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Raceday on the Plateau

The sun continues to bathe the circuit a Le Castellet in a warm glow, the coloured stripes of the trackside run-off contrasting strongly with the sandy browns and muted greens of the surrounding scrubland. The weather has been kind to the Le Mans Series, and the photographers have been enthusing about "The Light", and are eagerly anticipating a sunset finish to the Paul Ricard 8 Hours. Sadly, their hopes may be dashed - or splashed - by the latest forecasts of rain later in the afternoon. If it happens, that will make for an interesting race, but less appealing photographs.

Warm up

The Mansell Beechdean Ginetta Zytek was the first out as the full grid took part in the early-morning warm-up. Tommy was eager to get back out onto the circuit in the RML AD Group Lola and put behind him the disappointment of a less than satisfying qualifying session yesterday. By the standards of most people, fourth would have been a good enough result, but the Brazilian sets his bar high and nothing short of perfection will really do.

A single flying lap was all he'd get to reassure himself that the car's balance was restored, and then it was hand-over time. The RML routine is rigorously enforced, and warm-up is no exception. Three drivers, three pitstops and three driver-change simulations. Mike Newton was next into the car, completing an out-lap, a couple of flyers,and then returning to the pits. His stint included an interesting duel along the Mistral with Soheil Ayari in the #6 Oreca Matmut AIM LMP1, which demonstrated just how rapid the Lola HPD is along the straight. Despite a significant power advantage, the LMP1 car could only just out-drag the svelte LMP2 coupé, although was then able to carry greater speed through Signes and pull clear.

The only major incident of the twenty minute session occurred just as Andy Wallace took over in the #25, when Goueslard in the Larbre Competition Saleen S-R, the only runner in GT1 this weekend, was hit from behind as he entered the fast right-handed "Double Droite" and crashed heavily backwards into the tyre wall. Guaranteed a win simply by finishing, the team now has a hectic two hours as they attempt to complete a rebuild in time for the start. The #5 Beechdean Mansell Ginetta Zytek also had more of a warm-up than is strictly necessary, with a fuel leak causing a small fire while Nigel himself was in the cockpit.

The chequered flag flew at 08:40, with Audi fastest overall on 1:43.138, a second or so clear of the #4 Oreca Peugeot, and the #13 Rebellion Lola third. In LMP2, fastest time to the ASM Ginetta Zytek, with the #35 Pescarolo second, and the #41 Bruichladdich Ginetta Zytek third. Andy's final lap demoted the pole-setting Strakka HPD to sixth in class . . . but warm-up times are, in truth, completely meaningless. Here they are nevertheless:

Warm Up - LMP2 Times

 #
 o/a
 Team  Car  Drivers
Warm Up
1
40
7
Quifel ASM Ginetta-Zytek 09S Amaral, Pla, Hughes
1:48.343
2
35
9
Oak Racing Pescarolo - Judd Hein, Moreau
1:48.937
3
41
13
Bruichladdich Ginetta-Zytek 09S Ojjeh, Greaves, Ebbesvik
1:50.818
4
24
11
Oak Racing Pescarolo - Judd Lahaye, Nicolet
1:52.628
5
25
12
RML AD Group Lola HPD Coupé Erdos, Newton, Wallace
1:52.692
6
42
9
Strakka Racing HPD ARX -01c Leventis, Watts, Kane
1:52.808
7
39
17
KSM Lola B08/47 Judd de Pourtales, Noda, Kennard
1:53.658
8
30
14
Racing Box Lola Coupé B09 Judd Geri, Piccini, Piccini
1:54.347
9
27
18
Race Performance Radical SR9 - Judd Frey, Meichtry, Dueck
1:54.419
10
29
16
Racing Box Lola Coupé B09 Cioci, Perazzini, Pirri
1:54.517
11
37
15
WR Salini WR-Zytek Salini, Salini, Gommendy
1:54.756
12
45
23
Boutsen Energy Formula Le Mans Kraihamer, de Crem, Delhez
1:55.246
13
44
19
DAMS Formula Le Mans Stirling, Hines, Piscopo
1:55.530
14
48
20
Hope PoleVision Formula Le Mans Beche, Pillon, Capillaire
1:57.217
15
49
22
Applewood Seven Formula Le Mans Toulemonde, Zollinger, Zampatti
1:57.315
16
47
25
Hope PoleVision Formula Le Mans Zacchia, Moro, Kaufmann
1:57.938
17
36
21
Pegasus Racing Courage-Oreca AER Schell, Metz, Da Rocha
1:58.360
18
43
24
DAMS Formula Le Mans Barlesi, Cicognani, Chalandon
1:59.155
18
46
46
JMB Racing Formula Le Mans Kutemann, Basso, Hartshorne
2:02.177

The drivers had only a few minutes after extracting themselves from their cars before the paddock began to fill with spectators seeking out posters, postcards and other memorabilia to take home as mementos of the first Paul Ricard 8 Hour race.

Mike, Tommy and Andy set up their pitch beside the RML tractor unit, with the Bruichladdich squad to their right, the Aston Martin LMP1 team to their left, and the Smoking Dog hospitality facility directly opposite. The current capacity on the spectator enclosures is 4000, and judging by the number of people milling around for the walkabout, and lining the grandstands, the attendance this weekend is close to that maximum.

AD Group has about forty guests attending the race this weekend, based at the "Dog". Using AD's own CCTV networking systems, they are able to watch the engineers and mechanics in the RML garage as they work on the car. The system also provides surveillance security for the team truck and a view of the pitlane, so that pitstops, refuelling and driver changes can be monitored. AD-designed on-board video recording systems also provide valuable data for the drivers as they prepare for a race, with every moment of practice and each driver stint recorded and available for detailed analysis after each session.

With the race scheduled to begin at 11:00 the grid started to fill up from 10:15. The #5 Beechdean Mansell was successfully repaired and duly took up its slot, but with half an hour to go, the Saleen was still being worked upon.

Coverage of the LMP2 race will be provided here "live", with postings added to the report as they happen, or within a few moments. Photos will be added subsequently, thanks to David Lord, Peter May and David Downes of Dailysportscar, who are providing additional photographic coverage this weekend.

The Race

Please note that the following account of the race was uploaded "live", as the events unfolded on track. As a result, most entries are in the present tense, although driver and team comments may have been added subsequently. This may lead to some tense inconsistencies, for which we apologise..

The grid started to clear of people with ten minutes to go, only select team engineers and managers remaining with their cars. There was a final flurry of activity, as some teams refitted race tyres that had been kept warm in the "ovens" prior to the start.

There was still no sign of the Saleen as the cars moved off the grid at exactly 11:00 for the parade lap.

Everyone moved off the grid cleanly behind the red Audi R8 pace car. There's an impressive sight on the circuit monitors of the whole field weaving from side to side, warming their tyres, headlights ablaze, as they made their way up the Mistral Straight towards the awesome Signes Curve.

Start

11:03
The leaders round the final turn. The pace car pulls aside. Tommy is still back in the middle of Village as the leaders take that very slow final corner, and after a brief holding-back manoeuvre which almost had McNish stumbling in front of the Pug as they approached the line, the race was off. It was a mad scramble for space, but everyone got cleanly through the first few corners, but things changed suddenly as the leading Peugeot stumbled through the exit of Chicane. McNish in the lead R15 was baulked, and Mucke following closely in the 008 Aston was through to the lead.

In LMP2, Thomas Erdos is up to third after a strong start from Kane in the Strakka HPD, who leads the class from Pla in the #41, Lahaye having lost out on the first lap to Erdos.

11:06
There's pandemonium amid the Formula Le Mans cars as three come together, but only one, the #45, has to retire to the pits for attention. It would need a replacement floor section.

11:09. End of lap 2
Mucke leads overall from McNish, who is pushing hard from second. Sarrazin remains third in the Oreca Peugeot. Kane is easing clear in LMP2, but Erdos is quicker than Pla at the moment, and is all over the rear of the ASM Ginetta Zytek.

11:10
McNish passes Mucke for the lead in a daring out-braking move. The Saleen has joined the race, two laps down. Melo leads GT2 for AF Corse in the #96.

11:12
McNish has eased out a lead of more than two seconds. In LMP2, Kane has a similar advantage over Pla, with Erdos less than a second behind the Portuguese #40.The Oak Racing #24 has just lost fourth to Ebbesvik in the #41 Ginetta Zytek. Sixth is the first of the Racing Box Lolas, the #29, with the KSM Lola seventh.

11:15
Sarrazin has regained second from Mucke and is now narrowing the gap on McNish. The Aston is slipping back into the clutches of the Signature Aston, with Mailleux in the cockpit.

Jonny Kane's serene progress continues in the Strakka Racing HPD, and he has already established a class lead of nearly five seconds over Olivier Pla. Tommy remains in close contention, just over a second behind Pla, with the Bruichladdich car, #41, fourth, but only by a couple more seconds.

There's great excitement in the top five, however, where the 008 Aston, the two Rebellion cars and the #6 Oreca AIM are battling it out for third, fourth and fifth, until a clash renders the #6 Hors de Combat with a left rear puncture.

11:19
The #13 Rebellion Judd takes the Signature Aston for third. McNish, meanwhile, has eased out a lead of eight seconds. The LMP2 leaders are now a full minute behind the Scot, and on that last lap (the tenth) Erdos has closed right up on Pla. Just four-tenths separates them.

The #35 Oak Racing Pescarolo has pitted from sixth in class. Reason currently unknown, having started from the back of the grid. It's a 70 second stop so perhaps tyres?

11:24
Jonny Kane has moved tight onto the tail of the Beechdean Mansell Ginetta Zytek, with Nigel at the wheel. The gap is down to half a second. Olivier Pla can probably see this duel unfolding ahead of him, but has his mirrors full of red, white and blue RML Lola, so is probably otherwise occupied. The LMP2 leaders are well in among the tail-enders now, and the traffic is causing gaps to fluctuate wildly.

11:26
Tommy moves through to second in LMP2, gaining two seconds on lap thirteen to get the better of Pla through the traffic. The challenge to catch Kane appears almost insurmountable - the Strakka driver has a lead of more than 10 seconds. McNish has a similar lead in LMP1, while the gap in GT2 is mere tenths.

11:34
The #12 Rebellion Lola has developed a puncture or rear suspension problem and has dropped out of fifth, trailing smoke, The incident appeared to happen just before the pit entry, and Jani has had to complete a whole lap at slow speed. There have been several incidents like this, and Tommy Erdos has also radioed in to express concerns over possible low tyre pressures, although the team assures him that the telemetry looks fine. His lap times have not slowed and he has eased out nearly four seconds over Pla.

11:37
The Rebellion #12 finally limps into the pitlane. Kane continues to pester El Leone, with the Beechdean Mansell car a mere four or five tenths to the fore. Kane's lead has grown to twelve seconds.

11:40
In a bizarre situation, the Rebellion team has fitted new tyres to the #12 and sent the car out, only for it to become immediately very evident that the car has a suspension failure. Out at the sharp end, McNish's lead fluctuates with traffic, but is constant at somewhere between 8 and 12 seconds. He is now lapping the leading LMP2 runners, and has just passed Kane.

11:42
In traffic, Sarrazin laps Mansell, and allows Kane to close even more on the former F1 champion, although the #35 Oak Pescarolo, a lap down, is right in the mix as well and is trying to regain a lap.

11:44
Smoke and possibly oil trailing from the 008 Aston Martin, which is making a slow return to the pitlane. It appears to be a broken wheel rim.

11:45
Moreau in the #35 Oak Pescarolo unlaps himself on Mansell, and then Kane closes to less than a tenth of the Beechdean Ginetta Zytek. It's only a matter of time before the Strakka HPD moves up to 6th overall. Erdos gained five seconds on Kane on lap 24, and the gap has narrowed to 6.4 seconds.

11:48
Evidently the Mansell pride can still be dented, and he ups his game by two seconds to retake Moreau, who is about to be passed by the class leader. Erdos has visibly closed on Kane now, but everyone is having to duck and dive through the slower traffic, and a second gained can be easily lost.

11:51
Yet another left-rear suspension failure, this time in GT2, where the Spyker is crabbing smokily towards the pits. The circuit places enormous strains on this rear corner, with the high-speed Signes right-hander being largely responsible.

11:52
Jonny Kane finally gets ahead of Nigel Mansell to make the first split in the LMP1 ranks, but only because Mansell is one of the first to make a scheduled pitstop. Others are likely to follow suit and a spate of stops is likely to follow.

11:54 Pitstop. (Erdos remains in; fuel and tyres)

Tommy is the first LMP2 runner to make the scheduled stop. Pla moves through to second in LMP2. McNish pits a few moments later, and so too Sarrazin in the Peugeot. New tyres all round on the Audi, but problems for Oreca, and the Peugeot is left wanting two more wheels by the time McNish rejoins the race.

Hour 2 - 3 (12:00-13:00)

12:00
As the race enters its second hour, things are going from bad to worse for Oreca, and the car is back into the garage for work. The internal jacks may have failed? McNish is now the only car on the "lead lap".

In LMP2, Kane leads from fifth overall, but is yet to stop. The #24 Pescarolo is second, also still on its first stint, but a fuel-only stop for Olivier Pla has allowed the #40 ASM car to retain third. Tommy Erdos is now fourth, but having taken on tyres as well, is nearly 30 seconds down on the Ginetta Zytek. Fifth, pending pitstops, is the #41 Bruichladdich Ginetta Zytek, with the late-starting but speedy Guillaume Moreau sixth for Oak Racing i the #35.

12:05
Lahaye pits the #24 from second. That left Kane as the only LMP2 runner yet to pit, but the Strakka call came on the next lap. In a few minutes a clearer picture of the true state of the race should emerge. Judging by the length of stop (1:40) the Strakka stop was for fuel and tyres.

12:08
Audi's strategy and Oreca's misfortune has resulted in a 50 second lead for the Scotsman. Rebellion's woes continue, as the #12 is issued with a 3 minute stop-and-go, probably for releasing the car without checking for the structural failure.

12:10
Having elected not to change tyres, the ASM Ginetta Zytek has moved through into the class lead, heading Jonny Kane (who took tyres) by eighteen seconds, with Erdos third, a further eleven seconds behind the Strakka Racing HPD. The #41 is fourth. Across the spread of the LMP2 front-runners, the top six are consistently lapping with a second of each other, around the 1:51. The only exception is Kane in the Strakka HPD, who typically shaves a second off the others.

12:15
The #4 Oreca Peugeot rejoins, but in 35th position overall. The car has lost 18 minutes. Another to lose ground, although not so much, is the #5 Beechdean Mansell car. A 2:15 pitstop has dropped the car to 12th overall, right in the middle of the LMP2 field.

12:20
McNish leads overall by 63 seconds from Stephane Mucke in the 009 Aston Martin Lola, with the #13 Rebellion Lola third, a further 23 seconds behind. Olivier Pla leads LMP2 from 5th in the #40 ASM Ginetta Zytek, but loses that elevated status as Ayari sweeps by in the LMP1 Oreca Matmut AIM #6. Pla's laps are typically in the high 1:51s, whereas Kane is managing to set lap after lap in the forty-nines, and Erdos too is regularly quicker, hovering around the fifty mark. The wisdom of ASM's decision not to change tyres at that first pitstop - if only as a security measure - may yet be tested. With so many cars having suffered left-rear punctures and suspension failures, there's little doubt that the track here is very tough on tyres, especially on that rear corner.

12:27
McNish is consistently two second a lap quicker han anyone else, perhaps with the exception of the recovering Oreca Peugeot, although that has a mountain to climb before it begins to feature in this race once more. Pla's LMP2 class lead has slipped to just five seconds, so Kane is likely to catch, and pass, the #40 in the next couple of laps.

12:32
Kane has closed to within four seconds of Pla, and Tommy Erdos holds third by about twenty seconds. Nigel Mansell is starting to recover the ground lost through that lengthy pitstop, but is still twenty seconds behind the RML Lola.

12:35
It has taken an hour and a half, but the race finally seems to have settled down into a steady rhythm. There are individual battles throughout the field, like the one unfolding for the LMP2 lead, but in the main it's all steady stuff and easier to follow.

12:38
Jonny Kane takes back the lead in LMP2 as McNish completes his 53rd lap. Mucke pits from second overall, handing over the AM Lola 009 to Fernandez. The #13 Rebellion Lola was third, but has moved through to second following Mucke's pitstop.

12:41
Kane has already eased out an advantage of three seconds over Pla, and Erdos has narrowed the gap between second and third, but only by a few seconds. It still remains at more than half a minute. The positional threat from the mansell Ginetta Zytek has disappeared with another pitstop for the #5 car, which must be a little ahead of schedule. Nigel out, son Greg gets in.

12:48
Order in LMP2 is currently: Kane leading for Strakka from 6th overall. Olivier Pla is second, by six seconds, and Erdos third. Fourth place is the #41 Bruichladdich entry, with Lahaye fifth for Oak, and Racing Box Lola #29 sixth .Seventh, but behind the #5 Mansell chariot, is the #35 Oak, with the #30 Racing Box Lola 8th.

12:50 Pitstop. (Erdos remains in; fuel and windscreen clean only)
Tommy Erdos into the pitlane for his second scheduled pitstop. In an attempt to regain a little time, it's screen clean and refuel only, and Erdos is back out again in a matter of seconds.

12:53
McNish pits from the lead, and hops out of the Audi to swap places with Dindo Capello. Lahaye has moved through to third in LMP2 during Tommy's brief pitstop. The #29 Racing Box pits from 10th overall, fifth in LMP2.

12:56
The Oak Pescarolo #24 is issued with a stop-go penalty. Lahaye is in the cockpit, and presently running third. Olivier Pla pits from second. It's a full service this time, with fuel, tyres and driver-change to Amaral. Moments later the #24 comes in to pay its dues with a stop-go, although fails to come to a complete stop, but is waved on even so. The additional time lost coming through the pitlane may permit Tommy Erdos to regain third, despite the recent pitstop. Being a penalty visit, the #24 cannot visit the garage, although must nearly be due for a scheduled stop.

Tommy duly moves through to second, passing Amaral and Lahaye.

Hour 3- 4 (13:00-14:00)

13:01
A bad start to the third hour for the #27 Racing Performance Radical, with a 4 minute stop-go. No indication yet what the indiscretion might have been, but it must have been serious.

13:02
Jonny Kane pits from the LMP2 lead. The car has been 3:10 in the pitlane, in total, compared to 2:36 for RML, so appears to have had tyres, fuel and a driver change. As a result, Tommy closes to within 19 seconds of Danny Watts, now in the Strakka cockpit.

13:08
Lahaye makes his scheduled pitstop from fourth in class.

13:12
Out at the sharp end, McNish leads by a lap from Arian Fernandez in the 009, with Guy Smith third in the #13 Rebellion Lola, almost another lap clear of the Signature Plus Aston fourth. Fifth is the troubled #6 Oreca AIM, with Duval hoping to recover some of the ground lost through that earlier puncture.

13:16
Amaral was going slowly in the #40 ASM Ginetta Zytek, and was overtaken on track by a Formula Le Mans car, although he then regained pace.

13:18
Luke Hines, who had been leading the Formula Le Mans class in the #44 car, has had problems with his left rear silencer - yes, these FLM cars do have silencers! - and has had to pit for repairs. The #48 Hope PoleVision car inherits the class lead.

13:20
Danny Watts leads LMP2 by 33 seconds from Thomas Erdos, who heads Amaral by fifty seconds.

Greg Mansell is proving quicker than his father, and has been consistently setting new fastest sectors for the #5 Beechdean car. He overtakes Amaral and moves through to 8th overall, 80 seconds behind Tommy.

News of others in LMP2. The KSM Lola, now with Judd power, has continued to experience mechanical troubles, this time gearbox related. The car has spent much of the race (some 55 minutes in fact) in the garage, but is out and moving again now. The #27 Radical, as well as incurring a 4 minute stop-go, has also had issues, and is lying 39th overall, just ahead of the KSM machine.

13:31
Change for the lead in GT2, where Richard Lietz takes over from Raymond Narac as the two Porsches turn the Mistral into a drag strip. As they duck under the "bridge" at the end of the straight, the blue Felbermayr car snicks through to take the IMSA's place.

13:32
Strakka and Danny Watts into the pitlane for an unscheduled pitstop, and Tommy Erdos moves through into the lead of LMP2. The black and silver-blue HPD is drawn back into the garage, and starts to lose ground immediately. Erdos leads from 6th, and when Greg Mansell pits the #5 a couple of minutes later, that overall position looks more secure.

13:37
The #24 Oak is given another stop-go, once again for a single second, but this time for a known incident on-track involving contact with the unfortunate Saleen. The Pescarolo had been in third, so paying the price may allow the Bruichladdich Ginetta Zytek back through to third.

13:40
The Strakka Racing HPD returns to the track with Nick Leventis in the cockpit. He rejoins in 14th overall, 8th in class. It transpires that the "legality panel" at the back of the car had been displaced, and needed to be replaced - a situation that has affected many teams over recent years.

13:44 Pitstop. (Erdos out, Newton in; fuel, tyres and driver change)

A rapid driver change and pitstop from the RML crew gets the #25 out onto the track immediately ahead of Miguel Amaral. On cold tyres he may be unable to defend the lead, but on pace alone, they're usually fairly evenly matched. Mike wisely surrenders the position, but latches on to the tail of the #40.

13:48
Scheduled pitstop for the #41 from third. Karim Ojeh in the car at the moment. Nicolet in the #24 moves through to take the place.

13:58
Amaral pits from the lead of LMP2, and returns the position to Mike Newton, who's now up to speed in the RML Lola. After the enforced pitstop to replace the legality panel, Nick Leventis is running 15th overall, having just lost one place to the recovering Oreca Peugeot.

Hour 4- 5 (14:00-15:00)

14:01
Amaral is still in the ASM garage as the race enters its fourth hour, but returns to the track after a five-minute stop. Mike Newton continues to lead LMP2, with the 24 Oak Racing Pescarolo Judd second, the sister #35 third, and Karim Ojeh fourth for Bruichladdich.

14:08
Pitstop for the #30 Racing Box Lola. The car had been sixth in LMP2. Giacomo Piccini takes over.

14:13
Newton's lead in LMP2 is roughly 100 seconds, with Hein third behind the #24 by another 35 seconds. Ojeh is a further 58 seconds adrift in fourth, with Perazzini fifth for Racing Box (#29) just ahead of Amaral in the #40 ASM Ginetta Zytek.

14:17
Nicolet pits the #24 Oak Racing Pescarolo from 8th overall, second in LMP2. Team-mate Richard Hein will move through to second.

14:25
It's the turn of the #35 Oak Racing car to pit from second now. Karim Ojeh (Bruichladdich #41) takes the place, with Nicolet and the #24 through again to third.

14:28
Pitstop time for Beechdean Mansell, with Greg Mansell completing an impressive stint that has re-established the car's credentials in LMP1, and it is now standing 6th in class, 6th overall.

14:30
In the race for outright honours, Audi continues to extend its lead; Capello retaining his seat in the cockpit. The R15 now heads the race by two full laps from the 009 Aston (just completed a pitstop) and the #13 Rebellion Lola third.

14:38
Mike's hold on the lead in LMP2 appears undiminished, and he remains just 20 seconds behind the sixth-placed Beechdean Mansell Ginetta Zytek. Second is the #41, with #24 third and #29 fourth. The gap between these two is just 0.4 seconds, and the pink and slate Oak Pescarolo looks set to gain a place before long.

14:42
Pitstop for the #42 Strakka Racing HPD, with Nick Leventis staying in for another stint. The Relentless-sponsored car had been running 15th overall, 8th in class.

14:45 Pitstop. (Newton stays in; fuel and windscreen clean only)
Pitstop for RML AD Group Lola, with Mike Newton heading in for fuel and a windscreen clean.

14:47
Scheduled pitstop for the Bruichladdich Ginetta Zytek, with Karim Ojeh getting fuel and tyres. It may take a few moments for the true order to become clear, as others are also preparing for pitstops.

14:56
The #40 is back into the pits for another routine pitstop. The lengthy unscheduled stop for the ASM car earlier in the race was for another displaced "legality panel" - a problem that used to plague the Lolas a few years back, but is less of a problem now that these triangular boxes behind the rear wheels are independent components, and can be refitted in a few seconds.

Hour 5- 6 (15:00-16:00)

Positions in LMP1 as we come to the end of the fourth hour are: RML Lola leading by more than a lap from the #24 Oak Racing Pescarolo Judd, with the second Oak Pescarolo third. Tim Greaves is now at the wheel of the Bruichladdich Ginetta Zytek and holding fourth from Giacomo Piccini in the #30 Racing Box Lola. Nick Leventis is 6th in class, 13th overall, for Strakka.

Carrying on down the order, Warren Hughes has now taken over aboard the 40 ASM Ginetta Zytek, and is running a lap down on Leventis. The first of the FLM cars is 8th - although is this still technically LMP2? The next true LMP2 car is the #29 Racing Box Lola, 21st overall. The #36 Pegasus Racing Courage, 32nd overall, is technically 9th in class, and still running, albeit fifteen laps down on the class leader. The KSM Lola is still circulating, after losing 55 minutes with gearbox issues, but is nearly 30 laps adrift. Confirmation just through that the final LMP2 car to be accounted for is the #27 Racing Performance Radical, which has just retired from 39th overall.

15:18
Things have been fairly static in LMP2 for several minutes, but Guillaume Moreau has just upped the ante by posting a new fastest lap for the #35 Oak Racing Pescarolo, although he has around minute to recover if he's to catch Mike Newton.

Another car making up for lost time is the Strakka Racing HPD, which has eased through to fifth in class in the hands of Nick Leventis.

15:23
Further improvement from Moreau, who posts a new best of 1:50.361 in the #35, just before his ream-mate Nicolet heads for the #24's next pitstop. Moreau took 8 seconds out of Newton on that last lap.

15:30
The recovering Oreca Peugeot has passed Newton for 7th overall, and is now aiming for the Beechdean Mansell Ginetta Zytek. The gap rearwards, from Newton to Moreau, continues to shorten, and is now 64 seconds. Moreau has 45 seconds over Greaves, third for Bruichladdich. The #29 Racing Box Lola has electrical problems and officially retired.

15:42 Pitstop. (Newton out, Wallace in; fuel, tyres and driver change)
A smooth pitstop from RML, despite some congestion on the exit, and Andy Wallace makes his 2010 Le Mans Series debut. He emerges in fourth, but several others are pit, and the order may yet change again.

15:47
Pitstop for Nick Leventis, who hands over to Danny Watts while the team refuels, and then fresh tyres fitted.

15:49
Andy Wallace is 3 seconds behind Lahaye in the #24 Oak Racing Pescarolo. Moreau currently leads the class comfortable, but has yet to make his sixth pitstop.

15:56
Danny Watts sets a new fastest lap for the Strakka HPD, which is also a class improvement as well. 1:47.291 is typically five seconds quicker than anyone else in LMP2 currently on track.

15:58
Pitstop for Warren Hughes in the #40 ASM Quifel Ginetta Zytek. Routine and trouble-free pitstop, but may be enough for Watts to regain 13th overall.

Hour 6- 7 (16:00-17:00)

Into the sixth hour, and a quick round-up on LMP2 positions: Guillaume Moreau aboard the #35 Oak Racing Pescarolo continues to lead the class by a minute from the similar #24 edition. Andy Wallace is third, roughly 20 seconds behind Lahaye, with Greaves fourth in the #41 Bruichladdich car. The flying Danny Watts is fifth, 62 seconds down but closing.

16:15
The race has entered another stable phase, certainly among the ranks of prototypes. McNish, back aboard the Audi R15, leads overall by four laps from the 009 Aston, which had seemed to be easing off, but may now have to pick up pace again as the #13 Rebellion Lola, with Boullion in the cockpit, has been setting new fastest laps, although the gap is still some two minutes.

16:21
Jamie Melo pulls over in the second-placed F430, and has evidently abandoned the car after a very strong run in GT2.

16:30
With a seventh pitstop for the #24 Oak Racing Pescarolo, Andy Wallace moves through into second place in the RML Lola. Despite only ten laps in practice, his times have soon dipped down into the fifty-twos or better. Moreau then also pits, on the next lap, from the class lead. It has been a significant advantage of some time, so no surprise that he retains the lead after a quick stop for fuel, but the gap back to Wallace has been cut to 21 seconds. Andy, however, also has a stop to make soon.

16:40 Pitstop. (Wallace stays in; fuel only)
Andy makes a faultless and very speedy pitstop from second, but loses ground even so. Danny Watts is up to third as a result. Greaves pits the Bruichladdich car two minutes later, and hands over to Ebbesvik. Wallace is one to benefit, restoring the #25 RML Lola to fourth in class.

16:50
Spin but resume for the #30 Racing Box Lola, currently running in a class seventh. Moreau continues to dominate on track, and leads by just over a minute from Lahaye, but fastest is Danny Watts, running light on fuel and pushing towards his next pitstop . . . which comes at 16:53. He dives down the short pitlane towards the Strakka garage from third place. Andy Wallace regains third as a result. All the leading group in LMP2 have now made six pitstops, with the exception of the #24 on seven, which visited the pits for a penalty stop-go, and the #40 ASM Ginetta, expected to make its next scheduled pitstop at any moment.

Hour 7- 8 (17:00-18:00)

17:01
New fastest lap from Danny Watts, posting 1:46.590, which is current LMP1 pace. On the next lap, Olivier Pla does a new fastest lap for the #40 of 1:48.834. It's barely comparable in outright terms, but is indicative of the fact that the ambient temperature is dropping slightly, but the track remains warm.

17:07
As if to prove the theory, Moreau clocks 1:49.453 in the #35 Oak to post a new best for that car too.

17:15
Status report in LMP2: Moreau leads, currently 7th overall in the #35, from Lahaye in the #24 (9th overall) and Andy Wallace third, but under increasing threat from Danny Watts. The Strakka racer is consistently the quickest LMP2 driver on the circuit, and with only ten seconds between the two cars, it may be a matter of just a couple more laps before the two are nose-to-tail.

17:18
Watts eases through to take third on the exit of the Chicane, having closed rapidly on Andy's tail as they came through to begin their 193rd lap.

17:23
More fastest laps scattered through the LMP2 field, including another for Pla in the #40 (1:48.430), but there is now rain visible in the distance. The strengthening wind may keep that at bay, but the possibility of a shower before the end of this 8 hour marathon cannot be dismissed.

17:27 Pitstop. (Wallace out, Erdos in; fuel and driver change)
Andy heads down the pitlane from fourth place to hand the RML Lola back to Brazilian Thomas Erdos. The #24 is also into the pitlane for a scheduled pitstop,with new tyres. Others too will be scheduled for stops soon, although form suggests that the Strakka HPD can go longer between stops than the others.

17:30
Class leader Moreau into the pits for a driver change and fresh tyres. Hein takes over, but the gap back to Danny Watts was a significant two-minutes before the stop, so Hein may yet retain the lead, at least for the time being.

17:32
The Beechdean Mansell car into the garage, evidently with a problem. Greg Mansell had been running 7th overall.

17:34
Olivier Pla pulls off the track, and nearly takes another prototype with him, as the Quifel ASM Ginetta Zytek coasts to the edge of the track, apparently with steering issues.

17:36
Danny Watts has closed to within 25 seconds of the class lead, and is lapping four seconds a lap quicker.

17:41
Pitstop for the #41 Bruichladdich Ginetta Zytek from fourth in LMP2.

The gap between Watts and Hein is now down to 15 seconds. The gap back from Nicolet in third to Erdos in fourth is 55 seconds, but diminishing steadily.

17:42
A new fastest lap for the leading Audi, Capello posting 1:42.541 on lap 221.

17:47
Watts now within 2 seconds of Hein and the class lead. at 17:48 the lead changes hands as Watts cruises by along the main pit straight, although observers have noted that the legality panel is loose again.

17:58
Danny Watts into the pitlane for fuel and tyres, giving up a lead of thirteen seconds, but swiftly back out and back into the action. Hein regains the class lead, but Watts resumes in second, and promptly sets a new fastest first sector for the Strakka HPD.

Final Hour (18:00-19:00)

18:03
LMP2 roundup - Hein leads from Watts by 64 seconds, with Nicolet 20 seconds behind the Strakka Racing HPD, and then Thomas Erdos, a further 24 seconds behind the #24, but closing at a rate of three or four seconds ever lap.

18:12
Watts has a challenge to catch Hein, and still has 55 seconds to make up, but Erdos is hunting down Nicolet with relentless determination. He is slicing seconds off the difference with every lap he completes, and it's now down to less than 12 seconds. The Brazilian is chopping away in three second chunks.

18:16 Pitstop. (Erdos stays in; fuel)
Tommy closes the gap to a mere three seconds, but then has to make his final pitstop. It's a swift stop, despite being boxed in by the neighbouring Aston Martin 009, which has also pitted, but he's back out without incident.

18:23
The Watts-Hein gap is down to 35 seconds, but both have yet to make their final stops. There is also a question mark over how long Watts will be able to remain in the car, and an additional driver change at this late stage could mean the difference between one place and the next.

18:24
A second rapid stop for the 009 Aston Martin, which is currently running in second overall. The leader then pits, but has the luxury of a six-lap lead, with just over half an hour to go.

18:31
The class leader, Richard Hein, enters the pitlane for the last pitstop for the #24 Oak. Two minutes later and the #35 Oak Pescarolo stops as well. What effect this has on the order may take a couple of minutes to resolve. The #41 Bruichladdich Ginetta Zytek also stops from fifth.

18:35
Confirmation on screen that Danny Watts is now into the class lead . . . again! Does he have to make another stop, though? The Strakka HPD has done several full-hour stints this race, and Watts has backed off a little recently. Is he trying to conserve fuel? He has 31 seconds over Hein. Erdos is now running third, with 25 seconds over Nicolet in fourth, but almost a lap down on Hein.

18:45
A lap in the low forty-nines from Erdos secures his hold on third, but the mountain to second is too vast to be a realistic prospect in these last fifteen minutes of the race. Watts now leads by 34 seconds. The Strakka driver has eased back significantly, and is now lapping in the low fifty-twos, which is in some contrast to his earlier pace.

18:52
Eleven minutes to go and it starts to rain down the Mistral. It's heavy rain on one side of the track, but still relatively dry on the other.

18:55
The shower has eased, but the track is undeniably slippery, and cars have visibly eased back. Even so, Capello pits from the lead to fit wet weather tyres. It's an academic move, since the #7 Audi enjoys a lead of seven laps.

18:58
Watts leads LMP2 by 48 seconds. Hein second and heading Erdos by a similar margin, but 38 seconds back to Nicolet in fourth.

19:03 CHEQUERED FLAG
Dindo Capello, Allan McNish and the Audi R15 take an emphatic victory in the inaugural Paul Ricard 8 Hours, with second to the 009 Aston Martin Lola and third to the #13 Rebellion Lola.

Despite a near spin on his penultimate lap, and a very slow last lap, Danny Watts comes through to take a debut win for Strakka Racing in the Le Mans Series by 33.5 seconds. Oak Racing take second, in the shape of the #35 Pescarolo Judd, and third place goes to the RML AD Group Lola of Thomas Erdos, Mike Newton and Andy Wallace.

Race - LMP2 Result

 #
o/a
 Team  Car  Drivers
Laps/Diff
Best
1
42
7
Strakka Racing HPD ARX -01c Leventis, Watts, Kane
250
1:52.808
2
35
8
Oak Racing Pescarolo - Judd Hein, Moreau
33.492s
1:48.437
3
25
9
RML AD Group Lola HPD Coupé Erdos, Newton, Wallace
249
1:52.692
4
24
10
Oak Racing Pescarolo - Judd Lahaye, Nicolet
39.914s
1:52.628
5
41
12
Bruichladdich Ginetta-Zytek 09S Ojjeh, Greaves, Ebbesvik
248
1:50.818
6
30
13
Racing Box Lola Coupé B09 Judd Geri, Piccini, Piccini
246
1:54.347
1
49
15
Applewood Seven Formula Le Mans Toulemonde, Zollinger, Zampatti
237
1:57.315
2
48
16
Hope PoleVision Formula Le Mans Beche, Pillon, Capillaire
17.016s
1:57.217
3
43
17
DAMS Formula Le Mans Barlesi, Cicognani, Chalandon
235
1:59.155
4
47
19
Hope PoleVision Formula Le Mans Zacchia, Moro, Kaufmann
231
1:57.938
7
36
26
Pegasus Racing Courage-Oreca AER Schell, Metz, Da Rocha
219
1:58.360
8
39
29
KSM Lola B08/47 Judd de Pourtales, Noda, Kennard
188
1:53.658
   
Not Classified  
   
 
5
44
31
DAMS Formula Le Mans Stirling, Hines, Piscopo
203
1:55.530
6
46
32
JMB Racing Formula Le Mans Kutemann, Basso, Hartshorne
203
2:02.177
9
40
33
Quifel ASM Ginetta-Zytek 09S Amaral, Pla, Hughes
200
1:48.343
10
45
34
Boutsen Energy Formula Le Mans Kraihamer, de Crem, Delhez
195
1:55.246
10
37
35
WR Salini WR-Zytek Salini, Salini, Gommendy
168
1:54.756
11
29
38
Racing Box Lola Coupé B09 Cioci, Perazzini, Pirri
116
1:54.517
12
27
39
Race Performance Radical SR9 - Judd Frey, Meichtry, Dueck
66
1:54.419

Le Mans Series 2010

Round 1, Paul Ricard
April 8th - 11th 2010


Sunday 11th April

 

RML AD Group | Thomas Erdos | Photo: Marcus Potts

 

 

 

RML AD Group | Mike Newton | Photo: Marcus Potts

 

 

 

RML AD Group | Andy Wallace | Photo: Marcus Potts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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