Le
Mans Series 2007
Round 2. Valencia 1000 Kilometers. May 4th-6th 2007
Saturday
Report
Warm
Up
Even
by nine o'clock the sun was high and the track warm as the
full grid of 46 cars set out to take part in the twenty-minute
official warm-up. In the RML garage, Thomas Erdos was strapped
into the MG and ready to go. As has become established practice
with the team, he would complete four or five laps before
returning to the pitlane, complete a driver change with
Mike Newton, and then wait for his co-driver to do a similar
number of laps before going through another complete pitstop
simulation as the session closed. "It all went perfectly
- no dramas whatsoever!" he declared. "We're in
excellent shape for the race."
Times
in warm-up are widely acknowledged as being pretty meaningless.
Some teams go out to prove a point, while most are looking
ahead to the race and send their cars out in full race trim
with full tanks and, like RML, are merely checking that
everything is functioning correctly. A fair few will be
testing repaired components or bedding in new ones, and
this morning at Valencia it was heartening to see the Chad
Racing Panoz, badly damaged by fire on Friday and damaged
again by an accident on Saturday, out and lapping well in
GT2.
In
LMP2, the Quifel ASM Lola was "proving a point",
and set a fastest lap for the class of 1:26.641, a tenth
quicker than it had gone in qualifying, while the T2M Dome
finally set a representative time. Although 1:37.328 was
slowest in class, it was still twelve seconds faster than
the new car had ever gone before. Valencia is that team's
dress rehearsal for Le Mans.
Mike
and Tommy were both using old, well-worn rubber, but in
full race trim Tommy' best of 1:28.961 may give some indication
of what the MG's race pace will be.
Race
Start.
The
following text was posted "live" during the event
and has been retained unaltered, although additional quotes
and explanatory material has been added. A brief press release
about the race can be found here.
Race
started at 1:29
Not
the expected scramble for Turn One - not at the front of
the field anyway, although a fairly argumentative scrum
erupts further down the grid - all negotiate the corner
fairly, and Tommy emerges having lost just two positions;
to the #15 Charouz and #5 Swiss Spirit Lolas, but Vergers
has had an appalling first few moments, getting a wheel
into the gravel even before they got onto the startline
straight, and falls back from class pole to 6th in LMP2.
Tommy
completes the opening lap in a strong seventh position overall,
and comfortably leading LMP2. He has Joao Barbosa just behind
him in the Rollcentre Pescarolo, who appears unable to challenge
the MG. The Quifel ASM Lola has slotted into 9th overall,
holding second in LMP2, with Robin Liddell 10th, third in
class.
1:36
The Peugeots are first and second overall, the number 8
just heading its team-mate, but both now well clear of the
#10 Zytek, Stefan Johansson at the wheel, although the Swede
is not falling back at any appreciable rate.
Tommy has a lead of about 3.5 seconds over de Castro, holding
second.
1:41
The Swiss Spirit #5 Lola gets ahead of the #15 Charouz,
and Tommy moves up onto Alex Yoong in the #15. Barbosa remains
close behind the MG. The ASM Lola, with de Castro at the
wheel, has fallen back a little, but remains second in LMP2.
1:46
Tommy and the #15 Lola are having their own private battle,
but both pulling clear of Barbosa in the Rollcentre LMP1.
The ASM Lola is falling back, but probably because de Castro
has his mirrors full of Vergers in the Barazi Zytek, recovering
strongly, and Robin Liddell, now making a charge in the
Bruichladdich Radical.
1:50
Almost seven seconds now separate Tommy from de Castro,
who has eased out a lead of about two seconds on Liddell,
who has taken advantage of a mistake by Vergers to move
into third.
All
are now threading their way through the midfield cars. Balked
by a backmarker, Tommy falls back on Barbosa, but the gap
to de Castro remains good. They're in among the leaders
in GT1 now, and surrounded by Aston Martins and Saleens,
which accounts for the fluctuating gaps between the LMP2
contenders.
1:53
Tommy has eased clear of Barbosa once again, and Vergers
has re-passed Liddell in the Radical.
1:58
Tommy is holding on well to the LMP1 cars immediately ahead
of him. De Castro is under increasing pressure from Vergers,
who is demonstrating the Zytek's pace in his attempt to
recover the ground lost by his poor start. Robin Liddell
is following in Verger's slipstream. Tommy has four seconds
over Barbosa, who is about a second clear of de Castro.
2:00
Tommy is starting to put Yoong in the #15 Lola under enormous
pressure, and harrying the similar-looking P1 Lola through
every corner. Problems for the #51 Aston Martin, which suddenly
slows and limps back to the pits.
2:04
The Embassy Radical pulls off on the run up to Turn Seven,
and is dragged backwards off the circuit. Warren Hughes
later rejoins, bt not for long. Meanwhile, the Zytek P2
car, Michael Vergers driving, had been making great inroads
on the MG's lead, but makes an error (one of several so
far) that drops him back again, well down the P2 field,
to rejoin behind De Castro in the Quifel ASM Lola. This
brings Robin Liddell right up behind Vergers. Fassler in
the #5 LMP1 Swiss Spirit Lola with its Audi engine, made
a minor indiscretion a few moment ago, and has fallen back
behind Tommy, but is recovering strongly.
Soon
afterwards, Vergers passes De Castro - again - in the Barazi
Zytek. It's 2:09. Then De Castro gets back ahead of Vergers!
2:10
Barbosa's Rollcentre Pescarolo and Verger's Barazi are nose-to-tail,
and so are the three Lolas, where less than a second separates
Yoong, Erdos and Fassler. The two groups, however, are ten
seconds apart.
On
the next lap the Audi-engined Lola gets ahead of Tommy,
who drops back as a result. Vergers passes the ASM Lola
once more, the two trading positions almost lap-by-lap.
This time, however, Vergers starts to pull away quite rapidly,
and soon establishes some breathing space.
2:18
Tommy is having a tussle with one of the Pescarolos. The
#16 car, driven by Romain Dumas, is one of the first to
make a pitstop, but once back out o track, seems unable
to make any impression on Erdos, who is all over the Frenchman's
tail. At 2:19 the MG sweeps by into Turn Nine. Tommy instantly
eases clear. He now has a healthy lead over Vergers, second
in the class, with the ASM Lola (de Castro) third, and Liddell
fourth, who has finally got ahead of Barbosa in the Rollcentre
Pescarolo.
At last, Tommy finds himself in clear track.
2:27
Tommy is advised over the radio that
the team is getting ready for the first scheduled pitstop.
At exactly half-past he cruises in down the pitlane, asking
for a "visor wipe" along the way. It's a smooth
pitstop, with no problems, and fuel only. The tyres should
double stint here without difficulty.
Hour
2
Tommy
rejoins and still leads LMP2, with thirty-five seconds over
De Castro, and forty-two to Vergers. Most LMP2 runners have
either already stopped for fuel, or are about to do so.
2:43
The gap to De Castro has extended to 39 seconds after the
Portuguese car takes on fresh tyres during its own stop.
2:44
De Castro spins off into the gravel at Turn 8. He's well
beached, and has to be towed out by the tractor unit. He
eventually rejoins, but Vergers has sailed through into
second place. It turns out that Vergers has actually tapped
De Castro into the spin. "He's a good friend of mine!"
says Tommy over the radio. It's not clear who he's referring
to.
To
follow live timing, click this link
2:48
Tommy retains a lead of some 39 seconds on Vergers, although
the Dutchman is circulating rapidly through the traffic.
The #5 Swiss Spirit car is, once again, back on Tommy's
tail.
2:50
Tommy complains of a low-battery warning light.
2:52
The #44 Kruse Pescarolo, with Tony Burgess driving, spins
off at Turn 1.
2:58
Tommy has been repeatedly delayed through traffic, and it
appears to have cost him several seconds on Vergers, who
has closed to within half a minute of the MG.
3:08
Tommy comes back down the pitlane to have a fresh battery
fitted. It has been long enough since he first commented
on the low-battery warning for the team to make a driver
change and still be within the schedule for the race. While
the car is refuelled and the rear panel removed, Mike Newton
steps aboard. It's a lengthy stop while the new batteries
are swapped. Later transpires that the main alternator belt
has snapped, and the team swap to the auxillary unit.
3:10
Michael Vergers crosses the line to take the class lead.
Simultaneously, the team is refitting the engine cover.
They have fitted a new panel, but Mike stays on the same
set of tyres that Tommy used from the start of the race.
The Michelins are standing up well!
3:11
Mike yet to leave the pitlane. Barbosa and Lammers go through
- both are LMP1 cars, but Robin Liddell, the next to cross
the line, takes the Bruichladdich Radical through into second
in LMP2.
3:12
The #27 Horag Lola also passes by on the main straight,
followed swiftly afterwards by the #17 Pescarolo. The MG
slips to fourth in LMP2.
3:13
Mike finally gets the all-clear and heads back out onto
the track. It's not quick enough, however, to prevent Jean-Mac
Gounon moving through on the straight to take 13th overall
for the #24 Del Bello Courage. The #19 Chamberlain Lola
also gets ahead, and before Mike is back up to speed, Nicolet
in the #35 Saulnier Courage forges by.
3:17
Timing screens still not making this clear, but Mike would
appear to be 16th overall, 6th in LMP2, and has De Castro
just behind him. It is worth noting that Tommy's fastest
lap during his double-stint was a 1:28.406 - the fastest
in LMP2.
3:19
The #5 Swiss Spirit Lola pits with a puncture. Shortly afterwards,
De Castro overtakes Mike for 16th place, leaving the MG
seventeenth overall, 7th in P2.
3:23
Gap to De Castro has grown to 8 seconds.
3:28
Vergers leads P2 from 5th overall, with Liddell second (9th)
and Didier Theys third in the #27 Lola (11th).
Hour
3
3:31
The #40 ASM Lola is in the gravel again, this time at Turn
10.
Mike Newton is back up to 6th after De Castro struggles
back to the pits. Mike is 12 seconds down on the #24 Courage,
but they are circulating at a similar pace, so the gap is
remaining quite constant.
3:36
Mike has moved up to 15th overall, and when Nicolet pits
the Saulnier car on the next lap, the MG moves through into
14th, fifth in LMP2.
3:39
Mike is off the track, but quickly recovers, thankfully
having missed the gravel and taken to s sliproad. He rejoins
quickly. Initially he suspects a puncture, but drives through
what is probably pick-up on the tyres causing the sensation
and continues. He doesn't appear to have lost any time.
3:42
Robin Liddell pits the Bruichladdich and hands over to Tim
Greaves. Juan Barazi has also taken over from Michael Vergers
in the #32 Zytek. The order in LMP2 is now . . .
1st
#32 Barazi Epsilon Zytek, 6th overall
2nd
#21 Bruichladdich Radical, 10th overall
3rd #27 Horag Lola, 11th overall
4th #24 Del Bello Racing Courage, 12th overall
5th #25 RML MG Lola EX264, 13th overall
6th #35 Saulnier Racing Courage, 17th overall
3:50
Mike Newton is six seconds behind Bouillion in the #16 Pescarolo,
but the LMP1 car is quicker and pulling away. Juan Barazi
still leads the class, but is nowhere near as rapid as Vergers
- in fact, he was just overtaken by a GT1 car. Elsewhere
in GT1, the #72 goes off into a plume of gravel at Curva
Nieto.
4:03
Miguel Amaral in the ASM Lola is closing down on Mike .
. . on the track, but is actually two laps down. Mike is
advised not to worry too much if the blue car comes by.
On the other hand, Mike is closing steadily on Freddie Lienhard
in the #27 Lola.
4:05
"That's very good pace, Mike," says Phil over
the radio. "Keep it up!". Mike is setting consistent
laps in the 1:34s or quicker, and is pulling in the deficit
to all those ahead of him in LMP2, even the Barazi Zytek.
Juan just did a 1:36.
4:15
The #35 Saulnier Courage spins after attempting a pass up
the inside of a GT2 car. It is a brief delay for the silver
car.
4:19
The #14 Racing for Holland Dome spins into Turn 6, and seconds
later, Peter Owen in the #19 Chamberlain Lola does exactly
the same thing, almost colliding with the static Dome. Owen
resumes, but the RfH Dome is pulled back behind the barriers.
4:20
Mike advised that he'll be coming in shortly for his first
scheduled pitstop.
4:22
Mike is in for fuel and tyres. It's a smooth pitstop, with
no problems, and he's rapidly back out and racing. The earlier
fix has clearly done the trick.
4:29
Mike confirmed as P6 in class, seven seconds down on the
#35 Saulnier Racing Courage.
Hour
4
4:33
The ASM Lola collides with one of the Felbermayr Porsches.
Both rejoin, but the ASM is yet further delayed.
4:34
SAFETY
CAR
The safety car has been deployed. It is understood to be
to enable the marshals to deal with oil on the track, believed
to have been dropped by the #10 Zytek, which had a problem
earlier. Mike is up to P4 in LMP2, 14th overall. There is
much confusion, since the Safety Car has waved the leader
by and is circulating very slowly, allowing everyone to
pass. Mike radios in to query why he's passed the safety
car "for the second time!".
4:42
Finally the Safety Car collects Pedro Lamy in the leading
Peugeot 908. "Oh good," says Mike, with just a
hint of irony. He comments that the pace being set by the
Safety Car is very slow indeed.
4:44
"Expect to start racing again this lap, Mike!"
The lights duly go out on the Safety Car.
4:45
GREEN FLAG
The order in LMP2 is now
. . .
1st
#32 Barazi Epsilon Zytek, 6th overall
2nd #24 Del Bello Racing Courage, 12th overall
3rd
#21 Bruichladdich Radical, 10th overall
4th #27 Horag Lola, 12th overall
4th #25 RML MG Lola EX264, 13th overall
4:47
Black and orange flag is shown to the #32 Barazi Epsilon
Zytek
4:50
The #12 Courage is off at Turn 5 - extended yellow flags.
4:53
The Barazi comes into the pitlane and is hauled backwards
into the garage, whereby the cover is off and the engineers
are busy attending to whatever fault ails the car.
4:55
Juan Barazi is back out in his eponymous Zytek, but the
car has lost the LMP2 lead to the #24 Del Bello Courage,
Vitaly Petrov currently at the wheel.
4:58
One lap later and the Barazi car is back in the garage again,
this time for a more extended stop.The Bruichladdich Radical
moves ahead into 2nd in LMP2.
5:01
The #27 Horag Lola also now moves ahead of the Barazi, and
thereby inherits third.
5:10
Phil confirms that the whole of the rear diffuser - the
section of panelwork that lies beneath the engine - will
have to be replaced. The ACO officials have been to the
garage to point out that the section is damaged, and the
car cannot proceed with incomplete bodywork. To do so would
contravene the new regulations. Phil was called over from
his usual residence on the pitwall to discuss the situation
with the officials. He suggests to the team that other jobs
are attended to while the car is in, and everyone scurries
off to find tools, parts and take up their positions.
Jakey
is asked how long he thinks it will take to replace the
diffuser, and predicts "ten minutes". Phil offers
the guys the incentive of "a beer for every minute
under." Is that each, or between the lot of us, asks
one of the mechanics.
5:15
The #24 Courage, currently leading LMP2, is given a Stop
& Go penalty. Reason unknown.
The
order in LMP2 before MIke comes in for his stop is . . .
1st #24 Del Bello Racing Courage, 7th overall
2nd
#21 Bruichladdich Radical, 9th overall
3rd #27 Horag Lola, 10th overall
4th #25 RML MG Lola EX264, 12th overall
5th #40 ASM Lola, 15th overall
5:17
The #24 Courage, Petrov driving, comes into the pitlane
to fulfil the penalty. He's also due a scheduled stop, but
cannot do that at the same time, so has to go out and come
back in again, making for a lengthy delay.
5:22
Mike comes in down the pitlane. The team complete a regular
refuel, but Mike is kept in the car. As soon as the whistle
blows to signify that refuelling is complete, the rest of
the crew leap to the car, fit the rear wheeled-jack, and
haul the car, and MIke, into the garage.
The rear engine cover is removed, and while half of the
team attend to the rear diffuser, others remove and replace
the louvre panel over the front right-hand wheel, fit new
headlights to the right-hand pod, and generally attend to
anything else that might become a problem, and can be fixed
in less time than it takes to replace the diffuser. This
is made a lengthy process by the need to remove the sidepods,
the rear wing and other components even before the engineers
can start disassembling the floor itself. With Phil Barker
overseeing every element of the procedure, giving instructions,
picking up on other potential problems, and generally directing
the action like an orchestral conductor, things get done
very quickly and efficiently.
With the rear diffuser and other repairs nearing completion,
the car is lowered back onto the ground, and while the rear
wing is refitted, Tommy is strapped into the car in preparation
for his final double-stint, all the way to the flag.
Hour
5
5:33
Tommy heads back out onto the track.
Mike is in the garage, explaining about the problems. He
had been experiencing a lot of vibrations from the car,
which were attributable to the damaged rear diffuser. Neither
driver is aware of any forcible contact from another car
- not sufficient to cause such damage, although Mike recalls
contact very early in his first stint when a GT2 car followed
the MG too deeply into a corner and outbraked itself, using
the back of the #25 as a buffer. However, the damage to
the diffuser only became evident much later in his second
stint. "The car was still driveable but there as a
lot of buffeting down the straight, and the aerodynamics
were not good."
Tommy
rejoins 21st overall, eighth in LMP2 and a lap adrift of
the the #20 Pilbeam.
5:47
The #7 Peugeot is moving slowly past the pits, having encountered
a problem too late to make the pitlane entry. It completes
a lethargic lap and then pits, where the car is quickly
withdrawn into the garage and out of sight. It is revealed
to be a clutch failure.
5:54
The #15 Cherouz Lola is black-flagged for having a section
of front right louvre flapping in the breeze. This is exactly
the eventuality that might have befallen the #25 if Jason
hadn't replaced the damaged panel during Mike's pitstop.
5:55
Tommy is up to 18th overall from 21st, and seventh in LMP2,
having overtaken the Pilbeam.
6:02
Car #92 into the gravel at Turn 11. The #27 Horag Lola is
into the pits and the engine cover is off. It is pulled
back into the garage.
6:07
Phil is very pleased with Tommy's pace. He's doing 1:29s
or thereabouts, and making up ground, although the task
is now monumental.
6:08
The #59 Aston Martin, with Christian Fittipaldi at the wheel,
is punted into a spin by the #40 ASM Lola.
6:13
Tommy passes Eric van de Poele in the #27 Horag Lola, which
remains stationery in the garage. This nets him 6th in LMP2,
17th overall.
6:18
Tommy complains of a misfire. It worsens. "It could
be just a loose lead, but it's really bad now," he
says. He brings the car into the pits straight away - it's
6:20. The team remove the engine cover, check all the electronics
and leads, then send him out again at 6:25.
6:28
"Did we loose the position?" asks Tommy. "Yes,"
replies Phil, "but the guy we lost it to has just spun
off into the gravel !" Actually, it's a bit more than
that. The Pilbeam had gone head-first into the wall, and
sustained substantial damage. It is definitely out of the
race. Tommy is back in P6 with just over an hour to go.
Hour
6
6:33
Can the MG go to the flag without another stop? Perhaps.
It currently lies 17th overall, holding sixth in class.
It's not where the team hoped to end the day, but any points
could prove invaluable as rest of the season unfolds.
6:35
The Del Bello Courage, #24, pits from the lead of LMP2 and
is pulled up on the apron. After a few moment, the crew
pull the car back into the garage, where it remains for
some time.
The
order in LMP2 is . . .
1st #35 Saulnier Courage, 7th overall
2nd
#21 Bruichladdich Radical, 8th overall
3rd #40 ASM Lola, 9th overall
4th #24 Del Bello Racing, 11th overall
5 th #44 Kruse Pescarolo, 15th overall
6th #25 RML MG Lola EX264, 17th overall
6:46
The #16 is hit by the #15 Cherouz Lola, and sustains rear
bodywork damage. It looks remarkably like a blown engine,
with all the smoke, but it is merely (?) carbon fibre fouling
the rubber. It has to complete an entire lap before being
able to pit for repairs.
6:47
The #76 Imsa Performance Porsche, which has been leading
GT2 for some time, ploughs straight on into a tyre wall.
The damage looks major, and the car is unlikely to continue.
Tommy sees the incident, and considers the possibility of
a pace car. In the end, the marshals clear the car away
swiftly, and no Safety Car is required.
6:59
The #35 Saulnier Courage incurs a Stop & Go penalty,
for reasons as yet unknown. (Later confirmed as unnecessary
contact with one of the Luc Alphand Corvettes.) It has recently
completed a pitstop, and thereby lost the lead to the #21
Bruichladdich Radical - or that is what seems to be the
case at first glance, but next moment the #40 ASM Lola is
confirmed as the new LMP2 leader.
7:00
Tommy lies in 16th position overall, sixth in LMP2, but
the gap to Burgess in the Kruse Pescarolo #44 is roughly
three whole laps, so nothing short of a disaster . . . for
the other competitors . . . can give the MG a better result.
7:13
The race will not "go the distance", and the chequered
flag is expected at half-past.
7:15
Tommy comes down the pitlane for a final splash-and-dash
of fuel. He is stationery for about five seconds, no more.
Meanwhile, at the end of the main straight, the #15 Cherouz
Lola is attempting to force the Rollcentre Pescarolo into
the pit wall ! It's a disgraceful display of driving from
Stefan Mucke, who is defending the position (second overall)
with a no-holds barred attitude. Barbosa hangs back for
a while, but is then back on the chase again moments later.
There's
a Spyker with a blown engine. It's the #85. It goes into
the gravel shortly later, spinning on its own oil.
Later
on the same lap, Barbosa is off into the gravel. He was
chasing the #15 into a corner when a GT2 Porsche got between
the two. Barbosa went wide, caught the "marbles",
and lost grip. Running wide he went over the kerbs and into
the gravel. Maybe has a puncture? Definitely rear-end damage.
He pits, but when he comes back out the bodywork is still
fouling the wheel. It turns out the suspension is damaged.
7:28
Confusion in the press room, as the overall leader now being
shown as Mucke in the #15 Cherouz Lola, but it must be an
error. Pedro Lamy leads overall in the #8 Peugeot 908, surely?
The 908 is still circulating well, and hasn't been passed,
but for some reason his laps are not registering.
The
error is confirmed when the timing screens go blank!
7:30
Pedro Lamy crosses the line to win
the race for Peugeot!
Tommy
takes the flag just ahead of the winning Peugeot, but continues
for another lap just to make sure.
LMP2
RESULT
1st #40 ASM
Lola, 7th overall
2nd
#35 Saulnier Courage, 8th overall
3rd
#21 Bruichladdich Radical, 9th overall
4th #24 Del Bello Racing, 11th overall
5th #44 Kruse Pescarolo, 15th overall
6th #25 RML MG Lola EX264, 16th overall
OVERALL
RESULT
| Pos |
No. |
Class |
Team |
Drivers |
Car |
Laps/Gap |
| 1 |
08 |
LMP1 |
Team
Peugeot Total |
Lamy
/ Sarrazin |
Peugeot
908 Hdi FAP |
234 |
| 2 |
15 |
LMP1 |
Charouz
Racing |
Charouz
/ Mucke / Yoong |
Lola
B07/17 Judd |
232 |
| 3 |
5 |
LMP1 |
Swiss
Spirit |
Deletraz
/ Fassler / Alexander |
Lola
B07/10 Audi |
231 |
| 4 |
18 |
LMP1 |
Rollcentre
Racing |
Barbosa
/ Short / Hall |
Pescarolo
C60 Judd |
230 |
| 5 |
16 |
LMP1 |
Pescarolo
Sport |
Bouillion
/ Dumas |
Pescarolo
C60 Judd |
229 |
| 6 |
17 |
LMP1 |
Pescarolo
Sport |
Primat
/ Tinsau |
Pescarolo
C60 Judd |
15.822 |
| 7 |
40 |
LMP2 |
Quifel
ASM |
De
Castro / Amaral / Burgueno |
Lola
B05/40 AER |
224 |
| 8 |
35 |
LMP2 |
Saulnier
Racing |
Nicolet
/ Filhol / Jouanny |
Courage
LC75 AER |
222 |
| 9 |
21 |
LMP2 |
Bruichladdich
Radical |
Liddell
/ Greaves / Moseley |
Radical
SR9 AER |
6.799 |
| 10 |
55 |
GT1 |
Team
Oreca |
Ortelli
/ Ayari |
Saleen
S7-R |
30.078 |
A gallery of high resolution images from Valencia
can be viewed here.
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