Frikadelli Racing makes further development progress with the LMP3 vehicle
18.04.2022
At the start of the Michelin Le Mans Cup season in Le Castellet, Frikadelli Racing was able to collect important data and experience in terms of vehicle set-up. Although team boss Klaus Abbelen and Felipe Laser had not previously tested the #30 Ligier JS P320 on the French circuit, they were competitive in the packed field, which comprised a total of 39 vehicles, and were able to go the laptimes of the top 10 for large parts of the race.
“We've made important progress on the set-up. That is certainly the most important finding from Le Castellet and gives us a lot of self-confidence for the next races of the season. Of course, the spin in the early stages of the race and a collision through no fault of my own, in which a competitor hit me at a speed of 230 km/h, were sobering. Overall, both of these factors meant that we were ultimately unable to achieve the result we had hoped for this time, despite a perfect team effort,” explains team boss Klaus Abbelen.
The Frikadelli Ligier started the 110-minute race from 24th position. Abbelen initially got off to a good start and after just a few laps was able to work his way into the top 20 in the LMP3 vehicle before the two incidents threw him back to the end of the field. Before the driver change, “Frikadelli” made up a few positions before Felipe Laser took over the cockpit. The man from Leipzig was then able to draw attention to himself with strong times in his first prototype race. In the final standings, the Frikadelli Ligier moved up to 22nd place overall until the black and white checkered flag fell.
“If the race had gone normally, we would certainly have been able to make it into the top 10. We will continue to work towards this goal and attack again at the next stop of the season in Imola. In order to get to know the car better in detail, we will do a test weekend beforehand. The bottom line is that the field in the Michelin Le Mans Cup has become really huge. For me it is confirmed that the LMP3 cars are the future of racing. We are very happy to be right in the middle of it already,” says Abbelen.
The Frikadelli Racing Team will continue next weekend as part of the Nürburgring Endurance Series. With the #111 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992), Klaus Abbelen and “Jules” want to claim another podium place in the Am category of the Porsche Endurance Trophy. The regular duo will once again be supported by Felipe Laser.
