Strakka Racing Concludes Successful Le Mans Preparation at Official Test Day
Team ready for Le Mans race return after consistently running in the top six during Official Test Day
Strakka Racing enjoyed a strong return to La Sarthe after two years away from the iconic circuit, consistently lapping in the top six across both dry and wet conditions. Running the DOME S103 for the first time at the circuit, the team used the test to gain more understanding of the new Dunlop tyres in the mixed weather, as well as giving all three British drivers seat time in the P2 car with its bespoke Le Mans aerodynamic configuration.
“Overall we’ve come away very satisfied,” says team principal Dan Walmsley. “The Le Mans Test Day is all about preparation, with no real concerns about being fast until two weeks’ time. We’ve progressed from our short test at Spa, continuing work on the Le Mans aero kit and furthering our relationship with Dunlop. Considering we still have a lot more to learn, finishing fifth and sixth is very promising; we’re in good shape. There’s a real buzz around the team, everyone has a real spring in their step. We are back and want put on a good show for the British fans that make the trip every year.”
The morning session began in overcast conditions with a weather front moving in rapidly. Jonny Kane drove first and set a time of 3:43.833 to secure fifth among the LMP2 runners before the track was declared wet 90 minutes late and lap times increased.
During the second session the rain continued, with conditions preventing any further improvements. All three drivers drove with Danny Watts’ lap of 3:45.536 in tricky conditions putting Strakka Racing sixth in LMP2 during the afternoon.
“It's been a long journey to get here,” adds team founder and driver Nick Leventis. “We’ve really enjoyed being back at Le Mans. It's a learning process but we think we can get a result to reflect the team’s effort to get this far.
Leventis praised the progress made with new rubber and the effect on the performance of the S103. “The tyre configuration is very different with Dunlop, it's a radical change but in terms of performance, a positive one. The car balance is also very different with the new tyres. Further dry running during race week will give us a chance to take further steps forward.”
Strakka Racing will be back on track in under two weeks’ time during the build up to the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours, part of a grid of 56 cars due to race in front of over 200,000 spectators on the 13th and 14th of June.
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About Strakka Racing
From early domestic campaigns with BMWs and Aston Martins, Strakka Racing has evolved to become one of the most respected and successful privateer teams in the World Endurance Championship. In 2010 the Silverstone-based team achieved a class win, five circuit records and fifth overall in the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours. In 2013, it secured a second Le Mans win in the LMP1 Privateers’ class. Ever developing, in 2013 Strakka Racing entered the Formula Renault 3.5 World Series single-seater championship, regarded as one of the best training grounds for F1. In 2014 Strakka Racing joined forces with esteemed Japanese chassis manufacturer DOME to develop, market and race the Strakka DOME S103 chassis. 2014 also saw Strakka Racing create the Zanardi Strakka Kart racing team, winning both prestigious FIA KF and KZ titles in 2014.
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