Le
Mans Series 2007
Round 2. Valencia 1000 Kilometers. May 4th-6th 2007
Qualifying Press Release. Issued May 5th 2007
Stunning
Lap from Erdos
A remarkable lap from Thomas Erdos
in qualifying for the second round of the 2007 Le Mans Series
in Valencia ensured a third-row start overall for the LMP2
category RML MG Lola EX264.
Out-qualifying two-thirds of the
LMP1 field had never really been a consideration for the
team, despite two days of very encouraging Free Practice,
but that’s exactly what the Brazilian achieved. The
Spanish circuit is a tight, twisty track with only one significant
straight, and this suits the lighter, perhaps more nimble
LMP2 cars. Fitted with an updated aerodynamic package for
the first time this year, the RML pit crew was able to dial
in a high-downforce set-up that achieved a near-perfect
balance for the car – and one that Erdos was able
to exploit.
Unusually, Erdos was one of the first
to leave the garages for the twenty-minute prototypes-only
qualifying session. “The track was clear, so we decided
to let him go for it!” said co-driver Mike Newton.
Tommy’s first lap took him straight to the top of
the LMP2 classification, and was followed swiftly by two
more improvements that set him third overall with a new
best of 1:25.946. There he remained for several minutes,
leading LMP2, before Michael Vergers came through with a
time of 1:25.606 in the Barazi Epsilon Zytek to snatch class
pole. The overall front row fell once again to the new Peugeot
908 LMP1 coupés, with two other P1 cars setting quick
times. However, with the leading P2 cars fourth and sixth,
the complexion at the front of the grid was very different
from that seen a few weeks ago at the flat-out, low-downforce
Monza circuit.
Just three-tenths separated Erdos
from Vergers, but more than a second split the MG from the
third-placed Quifel ASM Lola, with the Bruichladdich Radical
#21 fourth. That significant gap was occupied by three LMP1
cars, offering “a comfortable buffer zone,”
according to Mike Newton.
“After the experience of Monza,
it’s good to feel that we’re in the ball-park
once again,” said a very satisfied Phil Barker, Team
Manager at RML. “Tommy pulled out another very special
lap for us today. He did predict to me this morning that
he could perhaps do a twenty-five, so I’m delighted
that we were able to prove him right.”
Erdos, looking particularly relaxed,
said; “We extracted what we could out of the car today,
and with what we’re learning about the new aero kit,
we can only build on that and get better. It’s also
nice to be the first Lola chassis on the grid!”
Adam Wiseberg, Motorsport Director
for AD Holdings, principal sponsor for RML’s sports
prototype programme, was delighted. “We prefer pole
to second, of course,” he grinned, “but to be
ahead of so many P1 cars on our first run with the new aero
kit is very encouraging. I never cease to be impressed by
the way Tommy can always pull these stunning laps out of
the bag.”
The
team finished second at Monza in round one, although led
the class for most of the race. The competition remains
particularly tight in LMP2, but the opening few seconds
of tomorrow’s race could be crucial. “The start
will be the difficult moment,” conceded Phil Barker.
“It’s the only point where the P1 cars have
the better of us, and the scrum into Turn One could be critical
for the rest of the race.” The 1000 kilometre race
begins at 13:30 local time on Sunday.
Top
Ten Times
Pos |
No. |
Class |
Team |
Driver |
Car |
Time |
1 |
07 |
LMP1 |
Team
Peugeot Total |
Marc
GENE |
Peugeot
908 Hdi FAP |
1:23.489 |
2 |
08 |
LMP1 |
Team
Peugeot Total |
Pedro
LAMY |
Peugeot
908 Hdi FAP |
1:23.930 |
3 |
10 |
LMP1 |
Arena
Motorsport |
Hayanari
SHIMODA |
Zytek
07S LMP1 |
1:24.594 |
4 |
32 |
LMP2 |
Barazi
Epsilon |
Michael
VERGERS |
Zytek
07S LMP2 |
1:25.606 |
5 |
16 |
LMP1 |
Pescarolo
Sport |
Romain
DUMAS |
Pescarolo
C60 Judd |
1:25.617 |
6 |
25 |
LMP2 |
RML |
Tommy
ERDOS |
MG
Lola EX264 |
1:25.946 |
7 |
15 |
LMP1 |
Charouz
Racing |
Alex
YOONG |
Lola
B07/17 Judd |
1:26.084 |
8 |
05 |
LMP1 |
Swiss
Spirit |
Marcel
FASSLER |
Lola
B07/10 Audi |
1:26.334 |
9 |
18 |
LMP1 |
Rollcentre
Racing |
Joao
BARBOSA |
Pescarolo
C60 Judd |
1:26.521 |
10 |
40 |
LMP2 |
Quifel
ASM |
Miguel
De CASTRO |
Lola
B05/40 AER |
1:26.721 |
High
resolution images from Valencia may be viewed and downloaded
from the Valencia gallery.