Club Arnage - 2001 Le Mans 24 hours

First Practice Session

Wednesday June 13th 2001.

19:00hrs-21:00hrs
By: Jock Simpson

LE MANS 2001

This year Club-Arnage is trying out yet more technical gubbins! There are two of us doing the scribbling and four more sorting out all the technology, photography and so on. On the word mongering front Stella-Maria Thomas can actually do really important things like touch typing, spelling, grammar, in other words she has ability ... Jock Simpson on the other hand relies on two fingers, no grammar and very little ability .. However he does do a bit of commentary work back in the UK so his stuff reads like a written commentary by somebody who can't commentate. So you may have to put up creative spelling, missing words etc. The whole idea is to get the words and pictures onto the web site as fast as possible .. The downside is that it may get a bit raggedy from time to time.

The times after two hours of Official Qualifying are here.

The weather has been classic, hot sunny etc. There is huge crowd here already
24 Heures du Mans 2001 is up and running!

After Two Hours: -
#2#1#9#3#7#16#5#15#8#4#19#34#10#17#20#6#14#38#12#18#21#11#36#30 #63#64#58#60#57#62#61#32#56#37#55#80#35#70#72#74#79#77#76#83#75#82#71#33.

Quick reminder of the five Classes.
Class One = Prototype LM P 900 (Audi, Cadillac, Dome etc)
Class Two= Prototype LM GTP ( er, just the Bentleys!)
Class Three = Prototype LM P 675 (MG. Pilbeam, Reynard etc)
Class Four = Grand Tourisme LM GTS (Viper,Saleen, Corvette)
Class Five = Grand Tourisme LM GT (Porsche GT3 RS and Callaway Corvette)

Class One: - No earth shattering stuff up at the front .. In LMP or Class One as ACO refer to it) Audi #2 Audi#1, the Dome #9 and then third Audi #3.
Class Two: - Curiously Bentley are in their own Class (i.e. they have a roof!) and lying 4th Bentley#7 and 8th #2. So they are looking good.
Class Three: - Big surprise is the little MG lying 12th overall, it nearest chum in LMP 675 (675 refers to the weight in Kilos) is lying 18th.
Class Four: - LM GTS is stuffed full of Corvettes, Vipers and Saleens. This is headed up by the #63 Corvette C5R, second is the #64 'Vette, third is the Viper ##58.
Class Five: - LM GT. Last year the entire class was made up of Porsches this year there is a lone Callaway Corvette! At the moment the #70 'Vette is heading the class ahead of #72 Porsche and #74 Porsche. Bit galling for those nice chaps from Weissach!

Local knowledge suggests that as the evening comes track temperatures will drop and quick times will emerge.