14.04.2004 COLIN MCRAE REFLECTS ON HIS PAUL RICARD FERRARI TEST SESSION AS BMS ITALIA CONFIRM THEIR LE MANS WITHDRAWAL TO CONCENTRATE ON RETAINING THE FIA GT TITLE

Former World Rally Champion Colin McRae is now looking forward even more to making his debut at the famous La Sarthe circuit of Le Mans, having recently completed a two-day test at Circuit Paul Ricard at Le Castellet, southern France. 

Driving a Care Racing Ferrari 550 Maranello, the Scot left the test feeling very at home in his new cockpit surroundings and upbeat about the challenge of the 24 Hour race. 

Also at the test was Swiss driver Alain Menu, winner of last year’s Petit Le Mans race in a Care Racing supported, Prodrive operated Ferrari 550.

Back home and training hard for the endurance classic, McRae reflected on the test session:

“It was a bit frustrating on the first day as we didn’t get as many laps in as we’d have liked due to an electrical problem which caused an intermittent engine misfire. The team solved that overnight and the second day was much smoother. I got some good laps in on the second day and did a whole stint (one hour) where all my lap times were within a second of each other so I’m pleased with that. 

“I haven’t got my seat sorted out properly yet so had some back problems, but that’s nothing that can’t be fixed with a seat fitting which we’ll do in the next week or so. 

“By the end of the test I felt at home in the car and had begun to explore its limits. We made various adjustments, all of which I could feel, so I’m now reasonably confident with the car and my performance. I know it will be a learning curve, once at Le Mans, and I would of course have liked to do some more testing, but it’s a good start. It’s comforting for me to know I’ll be in a Prodrive run car, knowing the team and many of the people so well, so now I just want to get to Le Mans and get to know the circuit.”

The pre-selected entry of BMS Scuderia Italia for the Le Mans 24 Hours, by virtue of the Italian team’s 2003 FIA GT Championship success, has been withdrawn. BMS, who operate Ferrari 550 Maranellos leased from Care Racing Development, took the decision in order to concentrate on their main task of retaining their FIA GT title, and also because a lack of resources and time would have hindered them in changing one of their cars from FIA to ACO specification. BMS Team Manager, Tiziano Minuti, explained.

“At the moment the technical rules for both series are not the same and it takes time, people and money to be able to make the changes, not impossible, but much more difficult when resources have already been allocated to a Championship which, this year, has an additional round outside Europe and races either side of the official Le Mans test weekend. 

“Like every other sports car team, we would very much like to take part in the world’s most prestigious endurance race, but this year we preferred to concentrate our efforts on the FIA GT Championship. We therefore wish all the other Care Racing supported entrants good luck and good fortune, as I am sure they will for us at the Spa 24 Hours in July.”

Care Racing is still in negotiation with a number of different drivers and other parties with a view to the operation of its pre-selected entry to Le Mans - the fourth 550 Maranello within the company’s stable at the French classic.

The three other Ferrari 550 Maranellos entered will be run by Prodrive (2 cars) and Larbre Competition (1 car).

Frederic Dor, founder of Care Racing, commented: “We are still talking to a lot of people, and have not given up on having four cars at Le Mans. There is still time yet and I really hope we will be able to finalise something soon.”