Securing the Le Mans place added extra impetus to RML’s preparations for the season, and next week’s test is the first opportunity they will have had to experiment with some of their recent developments. “We will be running the MG Lola for the whole two days as we continue to learn more about the car,” explained Erdos. “We need to fine tune the package and get the drivers more used to the car ahead of the Le Mans test in three week’s time, and of course, the first round of the LMES at Monza soon afterwards”

It is several years since Erdos last saw the Paul Ricard circuit, but it might as well be his first visit. “I did just three laps around the track in a practice session for the BPR race in 1996,” he concedes. “Cor (Euser) started the race and the gearbox broke before the end of the first stint. I never even got in the car! Those few laps were seven years ago, so I don’t really remember it at all, but I’m certainly looking forward to going back there, very much so. The circuit is phenomenal, and the facilities are fantastic.”

Thomas Erdos will share the test with his regular co-driver, and the car's owner, Mike Newton. “At the moment it's just Mike and myself for this test, and I have no idea yet who our third driver (for Le Mans) will be. This will be a pretty major test, though, so I expect there will be a good selection of cars there for the two days. An opportunity like this is extremely valuable to us, and it will be good to be working closely with Dunlop again.” The test takes place on the 6th/7th April, next week.