Fast start by Strakka at Le Mans

Strakka Racing began its countdown to the start of this weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hour race where it left off at the recent test – by setting the fastest privateer petrol lap time and 7th overall in the four hour Free Practice session with its Honda Performance Development ARX-03a.

Having set a 3:34.243 best in testing, Danny Watts recorded a 3:31.651 today - with a good set-up and better track conditions contributing to the quicker time.

Today’s best time was 2.384 seconds fastest than its nearest ‘pure’ petrol rival – the Pescarolo Dome-Judd.

Danny, Nick Leventis and Jonny Kane all drove the HPD ARX-03a, as the team completed a trouble-free 49 laps around the 8.468 mile (13.629km) circuit in dry conditions.

The first two hour qualifying session starts at 22.00 tonight, in which Strakka Racing aims to record a banker quick lap in case it rains during the two qualifying sessions tomorrow.

“That was a really good free practice,” said Nick. “We’ve got good pace in the car – we didn’t go out to put a particularly good time on the board, but Danny still did a very good lap, while JK and I just got settled in. There is a long way to go yet, but our Le Mans has started well and is heading in the right direction.”