After nine hours of testing yesterday at Le Mans, in preparation for the 24 Hour race on the 18th/19th June, the Russian Age Racing Ferrari 550 ended up 3rd in class and the fastest of the four Care Racing supported Ferrari 550s entered in the GT1 category for the French classic.

Christophe Bouchut set a best time of 3m 53.635, a result which pleased the Russian Age Racing team manager, Rob Schirle, greatly: "We had a very good day. Christophe got held up by a Porsche in part of his quickest lap so it could have been even better, but it was 1.5 seconds quicker than he has ever been round here in a GT1 car so that was pleasing, even with 35kg of ballast. Nikolay and Alexey both drove well and we had no problems at all so I'm now really looking forward to the race."
  
Reigning LMES GTS Champions, Larbre Competition, finished the day in 5th place in the GT1 class with a time of 3m 55.340, splitting the two Corvette C6Rs. The best time was set by Vincent Vosse who was very satisfied with his first laps behind the wheel of a Ferrari 550 which was, like the Russian Age Racing car, running on Michelin tyres. 

Vincent Vosse (B): "My last time here at Le Mans with Jack [Leconte] was in 2002 so it was nice to back with the Larbre team and in a Ferrari 550. I drove a Ferrari last year at the Spa 24 Hrs and in a few rounds of the FIA GT Championship but it was a 575. We didn't push for a time today but the car was quick and easy to drive. We didn't use any qualifying tyres, or even soft race tyres, we used medium only, but I was impressed with the grip and driveability."   

BMS Scuderia Italia, returning to Le Mans for the first time since 1997, worked through a steady programme during the day which included the compulsory minimum 10 laps for each driver, evaluation of Pirelli tyres and different aerodynamic packages. The team was particularly pleased with the progress made and talent shown by 20-year-old Matteo Malucelli who set the fastest time of the three drivers in car 52 on his debut at Le Mans - 3m 58.428. Christian Pescatori, who is the only BMS driver to have driven the French 24 Hour race with the Italian team, was the quickest driver in car 51, setting a time of 3m 58.199.
 

Car 52's programme was slightly held up in the afternoon after an incident with another car which required repairs to the door and rear quarter area of the Ferrari 550. Thanks to BMS Scuderia Italia's great teamwork and experience with the Maranello, this was completed with the minimum of time lost. Reigning FIA GT Driver Champion, Fabrizio Gollin (I), making his debut at Le Mans said afterwards: "We have worked a lot today to understand which tyres are the best for us. I am happy because we have learnt a lot. I think the track is not so difficult once you have understood some parts like Indianapolis and the Porsche Curves. When you know those you can go quickly."

Matteo Malucelli (I): "I think that I can improve but it is my first time here so I have to be patient. It only took me about ten laps before I could do a good time so I am confident that I can improve on that in qualifying for the race. I think it will be a great experience for me to be here at Le Mans."

Tiziano Minuti, Team Manager, BMS Scuderia Italia: "This year we are here to learn - this is important for our future plans. Today we have been learning the track and the set up of the car, and some of our drivers have never been here before so there has been a lot of work to do. Speeds at Le Mans are very high and the track is very different to all others - it is a challenge but one that I am confident BMS is able to meet."

GT1 Test Times at Le Mans: 1st Enge / Kox / Lamy Aston Martin DBR9 3:50.033, 2nd Brabham / Sarrazin / Turner Aston Martin DBR9 3:50.539, 3rd Bouchut / Fomenko / Vasiliev Ferrari 550 3:53.635, 4th Beretta / Gavin / Magnussen Corvette C6R 3:54.183, 5th Dupard / Goueslard / Vosse Ferrari 550 3:55.340, 6th Fellows / O'Connell / Papis Corvette C6R 3:56.174, 7th Gollin / Pescatori / Ramos Ferrari 550 3:58.199, 8th Bartyan / Malucelli / Seiler Ferrari 550 3:58.428