Le Mans Test Day

Morning
The new Audi R18 TDI topped the times in the first session of the Le Mans Test Day.

Romain Dumas ended the first four-hour period on a 3m27.900s lap, which was just over half a second quicker than team-mate Benoit Treluyer. The three Audis blocked out the top three positions, with the first Peugeot 908 HDi on a 3m30.516s in the hands of Anthony Davidson.


The best petrol-powered LMP1 was the Pescarolo Team entry. Christophe Tinseau's time of 3m37.640s put him just over a second ahead of Neel Jani in the best of the Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota coupes.

The two new Aston Martin AMR-Ones both ran into problems. Darren Turner set the best time for the British manufacturer on a 3m51.568s.

The British Greaves team's Zytek was fastest in LMP2 with Tom Kimber-Smith driving. Allan Simonsen was quickest in GTE aboard the Farnbacher Ferrari 458 Italia.

Afternoon
Tom Kristensen ended up fastest in the best of the new Audi R18 TDIs.


The eight-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours set the best time of the day with a 3m27.687s in the four-hour afternoon session. That was just two tenths ahead of team-mate Mike Rockenfeller in the second Audi and a further six hundredths of a second ahead of Stephane Sarrazin in the fastest of the three new Peugeot 908 HDis.

The fastest non-diesel LMP1 was the Pescarolo team's Judd-powered contender. Emmanuel Collard's best time in the car was nearly nine seconds off the overall pace.

Aston Martin Racing took no part in the afternoon session. One of its new AMR-Ones suffered a major engine problem early in the morning and the second was withdrawn in anticipation of a repeat of the problem.

The Signatech team's ORECA-Nissan headed the LMP2 times in Soheil Ayari's hands. Allan Simonsen was the fastest in the GTE class aboard the Farnbacher Ferrari 458.