddock Andrew Howard was first out in his #99 Beechdean car, this weekend sporting the split Union Jack/Belgium tricolour wrap on it s roof, for the Bronze driver test gaining valuable GTE experience on a track he knows well from his GT3 British GT days.
Come the first Free Practice the expertise of AMR works drivers Darren Turner and Alex MacDowall were on hand to help complete set up pushing the car up to mid table in the GTE field at the close of session.
Saturday will see the GT3 LMC complete their qualifying in the morning before the start of their two hour race at 17.30hrs local whilst the ELMS teams will have the second and final Free Practice in the morning before their qualifying in the afternoon. The start of their four hour race will not be until 14.00Hrs local on Sunday.
Photo credits - Adrenal Media