LMS: KSM pulls out of Portimao

The grid for this weekend’s Le Mans Series round at Portimao has shrunk to just 31 cars after the late withdrawal of the KSM Lola.

Hardy Schiller’s team has been a mainstay of the LMP2 class but has been forced to sit out the Portuguese round after clashing commitments for its regular drivers Hideki Noda, Jonathan Kennard and Jean De Pourtales.

“Most regrettably we have to cancel the start in Portugal,” confirmed Schiller. “The reason is that some of our regular drivers are not available for this date and no suitable alternatives could be found in the meantime. This was a very difficult decision for us, and we tried until the very last moment to go there, that’s why this cancellation comes relatively late.”

KSM are expected to make their Series return at round four in Hungary this August.

Tom Hornsby