Catchfence

OAK Racing Team Mazda France finished its preparations for the start of the season with two test days at Magny-Cours only a few days before the opening round of the Le Mans Series at Paul Ricard HTTT on 11 April. The test was a first opportunity to try out, on track, the team’s two LMP2 cars’ new aerodynamic evolutions, the fruit of the development work undertaken and tested in the wind tunnel this winter in partnership with the design office of Pescarolo Sport.

These evolutions have a double objective. Firstly, to conform the car to the new 2010 rear bodywork regulations and secondly, from the basis of what was achieved in 2009, to explore new avenues to find additional downforce and reduce drag.

François Sicard, Team Manager:

“Once again the weather conditions at both test days didn’t allow us to work as planned on the aerodynamic set-up, but the short periods of time we had on a dry track have nevertheless confirmed the efficiency of the various evolutions we have made. The three drivers that attended, Guillaume Moreau, Matthieu Lahaye and Jacques Nicolet, drove the prototypes one after the other and came out of the cockpit with similar feedback and great enthusiasm, even before the engineers had started to really work on the set-up. In fact the car has gained a lot of downforce, which gives the front wheels more grip and more driveability.

“Even though the Magny-Cours circuit does not have the same characteristics as Paul Ricard, the two test days have been a good rehearsal, but, in the three free practice sessions, it will be necessary to make sure we enter qualifying in good shape, find the right balance and a good straight line speed on the Mistral straight.

“We have done everything we could during the winter to start the season as we finished it in 2009 in Okayama. We have chosen the best ingredients and we have prepared them the best we can. Our package is excellent: Pescarolo chassis which has proven their reliability, Judd engines which are well known and proven within the industry, Dunlop tyres whose performance and fine tuning with our LMP2 cars is developing and improving with our partnership and fast and enthusiastic drivers! We can be confident, but we will know during this first eight-hour race if we have worked well.”

- OAK Racing, Press Release