RML
Team News
Thursday Qualifying - Back on Course. June 14th 2007
RML
Back on Course
After
the frustrations of Wednesday’s disrupted qualifying
session for the 75th Le Mans 24 Hours, RML’s MG Lola
EX264 was back on form for a treacherously wet second day
at the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Torrential rain and standing water for almost
the entire four hours ensured that there was no possibility
of improving on the sixth-fastest time in LMP2 set by Andy
Wallace on Wednesday. However, running third quickest in
Thursday’s atrocious conditions, and under the kind
of watery downpour that the forecasters are predicting for
the race, was more in line with expectations for the RML
MG. What was especially significant is that Mike Newton’s
individual best time was also good enough for fifth-fastest,
confirming the overall strength of the RML driver line-up.
With Wednesday’s technical issues
resolved, it was a far more comfortable Andy Wallace that
was first out onto the circuit at the start of the daylight
session, completing his required three-lap stint without
incident, despite monsoon-like conditions. Mike Newton then
enjoyed the remainder of the first period, posting a time
of 4:31.102 to stand third-quickest in LMP2, behind the
two front-row Zyteks.
After
the break, and with some minor adjustments to the car’s
aerodynamics, Thomas Erdos was given free-rein to establish
the best possible wet set-up for the EX264. A series of
exploratory laps, interrupted by brief visits to the pitlane
for adjustments, resulted in a best lap from the Brazilian
of 4:17.297. It sliced nine seconds off his previous benchmark,
and while a little short of the times set by the two Zyteks
(4:11.296 and 4:14.508) was a significant seven seconds
ahead of the next quickest in the class.

“Tonight was far more typical of
the performance that we expect to deliver than last night,”
said Adam Wiseberg, Motorsport Director of AD Holdings.
“We’re very pleased with the way the car went
today, and it has given us plenty of opportunity to work
on the kind of wet set-up that the weather forecasts suggest
we will need for the race. I think we’re exactly where
we should be by now.”
Phil Barker, Team Manager, was very satisfied
with progress. “We have a set-up now that we can change
very quickly to suit any conditions. It’s safe and
comfortable for the drivers, whatever the circumstances.
That puts us in a very strong position.”
All
three drivers are now looking forward to the race with confidence.
“The conditions were challenging tonight,” admitted
Andy Wallace, “but with the work we’ve done
now, we’ve achieved an excellent balance for the race.”
Thomas Erdos would have liked the opportunity to go quicker.
“I set my quickest time on a preparatory lap,”
he said. “If I’d pushed, I think we’d
have been with the Zyteks tonight.” Mike Newton was
especially pleased to have set third quickest for his own
stint. “That was the highlight for me, and makes up
for being below the technical qualifying time.” It
is believed that more than 30 other drivers are also outside
the required time.
The
team is now looking forward to a day of final preparation,
and a dry warm-up, if at all possible.
Top
LMP2 Times (Thursday)
Pos |
No. |
Team |
Drivers |
Car |
Time |
1 |
33 |
Barazi
Epsilon |
Fernandez/Kurosawa/Kerr |
Zytek
07S LMP1 |
4:11.296 |
2 |
32 |
Barazi
Epsilon |
Vergers/Barazi/Ojeh |
Zytek
07S LMP1 |
4:14.508 |
3 |
25 |
RML |
Erdos/Newton/Wallace |
MG
Lola EX264 |
4:17.297 |
4 |
24 |
Noel
Del Bello |
Petrov/Halliday/Ianetta |
Courage
LC75 |
4:24.793 |
5 |
35 |
Saulnier
Racing |
Jouanny/Nicolet/Filhol |
Courage
LC75 |
4:32.963 |
6 |
21 |
Bruichladdich
Radical |
Liddell/Moseley/Greaves |
Radical
SR9 |
4:37.507 |
7 |
20 |
Pierre
Bruneau |
Rostan/Pickering/Macallister |
Pilbeam
MP93 |
4:39.787 |
8 |
40 |
Quifel
ASM |
de Castro/Amaral/Hughes |
Lola
B05/40 AER |
4:47.127 |
9 |
31 |
Binnie
Motorsports |
Timpany/Binnie/Buncombe |
Lola
B05/40 Zytek |
4:48.127 |
10 |
29 |
T2M
Motorsport |
Yamagishi/Longechal/Terada |
Dome
Mader S101 |
4:54.729 |
11 |
44 |
Kruse
Motorsport |
Siedler/de Pourtales/Burgess |
Pescarolo
C60 Judd |
5:00.117 |
LMP2 Qualifying (Times as Wednesday)
Pos |
No. |
Overall |
Team |
Driver |
Car |
Time |
1 |
33 |
15 |
Barazi
Epsilon |
Adrian
Fernandez |
Zytek
07S LMP1 |
3:44.158 |
2 |
40 |
17 |
Quifel
ASM |
Miguel
de Castro |
Lola
B05/40 AER |
3:45.838 |
3 |
31 |
18 |
Binnie
Motorsports |
Allan
Timpany |
Lola
B05/40 Zytek |
3:48.173 |
4 |
21 |
19 |
Bruichladdich
Radical |
Robin
Liddell |
Radical
SR9 |
3:48.322 |
5 |
32 |
20 |
Barazi
Epsilon |
Michael
Vergers |
Zytek
07S LMP1 |
3:48.935 |
6 |
25 |
21 |
RML |
Andy
Wallace |
MG
Lola EX264 |
3:49.217 |
7 |
35 |
22 |
Saulnier
Racing |
Bruce
Jouanny |
Courage
LC75 |
3:49.621 |
8 |
20 |
25 |
Pierre
Bruneau |
Marc
Rostan |
Pilbeam
MP93 |
3:51.342 |
9 |
44 |
28 |
Kruse
Motorsport |
Norbert
Siedler |
Pescarolo
C60 Judd |
3:52.552 |
10 |
24 |
36 |
Noel
Del Bello |
Vitaly
Petrov |
Courage
LC75 |
3:57.566 |
11 |
29 |
54 |
T2M
Motorsport |
Yamagishi |
Dome
Mader S101 |
4:53.983 |
A
high resolution gallery
is now posted.