Murphy Prototypes Retains ELMS Testing Lead, TDS Tops Day Two

Courtesy of Nathanaël Berthon’s blistering 1:48.155 in yesterday’s morning session, the No. 48 Murphy Prototypes Oreca 03R Nissan was able to retain the quickest time in LMP2 from Monday as European Le Mans Series pre-season testing at Paul Ricard wrapped up.

Tristan Gommendy piloted Thiriet by TDS Racing’s brand new Nissan-powered Oreca 05 to a 1:48.432 lap time in the morning session today, only 0.277 seconds off the fastest LMP2 time set by Berthon.

Gommendy’s lap dropped the two Gibson 015S Nissans of Greaves Motorsport (No. 41) and Jota Sport (No. 38) to third and fourth respectively, as drivers Jon Lancaster and Harry Tincknell failed to improve their Monday times.

Michael Simpson was once again fastest in the No. 2 Team LNT Ginetta Nissan, the sole LMP3 car at testing, improving to a 1:57.932 during today’s morning session.

AT Racing retained their advantage over the rest of the GTE field, with Alessandro Pier Guidi’s 1:56.980 from yesterday still standing as fastest in the class.

The No. 86 Gulf Racing UK Porsche 911 RSR of Adam Carroll and the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia of Raffaele Giammaria, meanwhile, rounded out the top three in class.

After not completing any laps on Monday, the No. 57 SMP Racing Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 rapidly ascended the GTC leaderboard on Tuesday, with a hard-charging Luca Persiani setting a 1:57.747 in the morning session.

This time would stand as quickest in class despite the best efforts of the second-placed No. 62 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 of Francesco Castellacci and the No. 59 TDS Racing BMW Z4 GT3 of Eric Dermont, who came third.

Castellacci netted in a 1:58.020 in the morning session; during the same session, Dermont managed a 1:58.055.

Silverstone Circuit will play host to the opening round of the ELMS season on April 10-11, while the series will return to Paul Ricard for the penultimate round in September.

RESULTS: Morning Session
RESULTS: Afternoon Session
RESULTS: Combined Times