ELMS: Pla puts Krohn on top in Ricard testing

Krohn Ligier driver Olivier Pla claimed fastest time in the official pre-season European Le Mans Series at Paul Ricard. The Frenchman, who will contest five of the six ELMS races alongside his World Endurance Championship drive with Ford in GTE Pro, ended up fastest with a time set in the opening session of the two-day test aboard the Krohn Racing Ligier-Nissan JSP2 LMP2.

Pla's time of 1m48.100s was just under two tenths quicker than second-placed Pierre Thiriet aboard the TDS Racing ORECA-Nissan 05, which ended up on a 1m48.297s.

The Krohn car, which is being supported by the Greaves Motorsport squad, is running Michelin tires rather than the benchmark Dunlops that have won every ELMS race over the past two seasons.

"The new Michelins seem to be really good," Pla said. "They are definitely a step in the right direction, but it is really too early to read too much into it."

Krohn has remained on Michelins despite its deal with Greaves, which is defending its 2015 ELMS title with a Ligier-Nissan on Dunlop tires. Three-time Daytona 24 Hours winner Memo Rojas was fastest in this car with a 1m48.596s.

Alex Brundle was fastest in the LMP3 class aboard the best of the United Autosports team's Ligier-Nissan JSP3s. His time of 1m53.364s set in the first of the five sessions put him six tenths up on Simon Gachet in the new Panis-Barthez team's Ligier.

The times in GTE were led by Marco Cioci in the best of the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italias.

Originally on Autosport.com