Morand Racing driver Franck Mailleux has set the second best time in LMP2 in the first qualifying session at Le Mans, securing the team an overall top ten place after the opening day of track action. 

 

Intermittent rain conditions and red flags resulted in an interrupted first day of free practice and qualifying for teams on Wednesday as they prepare for this weekend’s 90th anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

 

The four-hour opening practice at the La Sarthe circuit was significantly affected by mixed weather conditions with a combination of wet, damp and drying track conditions preventing teams and drivers from completing much meaningful running in the late afternoon session. Nonetheless, the Morand Racing team amassed 16 laps in the first session even if the lap times were not representative of their true potential with the session also being stopped early due to a red flag.

 

The team embarked on their technical set-up work with the Dunlop-shod Morgan Judd LMP2 car in the changeable conditions but without compromising their focussed approach for the 24 Hour race, which starts on Saturday afternoon.

 

The two hour qualifying practice in the late evening was held in dry conditions with drivers endeavouring to complete the mandatory five laps to qualify themselves for the race. Another red flag period brought the session to an early end but Franck completed his required laps and registered the second quickest time in LMP2, a best lap of 3m40.741s. 

 

Franck Mailleux commented: “We completed a total of 32 laps today which was quite an achievement considering the changing weather conditions in the first session and the fact that both sessions were cut short due to red flags. It wasn’t an easy day but we completed the required five laps in night-time conditions this evening and set a decent time to place us in the top ten overall and second in class. There is plenty more work to be done which is what we will use tomorrow’s two sessions. We had the chance to look at the car’s performance in wet, damp and dry conditions today so that was useful and the team is definitely pulling in the right direction. The atmosphere here at Le Mans is buzzing and I am looking forward to our progress in tomorrow’s two qualifying practice sessions.”