Beitske Visser tests Richard Mille LMP2

W Series runner-up Beitske Visser joined Richard Mille Racing to test the LMP2 Oreca in Spa, as the team explores potential Legge's stand-in.

Photo credits: racers-behindthehelmet

Dutch racer Beistke Visser announced on Tuesday that she was heading to Spa Francorchamps to test the LMP2 Oreca for Swiss operation Richard Mille Racing, run by the championship winning Signatech squad.

The team in fact entered the ELMS collective test day on Wednesday on the Belgian racetrack, which is set to host the second round of the championship this weekend.

Visser, who finished runner-up in the 2019 inaugural W Series season and currently leads the all-female virtual W Series Esports League, joined Tatiana Calderon and André Negrao at the wheel of the Oreca LMP2 car. She completed 31 laps around the 7.004km-long circuit, with a best lap of 2:08.498. The #50 crew finished the test day in P14.

Despite extensive experience in both single seaters and GT cars, today's test was the first time Visser got the opportunity to taste the LMP2 machinery.

Supported by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, the Richard Mille Racing team entered the 2020 European Le Mans Series as the first fully-female crew in the prototype class, targeting the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours. F1 Development Driver Tatiana Calderon, FIA F3 racer Sophia Floersch and IMSA veteran Katherine Legge were announced as official drivers, but the project suffered a setback when Legge was injured in a crash at the pre-season test at Paul Ricard last month. The 40-year old Brit went off at high speed after Signes corner, was extricated and airlifted to the local hospital, where she was diagnosed with a broken leg and an injured wrist.

In the opening round at le Castellet, former Signatech driver André Negrao joined Calderon at Richard Mille Racing, as Sophia Floersch was also unavailable due to the many FIA F3 clashes that will also prevent the German driver to take part in this weekend's 4 hours of Spa Francorchamps.

Beitske Visser, 26, could therefore be a front runner to replace Legge in the next ELMS event.

UPDATE: Beitske Visser has been confirmed to race in Sunday's 4 Hours of Spa Francorchamps for Richard Mille Racing alongside Tatiana Calderon and André Negrao.