Le
Mans 24 Hours 2006
Stunning Second Successive Victory. Issued June 21st 2006
AD
Group Celebrates Second Victory at Le Mans
The
MG Lola EX264 owned by world-beating British CCTV manufacturer,
AD Group, and run by Wellingborough-based RML, has emerged
victorious once again in the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24
Hours.
Securing
the LMP2 prototype class two years running - unprecedented
for a British team - is impressive by any standards, especially
in such a testing endurance race at the most famous sportscar
venue in the world.
Sponsored
by AD Group companies including AD Aerospace, Dedicated
Micros, D-Tec, RemGuard and TSS, the #25 MG Lola also had
AD Group’s CEO Mike Newton behind the wheel. For this
three-driver race Mike and regular co-driver, Brazilian
Thomas Erdos, were joined by Andy Wallace, a former outright
winner at Le Mans with Jaguar in 1988.
Adam
Wiseberg, AD Group Director, said: “We are absolutely
delighted with the result. To win once at Le Mans is unforgettable,
but to secure the LMP2 class for a second time, 12 months
on, is truly remarkable. It really is a testament to the
focus and preparation of the team and the drivers. Our total
domination of the class is underlined by the gap of over
1 hour to the second-placed car. None of the other classes
in the race were won by more than a 20 minute margin.”
The
signs were positive from the start, with Brazilian Thomas
Erdos posting the fastest LMP2 time during Thursday’s
qualifying to secure the top grid position in class. During
the race proper the MG led the LMP2 class for all but a
handful of laps, proving itself fast, rugged and reliable.
AD Group’s CEO Mike Newton was driving the car when
it crossed the line to take the chequered flag just after
5pm on Sunday afternoon. He actually managed to overtake
a close challenger on the final lap to take 8th position
overall – the highest ever finishing position for
an LMP2 car.
Commented
Mike: “To repeat last year’s success and be
in the driving seat right at the very end was a fantastic
moment - the stuff from which dreams are made. It’s
a great feeling to be able to show that last year’s
win was no fluke and to have dominated the class throughout
the race. Only Audi with their massive manufacturer’s
budget achieved the same domination of their class and our
winning margin was more than three times theirs.”
On the pit wall to welcome him home were Mike’s co-drivers
and the rest of the team. It was an emotional moment for
everyone with 280,000 fans looking on – not only because
the class win of 2005 had been repeated but also because
this time they had done it from the front.