Increased Car Count for 4H Paul Ricard

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

The provisional entry list for the Four Hours of Le Castellet has been released, with a slight increase since the last European Le Mans Series round, to 40 entries for the race at Paul Ricard.

This consists of 12 LMP2 cars, 20 LMP3 competitors and eight in GTE.

ENTRY LIST: Paul Ricard

The main story for LMP2 is that Toyota Gazoo Racing factory LMP1 driver Mike Conway will fill in for Ryo Hirakawa in the No. 46 Thiriet by TDS Racing Oreca 05 Nissan.

He joins Pierre Thiriet and Mathias Beche in the car, which has won the last two races.

Andrea Roda is in for Michael Munemann in the No. 25 Algarve Pro Racing lineup, while the IDEC Sport Racing squad returns with its Ligier JS P2 Judd, having missed the last race at Red Bull Ring.

G-Drive Racing leads the championship, eight points ahead of TDS.

Murphy Prototypes once again has a TBA LMP2 roster for Paul Ricard, and is not entering in LMP3 this weekend. The Ave-Riley AR-2 is expected to make its race debut in the next round at Spa-Francorchamps.

In LMP3, there is a new addition on the grid thanks to Tockwith Motorsports. Nigel Moore and Philip Hanson will compete in the No. 26 Ligier JS P3 Nissan.

John Hartshorne has switched from RLR MSport to the By Speed Factory crew. Anthony Wells replaces him in the RLR car.

Enzo Guibbert is back in the No. 9 Graff car, after James Winslow subbed in for him last time out. Rik Breukers will make his prototype debut in the No. 12 Eurointernational lineup, while the third seat is TBA.

After a perfect run so far this season, the No. 2 United Autosports car is on 75 points. Duqueine Engineering is a ways back with with 42 points for its No. 19 car.

There are still eight cars in GTE, but with a couple of changes. Davide Rigon returns to the AT Racing squad, having shared the seat with Alessandro Pier Guidi this season.

Mikkel Jensen is replacing Christina Nielsen in the Formula Racing Ferrari F458 Italia, as Nielsen will be on IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship duty in VIR. 

Meanwhile, David Jahn takes the third seat for the No. 88 Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR.

Alexander Talkanitsa Jr. and Sr. are leading the class standings, but just one point ahead of the Aston Martin Racing trio.

The Four Hours of Paul Ricard is set for 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 28. Track action starts on Friday, Aug. 26.

Jake Kilshaw

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