Pic Of The Week: Team Mansell Tests At Ricard
The Beechdean Mansell Ginetta Zytek GZ09 on track
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The release in question details the Official LMS test for Beechdean Mansell at Paul Ricard earlier this week, and there's an edited version below.
Or you could just check out this fab picture which accompanied it, showing the team's Ginetta-Zytek Z09R Le Mans Prototype sporting the famous number Five in action at the circuit. (Image courtesy of DPPI)
Can't wait to see the car in action at Le Mans in June...
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Official Press Release (edited version)
The Beechdean Mansell Motorsport Ginetta Zytek GZ09S, with Greg Mansell at the wheel, hit the track on Sunday morning and was immediately the fastest car on the circuit. As the morning progressed Greg continued to set competitive times, lapping within a few seconds of the Team Oreca Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP, which had moved to the top of time sheets. Greg finished the morning in third position, just 0.7 seconds off the fastest time before handing over the car to elder brother Leo for the afternoon session, who completed some long test runs on full fuel tanks.
Nigel Mansell completed just four laps at the end of the afternoon, the 1992 F1 World Champion having to abandon his flying lap as the session was brought to an abrupt end by red flags. The team decided to abandon any night running due to the very low track temperature, a decision that proved to be correct when snow was seen falling for a short period in the early part of the session.
Day two began very well for the Beechdean Mansell Motorsport team with Greg Mansell once again finishing his first stint behind the wheel in P2 on old tyres and setting the fastest sector 3 time overall on his final lap. The team fitted a new rubber and the 22-year-old finished the session with a best lap of 1m44.633, just 0.2 seconds behind the Oreca Peugeot. Leo Mansell then completed some further endurance work on the car, setting competitive times on full fuel tanks for lap after lap, allowing the team to work on the car's performance in race trim.
Nigel Mansell was only able to complete two laps during his stint when a piece of debris damaged the rear of the car and the Ginetta Zytek became airborne for a short while. Nigel brought the car back to the pits but the incident brought to an end an otherwise very encouraging and productive first major test for the newest team on the Le Mans Series grid.
"Overall I think the team has done a fantastic job, with outstanding performances from Greg and Leo," said Our Nige after the test. "I had a problem in the last session when I hit something on the back straight and went airborne momentarily, which brought the test to an end for us. However considering the weather conditions; that it is our first proper test with big opposition and all the other competitors, it is an outstanding achievement to be so high up the order at the first outing. We've obviously got a lot of hard work ahead of us but we have a good base to build on now and we're looking forward to returning to Paul Ricard for the first race of the season next month."
