Le
Mans Series 2007
Round 2. Monza 1000 Kilometers. April 13th-15th 2007
Friday
Report
The
2007 Le Mans Series kicks off with a welcome return to the
famous Autodroma di Monza in Italy – the
historic venue now firmly back on the motorsport calendar
after an enforced absence of over a year, thanks to the
complaints of a very small number of local residents. Given
that the track, which occupies most of a green oasis of
wooded parkland at the heart of Monza, is surrounded on
all sides by housing, it’s no surprise that noise
can be intrusive. However, the commercial value of the Autodroma
to the local economy, and the fact that the track has been
at the heart of Italian motorsport for eighty-five years,
eventually weighed sufficiently heavily in the argument,
and the restrictions were relaxed.
As
a result, it is two years since contemporary Le Mans cars
last raced in Italy, and there has been much anticipation
about their return, not least because this weekend’s
Monza 1000 Kilometers also sees the competitive debut of
the all-new Peugeot 908 – France’s great hope
for outright victory in June’s Le Mans 24 Hours.
As far as RML is concerned, it’s business
as usual for Mike Newton, Thomas Erdos and the team’s
MG Lola EX264. Over the winter months the car’s development
has continued, although much of this has been beneath the
covers and unlikely to be immediately apparent. With two
full seasons tucked under its belt, two class victories
at Le Mans, and two very close-run championships, the MG
is probably the best-proven car on the track. Indeed, the
car’s very success has played no small part in ensuring
that the Le Mans Series LMP2 category heads into 2006 as
one of the most fiercely contested in sportscar racing,
with new cars, teams and drivers attracted to a class that
offers great racing, good competition, and growing recognition.
Thomas Erdos was unbeaten in qualifying throughout 2006,
but last month’s official test at Paul Ricard demonstrated
just how tough the year ahead is going to be. “The
truth is, our competitors have raised their game,”
admitted Erdos after that two-day test. “No doubt
we’re in for a very demanding season, but this is
a challenge we’re prepared to face,” he said.
Adam Wiseberg, Motorsport Director at AD
Holdings, recognises that the playing field has changed,
but also relishes the opportunities this represents. “It’s
exciting to see how much more competitive this class has
become this year,” he said. “There are some
very quick drivers, and some good-looking cars, but we’re
looking forward to the challenge.” While several cars
have indeed suggested that they are going to be very quick,
including the Quifel ASM Lola B05/40 (Amaral, de Castro
and Burgeno), the Barazi Zytek (Barazi, Vergers and Ojeh)
and the Embassy Racing Radical (Hughes and Cunningham),
RML has an excellent track record of reliability and development,
and both drivers are comfortable in their car and confident
of the team behind them.
First
FreePractice
The
action started with the first of two free practice sessions
scheduled for Friday; the cars heading out onto the track
at just gone half-twelve. Tommy Erdos was first to venture
out in the RML MG Lola, and was quickly into his stride,
and was soon setting regular laps in the mid-1:43s –
sufficient to ensure that the MG topped the times in LMP2.
After nine laps the Brazilian brought the MG back down the
pitlane and the team set-to, making some setting adjustments,
before Mike Newton stepped aboard for a similar number of
laps. His times were impressive, and a best of 1:45.563
would have been good enough for eighth in LMP2.
As
it was, Tommy’s earlier lap had held the top slot
in the category for most of the session, but as Mike prepared
for his last laps, de Castro in the #40 ASM Lola moved ahead
with a best so far of 1:41.25, followed a little while later
by Vergers in the Barazi Epsilon Zytek, and then Warren
Hughes in the Embassy Radical.
With
ten minutes of the period remaining, Tommy took over the
controls once again, and on his second flyer set an improved
time of 1:42.289 to move back to second fastest in P2, although
just ahead of the flag signalling the end of the practice
session, Vergers clocked 1:42.287 to better Tommy’s
time by just two-one-thousandths of a second.
So first blood of the weekend to the Portuguese
Lola team, confirming the form they’d revealed at
Paul Ricard. “This is only the first outing, and it’s
a couple of years since we’ve been here,” said
Phil Marker, Team Manager at RML. “Our first task
has been to set down a fresh marker, and we can then build
upon that. Next session we’ll try a bit more downforce
and make sure everything’s hunky-dory, but it’s
steady progress, and in the right direction.”
What
placed the session into some perspective was the realisation
that the car’s times – and especially those
being set by Mike – we’re on a par with those
from two years ago. “We’re there already, straight
off,” confirmed Barker, “but Mike’s significantly
quicker than he was last time we were here, and this has
only been the first outing.” Mike appeared quite pleased,
although modestly suggested that “there’s so
much more to come from the car yet!” Adam Wiseberg,
ever the sage with figures to hand, confirmed that Mike
had not only set a personal best for the 5.7 kilometer circuit,
but had also acquitted himself well when compared with others
in the class. “Mike was very much among the quickest
of the “second” drivers – only one other
went faster,” he said.
Over
a late lunch the team contemplated the first day’s
action. “It’s good to feel that things have
started again,” observed Wiseberg, “and it’s
particularly nice to be back here at Monza after a two-year
break. It’s a fabulous circuit, right in the middle
of the town, and steeped in history. Anyone who visits here
really has to go and see the original banking. It is so
impressive, and very, very steep!” Hopefully it is
on the agenda for tomorrow, and photos will follow.
Second
FreePractice
Throughout
the first session the MG had been running without the downforce-generating
dive-planes that typically sit either side of the nose,
and rear wing had been fixed at its lowest setting. For
the day’s second session, starting at five o’clock,
a single pair of planes would be fitted, and the rear wing
angle increased slightly. Once again, Tommy was given charge
of the car while the team worked to perfect the set-up.
The
fourth lap - his third proper flyer – was sufficient
to establish quickest in P2, with a time of 1:43.431 achieving
8th overall. His next, at 1:42.508, moved up to 6th overall,
and then his third clocked 1:42.487. It would be the MG's
fastest of the day, but as he headed back down the pitlane
to have some further adjustments made to the aerodynamics,
he wasn’t to know that. The car was hauled back into
the garage so the team could complete the work more quickly,
and almost simultaneously, Vergers swept by on the track
to record a new best of 1:41.217, followed soon afterwards
by Burgeno in the ASM Lola, which moved the Portuguese second
with 1:41.399.
With
half the session completed, Tommy emerged once again. In
the meantime, Vergers had improved the class best-of-the-day
forwards onto 1:41.025 for the Barazi Zytek, but neither
Tommy, nor anyone else, was going to be given the opportunity
to respond. Moments later a vast balloon of flame erupted
in the pitlane, two doors up from RML.
Whilst
attempting to refuel the #73 Luc Alphand C5-R Corvette,
a hose had become disconnected from the rig assembly. Litres
of fuel had washed across the side of the car and across
the pitlane before the heat of the side exhaust set everything
alight. In milliseconds, the entire car was engulfed. The
refueller was caught in the main blast of heat and flame,
and staggered back into his garage. A second crew member,
standing ahead of the nozzle, was also doused in fuel and
ran, his overalls alight, straight to the RML garage, where
the MG personnel were quick to put out the flames, help
him out of his overalls, and offer first aid.
The
flames spread across the car itself, but mechanics from
adjacent garages, as well as marshals, were quick to respond
to the situation. Fire extinguishers were rushed from all
around, and in a surprisingly short time, the flames were
under control, white powder settling across the tarmac as
a pall of blackening smoke drifted across the grandstands.
The
RML mechanics continued to attend to the injured crewmember
until the first of two ambulances arrived, effectively blocking
the pitlane. With access to all garages restricted, and
the exact nature of the situation undetermined, the session
was red flagged. It did not resume.
This
effectively ended any plans RML might have held to test
further changes to the MG’s settings, but sufficient
had been learned by Tommy’s final laps to allow Phil
Barker to end the day with some positive thoughts on how
best to start Saturday. In the meantime, the news we have
so far is that both Luc Alphand crew members are suffering
from burns, one more severe than the other, but the exact
extent has yet to be confirmed. They are both being detained
in hospital, and we will post more news when we know it.
(Update here)
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