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Le Mans Series 2007
Round 4. Spa 1000 Kilometers. August 17th - 19th 2007
Qualifying Press Release. Issued August 18th 2007

Top of the Pack for Erdos at Spa 1000 Kilometres

Thomas Erdos and the RML AD Group MG Lola topped the LMP2 times in qualifying for Round Four of the 2007 Le Mans Series at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, making it two pole positions in succession for the UK-based Brazilian.

The team had remained quietly confident of their chances, even after two days of free practice had suggested that their closest rivals might have found a performance edge since the Nurburgring race six weeks previously. Always posting rapid times, Erdos had nevertheless been content to end each practice session second, or even fourth in class. "Our individual sector times always suggested that, if we could string them all together in a clean lap, we’d be well placed for a front row start." On Saturday afternoon he did exactly that.

His challenge came very early in the twenty-minute prototype-only qualifying period. His very first flyer was a 2:06.795, and that alone would have been sufficient to secure pole, but he followed that with an even quicker 2:06.660 on his next lap, and thereby set a standard that nobody else could match. Michael Vergers in the Barazi Epsilon Zytek made a determined attempt, but still ended the day almost half a second shy of the MG, with former RML driver Warren Hughes third in the Embassy Radical.

“That was another stunning lap from Tommy,” smiled a hugely satisfied Phil Barker, Team Manager at RML. “Once again, he’s done a really great job. We felt sure we had a good, well-balanced car, and it was just a case of getting out there and making the most of the lack of traffic.”

Thomas Erdos was “delighted for the team. We didn’t sit back, and ever since the start of this year we’ve been reacting to the increased pace of the competition. We’ve maintained an excellent relationship with Lola and AER, and in partnership with our own development programme, all the hard graft is now paying off. To achieve pole at Spa, against such very tough opposition, is very satisfying.”

Photo: Peter May / DSC

Mike Newton, not only Tommy’s co-driver, but also CEO of AD Group, principal sponsor of the RML sportscar programme, could not have been happier. “At the beginning of this season, the thought that we might achieve pole here at Spa looked very unlikely. We’re facing other teams with newer chassis than ours, and employing some very professional drivers, but we’ve restored the pace in the MG, and we’re in a very strong position.”

“We have an excellent set-up now, come rain or shine” added Mike Newton. “Now we’re just looking forward to the race.” That begins at 12:30 on Sunday, local time, and will run for six hours or 1000 kilometres (143 laps), whichever is achieved first.

LMP2 Qualifying Results

Pos No. Overall Team Driver Car
Time
1
25
10 RML AD Group Erdos/Newton MG Lola EX264
2:06.660
2
32
12 Barazi Epsilon Vergers/Ojeh/Barazi Zytek 07S
2:07.137
3
45
13 Embassy Racing Hughes/Manning Radical SR9 AER
2:08.154
4
40
14 Quifel ASM Amaral/de Castro/Burgueno Lola B05/40 AER
2:08.262
5
31
15 Binnie Motorsports Binnie/Timpany/Buncombe Lola B05/40 Zytek
2:08.331
6
21
16 Bruichladdich Moseley/Greaves Radical SR9 AER
2:08.568
7
27
18 Horag Racing Lienhard/Theys/Van der Poele Lola B05/40 Judd
2:09.451
8
35
19 Saulnier Racing Nicolet/Filhol/Jouanny Courage LC75 AER
2:10.146
9
44
20 Kruse Motorsport Burgess/de Pourtales/Siedler Pescarolo C60 Judd
2:10.354
10
20
21 Pierre Bruneau Rostan/Bruneau/Pullan Pillbeam MP93 Judd
2:13.618
11
26
29 Ranieri Randaccio Randaccio/Collini Lucchini McLaren
2:18.095

High resolution images from Spa may be viewed and downloaded from the dedicated gallery.