Le Mans Cup Series Prologue all down but with changes within one Aston Martin runner (UPDATED)

 

 

Like the runners and riders of the European Le Mans Series did before them on Monday and Tuesday, the forty-four strong entry within this season’s Michelin Le Mans Cup Series also had their day of testing around the Circuit de Catalunya today ahead of this weekend’s opening race.

Primarily made up of LMP3 powered crews within their available LMP3 and LMP3 Pro-Am classes, ten GT3 powered crews again add a separate dimension for the ACO rules feeder series with three Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT3 powered crews amongst them too.

 

After a morning and afternoon session availability today, it wasn’t too surprising to see the returning duo of Philipp Sager and Valentin Hasse-Clot secure the fastest times in class as they return to the series for a second chance albeit this year within the #10 Racing Spirit of Leman entry.

The Ecurie Ecosse supported Blackthorn AMR entry of team owner Claude Bovet and former AMR Driver Academy winner Tom Canning will also be running a full season together this time around after the team dipped their toe into the series previously but with a second car already confirmed for the series visit to Le Mans in June.

That pairing ended the day with a steady lap time around the low 1:44’s to finish the day fifth.

 

 

There is still news however revolving around the #11 Code Racing Development AMR Vantage GT3 driver line up of what should have been both Antoine Leclerc and Pascal Huteau as neither driver participated within todays test. That duty was left to both Nico Hantke and Sebastian Moreno.

Not being aware of what preparation these two drivers have had leading into today but both improved to finish the day with a best lap time of 1:43:542.

 

 

Like the ELMS paddock, these cars will now be stripped down again and prepared for the first official season of the first round of the season on Friday before both Qualifying and the two-hour race on Saturday.

UPDATE

Nico Hantke has since confirmed that this appearance is just a one off at the moment although a social media post from the team on Thursday would suggest more than that!!?

Photo credits – Teams / Series / social media