WEC: Strakka content ahead of LMP2 return

The as-yet-unraced Strakka Dome LMP2 coupe is "in the mix" ahead of the start of the World Endurance Championship, according to team boss Dan Walmsley, after testing at Paul Ricard.

The Nissan-engined Strakka Dome S103 completed more than 600 miles over the two days of the official WEC test at Ricard on Friday and Saturday, posting the fifth-quickest time in class with Danny Watts driving.

"We ran an honest program, showed our pace and got through what we needed to," Walmsley told AUTOSPORT. "We were happy with our speed and think we are ready for the first race at Silverstone, although as a team we need to brush up on procedures because we haven't raced for so long."

Asked if he thought the Anglo-Japanese car can challenge at the WEC opener on April 12, Walmsley replied: "We wouldn't be here otherwise; it's a tough category, but we are 100 percent sure that we are going to be in the mix."

The Strakka Dome is making a belated race debut at Silverstone with team regulars Watts, Jonny Kane and Nick Leventis in this year's WEC, having missed the entire 2014 season after undergoing a rear-end redesign. The 1m48.192s best for the car left it seven tenths off the best P2 time set by Nick Tandy in the KCMG ORECA-Nissan 05.

Strakka has both high- and low-downforce bodywork configurations at Ricard, but only ran the high-downforce package that it will race at Silverstone.

Originally on Autosport.com