Fjordbach Leads ELMS Test With Lap Record

Photo: MPS Agency

A lap record from Anders Fjordbach set the pace in the two-day European Le Mans Series pre-season test at Circuit Paul Ricard, which ended on Tuesday.

The Dane posted a best time of 1:40.404 in the night session, driving the High Class Racing Oreca 07 Gibson that he shares with Dennis Andersen.

His lap time beat the previous LMP2 lap record at the southern French circuit by six-tenths.

Five sessions were held during Monday and Tuesday, amounting for a combined 17 hours of running for the ELMS field ahead of this weekend’s opening race at the same circuit.

The second quickest car of the weekend was the Cool Racing Oreca which was just 0.028 seconds off the pace with Nicolas Lapierre at the wheel.

Ben Hanley, Paul Loup Chatin and Ryan Cullen completed the top five overall, driving for DragonSpeed, IDEC Sport and United Autosports, respectively.

Cullen’s time was the fastest set by a Ligier JS P217 Gibson, while the field’s only Dallara P217 Gibson, entered by Carlin, was 1.6 seconds off the pace with Olivier Pla.

Oregon Team led the way in LMP3 with its Norma M30 Nissan piloted by Damiani Fioravanti, who set the pace with a 1:49.500, Gustas Grinbergas and Lorenzo Bontempelli.

Colin Noble and Anthony Wells’ Nielsen Racing entry was the best-placed Ligier JS P3 Nissan.

Ferrari 488 GTEs came out on top in GTE, occupying the top three positions overall in the combined standings.

Kessel Racing’s No. 60 entry was the fastest with Andrea Piccini at the wheel, posting a best time of 1:53.288 in the first session.

The Luzich Racing and JMW Motorsport Ferraris placed second and third, meanwhile, ahead of the pair of Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSRs.

ELMS teams are back in action on Friday for Free Practice ahead of Sunday’s four-hour race.

RESULTS: Paul Ricard Test (Combined)

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.