Le Mans Day 1 ticked off for both AMR teams
Friday, June 07, 2024
Having their allotted slots 15:30 and 15:40hrs respectively, the #23 Heart of Racing AMR of Ian James, Alex Riberas and Daniel Mancinelli together with the #777 D’Station Racing AMR of Marco Sorensen, Erwan Bastard and (for LM24 only) Satoshi Hoshino passed through the technical scrutineering awnings of the ACO whilst the drivers kept the attending crowds informed during interviews.
With the other half of the sixty-two strong Hypercar/LMP2/LMGT3 still to pass through this due process, there will now be little more for these two teams to do now other than fine fettle their two cars ahead of Sunday’s Test Day sessions.
Support crews from the Aston Martin Racing/Prodrive organisations have been at the Circuit de La Sarthe for over a week now preparing their garages ahead of this week’s events that started off track this afternoon and on track on Sunday in between that of the support series races scheduled for the latter.
After a Monday strip down and clean for the teams, fan activities then come to the fore with the first autograph session and pit walk of race week as the teams count down to the first track session of Free Practice 1 on Wednesday afternoon before proceeding along for later Qualifying sessions.
We have heard of the wholesale changes within the Balance of Performance process for the LMGT3 class with the new Vantage LMGT3 being given additional ballast but a small increase in power in compensation compared to the last WEC round at Spa Francorchamps as the Le Mans BoP process stands independent to that process. We wait to see just what kind of effect that will have upon the grid – but that realisation may of course have to wait until race day such is the ‘sandbagging’ these days!
Fingers crossed that Mother Nature will be kinder to this 24Hr race scheduled to start next Saturday than she was for the N24 last weekend from the Nordschleife when fog curtailed the event at the 30% distance.
Now, we just need some photos of today really - where's our man down there ..........??
Photo credits – teams / series / social media
Photo credits – teams / series / social media
