Test Day: Disrupted test programme for Pescarolo Team

For the first official run of the Pescarolo 03, the technical problems inherent in any new car  were in evidence, while the two drivers of the Dome 102.5 (Sebastien Bourdais was in the USA for Indianapolis) worked on the set-up for the race and verified the curing of electrical problems that were experienced at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The Pescarolo Team has thus not been idle.

The new Pescarolo 03 took the track after a shakedown and one day of testing. An alternator problem in the morning and transmission issues in the afternoon disrupted the smooth running of the program of work for the car and its drivers, Emmanuel Collard, Jean-Christophe Boullion and Stuart Hall, sitting immobile in the pit box for a long time. "As we expected "... said Henri Pescarolo, the team manager. "A car that runs for the first time at Le Mans and on the Mulsanne Straight is subject to the unpredictable. This session was valuable to correct the teething problems of the Pescarolo 03. It is unfortunate however that traffic prevented Emmanuel Collard from completing a quick lap to show our potential. "

As for the Dome, the recurrent engine cut-outs encountered in the Belgian Ardennes were resolved, which allowed the determination of aerodynamic settings by Nicolas Minassian and Seiji Ara, who were victorious at Le Mans in 2004 with team Goh together with Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen. However, the afternoon was curtailed after a mechanical problem, fortunately minor. "Nicolas Minassian, left on new tyres for his last stint, but was forced to return permanently to the pits before setting a significant time following the early finish of the session due to a red flag", said Henri Pescarolo, who holds the record of participations in 24 Hours of Le Mans. "Anyway, that day has not been useless and will do our utmost so that both cars are as competitive as possible on 16th and 17th of June. "

A session scheduled tomorrow on the Bugatti circuit in order to put in more miles before the first free practice session on Wednesday the 13th of June.

Dave Davies (quotes from team press release)

Photo : LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HEURES DU MANS, SUNDAY 3rd JUNE 2012, TEST DAY. The Pescarolo 03 was not free of technical problems.