Paul Ricard Saturday Notebook

Photo: John Dagys

***More than 10,000 fans turned out for today’s second and final day of the Prologue at Paul Ricard, which included a pit walk, autograph session and music performance by No. 1 selling French DJ ‘The Avener,’ who was recently announced as the WEC Music Ambassador.

***Tequila Patron ESM elected not to take part in today’s final two sessions, as the team focused on adapting its two HPD ARX-03bs to 2015 FIA WEC LMP2 spec, which included the installation of new safety seats as well as various minor updates to the cars. Scott Sharp and Ed Brown, however, turned laps in OAK Racing’s Ligier JS P2 Nissan to get experience of the chassis prior to delivery of their new cars by Spa.

***The Nissan GT-R LM NISMO has passed its crash test this week. The LMP1 car was due to make its public debut at the Prologue but has been delayed until the 24 Hours of Le Mans after initially failing its crash test. However, it’s understood a test at NCM Motorsports Park was cut short this week due to weather and a minor accident.

***KCMG has ordered a second Oreca 05 Nissan, which could debut by as early as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In addition to its already confirmed season-long LMP2 entry, the Hong Kong-backed squad currently sits as the 2nd reserve, originally nominated for an Oreca 03R. Managing Director Paul Ip told Endurance-Info there’s a possibility of seeing the car in additional post-Le Mans FIA WEC races as well.

***The Porsche 911 RSR is sporting a revised front splitter, as part of minor updates to the GTE-spec car. Other updates for the Porsche Team Manthey and customer cars competing in the FIA WEC include a single-point refueling system, as well as updates to improve the reliability of the drivetrain. The splitter is different from the one run in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

***Kairos Technologies has purchased a stake of Morand Racing. The London-based company, specializing in cryptography and data transmission, will also be a major player in the revised “Race to 24” competition, which is expected to place a driver in one of Team SARD-Morand’s Morgan EVO-SARD LMP2 cars at Le Mans. Revised plans for the competition are expected to be revealed shortly.

***GB Autosport team principal Michael Avenatti will make his Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup debut this year, having been confirmed for the Monza, Barcelona and Monaco rounds of the highly competitive single-make championship. Avenatti was testing a Ferrari F458 Italia from JMW Motorsport this weekend, with an eye towards making his Le Mans debut in June.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John