Klien Tops Wednesday Morning Test at Paul Ricard

Christian Klien was back at the top of the timing screens after the morning session on the second day of the European Le Mans Series official test days at Paul Ricard.

Just like yesterday the Austrian in the No. 43 Newblood by Morand Racing Morgan Judd set the fastest time in the opening session of the day. His lap of 1:49.257 was almost two tenths quicker than the second fastest time set by Greaves Motorsport driver Tom Kimber-Smith.

Third fastest in the morning was the No. 46 Thiriet by TDS Racing Morgan Nissan of Tristan Gommendy. Just 25 minutes into the session Gommendy parked his car out on the track with damage, resulting in a red flag to clear the debris.

The Morgan was towed back to the pits and rejoined later. Gommendy set the fastest session time halfway through, before Klien improved with just 23 minutes left in the session.

Kessel Racing topped the GTE charts with the No. 81 Ferrari 458 Italia setting the fastest times with Matteo Cressoni behind the wheel. Cressoni’s time of 1:56.105 was 0.315s faster than the fastest times of Pierre Kaffer in the No. 56 AT Racing Ferrari and Michele Rugolo in the No. 55 AF Corse Racing Ferrari.

In GTC SMP Racing was fastest again, the No. 71 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 lapping the French circuit in 1:57.186. Jan Magnussen (Ferrari) and Kevin Korjus (McLaren) completed the top three in the morning session.