Former Audi LMP1 driver Bonanomi gets ByKolles Le Mans seat

Bonanomi replaces James Rossiter in the team's #4 ENSO CLM P1/01-Nismo car and will race alongside Oliver Webb and Dominik Kraihamer.

Rossiter, who had raced for the team at Silverstone and Spa, was forced to step down from the outfit for Le Mans due to clashing commitments, as he will instead be taking part in Super GT testing with Toyota.

“We deeply regret that James had to call off his participation at Le Mans just to attend a test in Japan,” ByKolles' director of racing operations Boris Bermes said.

“We had to find a replacement on short notice. In Marco Bonanomi, we found a very fast and experienced LMP1 driver.”

A podium finisher on his Le Mans 24 Horus debut in 2012 with Audi's LMP1 outfit, Bonanomi also ran in the top class of the event in 2014 and 2015, as part of the Ingolstadt marque's third entry.

More recently, he campaigned an Aust Motorsport Audi R8 LMS in ADAC GT Masters.

“I would like to thank the team for giving me this chance,” Bonanomi said. “I cannot wait to race an LMP1 car at the Sarthe again.”

Bonanomi has already tested with ByKolles, standing in for Rossiter in the Spa-Francorchamps test in late May.

Bermes said: “During our test in Spa-Francorchamps last week, we were convinced by his [Bonanomi's] unsurpassed qualities and we could make further progress with our car. We will be well positioned at Le Mans in regards to technical [aspects] and drivers.”