Late call-up for second Epilson LMP1

The Le Mans organising committee subsequently accepted the entry of the first reserve on the entry list, which was the Spanish constructor's No.21 EE1 car, to be driven by former Formula One drivers Stefan Johannson, Jean-Marc Gounon and Shinji Nakano.

Le Mans veteran Gounon admitted that such late notice had left his crew desperately short of experience in the car, but the 45-year-old Frenchman told autosport.com that he was delighted to be racing in this year's event.

"I got a call at four o'clock yesterday to say go for it we are waiting for you," he said. "I was totally surprised because one week ago we knew it was already finished and we had no chance to race, also in my mind it was over."

Gounon and his co-drivers must now qualify the Epsilon having not previously driven the car, not even in the Le Mans pre-test two weeks ago.

"Everything is a first," he said. "First for me in the car, first time of the car at Le Mans, and also a first for the team here too.

"The plan is to do three laps each in first practice, and then to work on the car. It will not be easy, this is a big challenge. A great challenge.

"I hope that we will have two days of dry weather, because if we have rain it will be very, very difficult. But if we have eight dry hours of practice then we have a chance. Stefan Johansson and Shinji Nakano are both very experienced. So I hope we can manage to go in the right direction the best way that we can."

The Luchinni car was refused permission to qualify after the car failed scrutineering, following a problem "with conformity" of its certification, according to the ACO.