Kessel Racing, Panis, and Ultimate Excel in ELMS Pit Stop Challenge at Imola
This weekend at Imola, the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) held its annual pit stop challenge, showcasing exceptional skills from the participating teams over two action-packed days. Kessel Racing’s #74 crew set the benchmark with a blistering tire change completed in just 12.7 seconds. The sister car finished closely behind at 12.920 seconds. In the LMP2 category, VDS Panis Racing led with a time of 15.310 seconds, while Ultimate topped the LMP3 teams with a time of 16.605 seconds.
Entry List Updates for FIA WEC at Interlagos
The FIA WEC’s entry list for the upcoming race at Interlagos has seen notable changes. Martin Berry will retain his seat in the #61 Iron Lynx Mercedes, while Christian Ried has been replaced by Tony Macintosh at Racing Spirit of Leman for the remainder of the season. Macintosh will compete at Interlagos, Fuji, and Bahrain, with DeBoer returning for the Circuit of The Americas.
Imola’s Challenging Conditions
Drivers are contending with soaring temperatures in the mid to high 30s Celsius, leading to expected single-stint strategies in the race. However, forecasts predict scattered thunderstorms could affect track conditions over the weekend.
Recognition for Le Mans Success
ELMS organizers acknowledged the recent successes of Inter Europol and AO by TF Sport in LMP2 and LMP2 Pro-Am categories at Le Mans through celebratory trackside banners, enhancing the atmosphere for teams and fans alike.
Michelle Gatting’s Determination
In a remarkable recovery, Michelle Gatting, sidelined with a broken foot after a pit lane incident at Le Mans, returned to the cockpit of the Iron Dames Porsche. “I’m here to win the championship. Yes, it’s not ideal, but that’s the Iron Dames’ spirit,” Gatting affirmed. The team currently leads the LMGT3 class by a narrow four points.
Preparation for Silverstone
ELMS teams are gearing up for their upcoming return to Silverstone with scheduled test days post-Imola. Gary Holland of Vector Sport emphasized the importance of this preparation, stating, “Nobody has raced there with these cars for a long time; you’d be silly not to go.”
Bronze Test Session Results
In the Bronze Test session, Giorgio Roda of Proton Competition achieved the fastest lap at 1:34.778. PJ Hyett followed closely in second. In LMP3, Fabian Michal led with a time of 1:41.667, while the LMGT3 category was topped by Clement Mateu with a time of 1:44.318.
The competition remains fierce as ELMS teams navigate through this challenging weekend, setting the stage for future races.
Featured image courtesy of ELMS
