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British team Strakka is ready to go racing at Le Mans!

By MJP Media / Formula Photographie | 5 June 2015

24 Hours of Le Mans: a circuit of almost 8.5 miles with speeds of over 180mph, fluctuating weather and a variety of track surfaces. After two years away, Strakka Racing is back and ready for the challenge!

It's just ten days until Silverstone-based outfit Strakka Racing and its all-British team of Nick Leventis, Danny Watts and Jonny Kane line-up on the grid in front of over 200,000 spectators, many of which will be British, for the 2015 edition of the gruelling 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team showed that it's ready and raring to go at last weekend's test day at Circuit de la Sarthe after consistently lapping the iconic circuit in the top six during both wet and dry track conditions.

"Overall, we've come away very satisfied," said team principal Dan Walmsley. "The Le Mans Test Day is all about preparation, with no real concerns about being fast until two weeks' time. Considering we still have a lot more to learn, finishing fifth and sixth is very promising; we're in good shape. There's a real buzz around the team, everyone has a real spring in their step. We are back and want put on a good show for the British fans that make the trip every year."

The team will contest in the LMP2 prototype class with the DOME S103, a new car designed by DOME at its facility in Maibara, Japan. Built in the UK, it's thought to be one of the most technologically advanced cars in its class, featuring 3D printing and a bespoke Le Mans aerodynamic configuration. "We had a little bit of work to do to get some aero data early on in the sessions," said Northern Ireland-born driver Jonny Kane. "Other people did fast laps straight away, but once we got into a proper run we climbed the order. The car feels strong and we're getting good balance - we're pleased with the results and there's further gains that can be achieved in the week leading up to the race."

Along with a new car for 2015, the team has made the switch to Dunlop tyres ahead of Le Mans with the progress made on the new rubber praised by team founder, driver and former downhill skier Nick Leventis: "The tyre configuration is very different with Dunlop. It's a radical change but in terms of performance, a positive one. Further dry running during race week will give us a chance to take further steps forward." It's over 90 years since Dunlop began supporting teams at Le Mans back in 1924 and has since proved itself to be the most successful tyre manufacturer with 32 wins and a clean sweep of the 2014 LMP2 podium.

Strakka secured its second Le Mans win in the LMP1 Privateers' class back in 2013 and it will be gunning for the same in the LMP2 class at the 2015 event. "We've had quite a long journey to get to this point but it's definitely been an enjoyable one," says Danny Watts, who completes the driving trio. "Le Mans is my favourite race of the year and I can't wait to be out on that track. With so many race fans trackside and so many of them Brits, the atmosphere is unbeatable! And we hope we are too - it would really reflect the commitment and effort that's been invested by the team to get us here."

Watts doesn't deny that the new set-up for the team will be a challenge: "Obviously we're in a new car on new rubber, so it is a learning curve for all of us in the team and behind the wheel, but we're feeling really positive about our performance. Although we're now focused on Le Mans, we still have the rest of the FIA World Endurance Championship to contest. It will be a 24-hour sprint race, followed by a show of endurance until the end of the season and we're very positive about our outlook in this year's Le Mans race and title chase."

Words copyright MJP Media
Pictures copyright MJP Media / Formula Photographie

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