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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">LE MANS</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">20/04/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">WR </FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Testing</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"> The WR team was testing yesterday on the Bugatti Circuit with a new chassis. Stéphane Daoudi was driving in the afternoon , trying to find a good set-up. Suspension sets, brakes and tyres were tested. The session was trouble free.<BR> <BR> Pascal Coquin explains : "The main improvement on the car is in the lower engine temperature. It also gives us a gain of power - 420 hp. This way we‘ll avoid the overheating encountered last year. The front bodywork has been redrawn and a larger 'wind' tunnel had been created inside, the rear bodywork is the same. The chassis has been updated at the front and on both sides for the cooling system. We have built 4 chassis. <BR> <BR> "This year we will use larger tyres - 352 mm - than last year, the same as ROC will use. Michelin is supporting us for 2001.<BR> <BR> "Our aim is to win the class, we think we can, but would be more confident with two cars. Our reliability will be the best advantage. <BR> <BR> "The engine is always a four cylinder 2.0l turbocharged unit with special WR preparation, on a Peugeot basis. We use a five speed gearbox.<BR> <BR> "The driver line-up could be modified if we had our two cars invited after the test day. The two cars will enter the test day with the same set-up, we are ready."<BR> <BR> Yojiro Terada, Jean René Defournoux, and Stéphane Daoudi were present; the three drivers will all test as work continues at the track until midday today. 88 laps were completed yesterday.<BR> <BR> Yojiro Terada already tested the car over six hours at Bretigny. JR Defournoux has reached 300 km/h for the first time at Bretigny, on the 3 km straight; he’s now ready for the pace at Le Mans.<BR> <BR> The number 31 - reserve car - will driven by Jean Bernard Bouvet, and Sylvain Boulay, a third driver to be announced if they enter the race.<BR> <BR> It is important to notice that the WR entry is a voluntary effort for most of the crew, a precious and interesting spirit in sportscar racing.<BR> <BR> An extra (post) Le Mans program depends on the sponsors' wishes.<BR> <BR> Looking ahead to 2002, the team is thinking of a V6, 3.4 litre normally aspirated car. These plans were scheduled earlier but.....one car for sure, will be fited with this new engine for 2002, always based on a Peugeot. <BR> <BR> Marc Laffeas.<BR> <BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>