- Preparations for opening round of GTWC season enter final phase
- Focus on setup optimisation and collecting tyre data
- Strong reliability in all three cars (#14, #19 and #63)
Le Castellet (France), March 08th 2022
Emil Frey Racing wrapped up its preparations for the opening round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup campaign with productive official test days at Paul Ricard.
Following a successful private test in Valencia, all three Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVOs made the trip to the south of France for the official two-day test which acts as the curtain-raiser for the start of the new season on the first weekend in April.
Despite chilly ambient temperatures, the track was in good condition throughout the two days, with the team completing trouble-free morning and afternoon sessions. Each car tested different setups in order to gain valuable insights into performance over short and long stint lengths.
Jack Aitken, Mirko Bortolotti and Albert Costa carried out long runs in the #63 car to gather tyre data, while also completing a series of qualifying runs along with the #19 car of Giacomo Altoè, Léo Roussel and Arthur Rougier.
Generally the drivers reported issues with the handling of the car early on, particularly due to the low grip level of the tyres, however Altoè said he was happy with improvements made to the #19 Huracán after the lunch break. The #14 car was also putting in the laps as a fully confirmed line-up for the first time as Konsta Lappalainen, Stuart White and Tuomas Tujula each took turns at the wheel.
In total, 208 laps were completed across the three crews on the opening day, with the #14 Huracán managing the most with 104. With reliability a key element of the Endurance Cup, the team was satisfied with the lap count throughout the entire test.
Using the base setup established on the first day, all three Huracáns tested different approaches for the second, with the aim of optimising the balance and setup in various scenarios. In particular, tyre analysis was a key focus during the second day; building temperature in the tyres proved tricky on both the short runs and long runs given the low track temperatures.
Attention will now shift towards the opening round of the Endurance Cup season, with the crews eager to defend the Silver Cup titles secured in 2021, while also aiming for a competitive start in the Pro category.
Team quotes
Jürg Flach, Technical Director
“The new tyre spec of Pirelli made the test in the cold conditions quite challenging. However, we made very good progress throughout the two days and gathered valuable information.”
Driver quote Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO #14
Léo Roussel (FRA)
“The test went well for me, I found my feet with the Lamborghini and for sure we worked well with Giacomo and Arthur, a lot more than in the first test as I was still discovering the car. We’ve worked on different things, found solutions but we still need to see how it goes in the first race at Imola.”
Driver quote Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO #19
Tuomas Tujula (FIN)
“This was surprisingly my first time ever at the Paul Ricard circuit so there were quite a few new things to learn with the track and also it was only my second time with the team. So, I’m still getting used to everyone and the work procedures, and also the car a little bit. The first day was quite an eventful learning day and on the second day, I started to get the hang of it more; already I am quite pleased with how we improved the car overnight, and also my driving quite a lot now so we are a lot closer to where we should be.”
Driver quote Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO #63
Jack Aitken (UK)
“It was a positive start for us, with it obviously being the first time we are all together as a team this year after a long winter. We had a really productive run plan, testing some new ideas and philosophies and as always at this time of year, it’s hard to say where you are in the pecking order of the grid. But my feelings are really positive in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo, as always and I am just happy to be back, and really looking forward to getting some more days of testing before the season starts at Imola.”