Kaffer Replaces Calado at AF Corse Following Accident

AF Corse’s James Calado will not take part in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans after crashing his AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia at the Porsche Curves in the second qualifying session.

Calado escaped serious injuries, but was not cleared to race by the FIA Medical Delegate. The stewards of the meeting accepted AF Corse’s request to replace Calado with Pierre Kaffer for the remainder of the event.

AF Corse has also been allowed to change the chassis, which was seriously damaged in the accident.

Kaffer completed his mandatory night laps in AF Corse’s No. 61 Ferrari 458 Italia, after passing administrative and attire checks as well as attending a briefing from FIA Race Director Eduardo Freitas.

The ACO confirmed the decision at 10.35 p.m. tonight, during the third and final qualifying session.

“The important thing is that James is okay,” Kaffer told Sportscar365. “I am happy to drive, but not under these circumstances.

“Thanks to Luis Perez Companc, who gave me his car to do a couple of laps. I know how difficult that is, when it is the last session.”

Kaffer was already at the track following the launch of the new Lotus T129 earlier today. He will join Olivier Beretta and Davide Rigon in the No. 71 entry in the race.

“You sit in the car, you know everyone is watching you and you take it easy,”  said Kaffer, who completed six laps on Thursday night. “I tried to stay away from every single danger you could avoid. Right now it’s not easy to jump into a car and do five laps in the dark.”