MLMC Ready for Le Castellet Return

The Le Castellet 120 will be the third 2-hour race and the final chance for the teams to prepare for the Road to Le Mans next month. To differentiate the race from Round 1, the two-hour race will be known as the Le Castellet 120, with the 120 referring to the number of minutes the race will last.

Here is a quick guide to the Round 3 of the 2020 season.

WHAT’S RACING AT LE CASTELLET?

1. European Le Mans Series
2. Michelin Le Mans Cup
3. Ligier European Series

SCHEDULE

CLICK HERE for the timatable

ENTRY LIST

CLICK HERE to see the entry list for the Le Castellet 120

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS

CLICK HERE for the championship standings after Round 2

WHERE TO WATCH THE LE CASTELLET 120

Round 3 of the 2020 season will be held behind closed doors but fans of the MLMC around the world can watch qualifying and the race for free on the official website, our YouTube channel and Facebook Page.

The MLMC is also available to watch online and on your TV around the world either live or highlights of the race.

A WORD FROM THE RACE DIRECTOR

Race Director Eduardo Freitas will be watching and controlling the proceedings from Race Control.We asked him about this second MLMC race at Le Castellet in less than six weeks.

“The circuit is a challenging circuit, with a magnificent long straight where cars can be pushed to the limit of engine speed and aero dynamics. It’s an excellent place to train for the Le Mans, so from that sense it’s a good option.

“I think being at Le Castellet only last month makes everyone’s job a little bit easier.The teams already know the set ups for their cars and the weather should be pretty similar, which will enable them to optimise the experience of running at Le Castellet.”

WHAT THE DRIVERS SAY…

Edouard Cauhaupe – no37 Cool Racing Ligier JS P320-Nissan

Round 2 winner Edouard Cauhaupe looks forward to racing on home soil when the Michelin Le Mans Cup returns to Le Castellet.

“During the first round at Le Castellet we were really fast, so for us it is a good point to be back there, and we are looking to take our revenge and we will do all we can to win the race.”

Giacomo Piccini – no8 Iron Lynx Ferrari F488 GT3

Reigning GT3 champion and current championship leader Giacomo Piccini has taken maximum points with his teammate Rino Mastronardi in the first two races of the 2020 season.He talks about swapping from Barcelona to Le Castellet for Round 3.

“You know we have to be happy to be able to race because the (Coronavirus) situation is getting worse in some areas.We have to stay safe as possible and we are doing our best.Le Castellet is a fantastic track, we have already won there, and we have a good set up. So, I’m pretty happy to be going back there.It is a shame we can’t go to Barcelona because it is also a fantastic track, but I am sure we will go back to Barcelona next season.”

LAP RECORDS

LMP3: Ben Barnicoat1m48.988Ligier JS P320-Nissan18/07/2020

GT3: Mikkel Mac1m53.760Ferrari 488 GTE Evo13/04/2019

FACTS AND FIGURES

1. Le Castellet has hosted a MLMC race every season since 2016.In 2016 the race was for GT3 cars only and was won by Alexey Basov and Victor Shaitar and SMP Racing.
2. A Ferrari has won four of the five GT3 races since 2016, with 2017 the exception when it was won by an Ebimotors entered Lamborghini Huracan.
3. Ligier have never won an LMP3 race in the MLMC at Le Castellet. All four races since 2017 have been won by Norma (2017,2018,2019) and Duqueine (2020).
4. DKR Engineering have won at Le Castellet three times from four starts – 2017, 2018, 2020.The exception was 2019 when the race was won by Lanan Racing, with DKR Engineering finishing second.