Minassian joins Pescarolo line-up

With planned driver Jean-Christophe Bouillon having been ruled out of their car 16 entry through injury, Pescarolo had brought in Christophe Bouchut for last weekend's testing. But the Frenchman had trouble getting up to speed as he tried to adjust to the prototype car.

The team management felt that with no further time for testing, it would be better to make a driver change and a deal was struck with the Creation outfit to release Minassian for the endurance classic.

Minassian will race alongside Emmanuel Collard and Erik Comas before returning to Creation for the remaining rounds of the Le Mans Series.

Henri Pescarolo said: "After the test day, it became apparent that it is absolutely necessary for the three drivers in the Pescarolo-Judd N° 16 to not only be of a high level but also to be very experienced in sports prototypes in order to be able to fight against Audi.

"The Creation team has very sportingly agreed to release Nicolas Minassian and give him the opportunity to try to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a team he knows very well and against which he is running in the Le Mans Series. "

Minassian's place at Creation, alongside Felipe Ortiz and Beppe Gabbiani, will be taken by British driver Jamie Campbell-Walter.

Pescarolo's number 17 car was quickest overall in last weekend's test session in the hands of Franck Montagny.