Thursday practice session 19-21 - 13th June 2002

Peter Radcliffe

18.00 The FFSA bees buzz out for their second session, we have British interest the sole Brit being Kevin Mathews who was 5th yesterday
18.47 Audi 3&2 are pushed out to head the queue
18.51 the MDB Panoz is the next and then the rest follow out but the urgency is not the same as yesterday.
19.00 The Audi pair lead away the cars to start the first session today, for some reason Jan Lammers time has been removed from the list but Hillebrand is in the car.
19.18 Hillebrand has moved the Dome back up to 12th eight seconds off pole. The Goh Audi was extensively damaged yesterday and is still being rebuilt and the state suggests it may not be seen again this session.
19.21 Currently we have an Audi 1,2,3 until we have an explanation of the relegation of the Dome; it seems to be a fuel irregularity that they think affects everyone. I suspect an irate Jan will have a go later. Apparently all the drivers have qualified.
19.32 Tom Coronel is now out in the Dome and the 26 MG has gone a couple of seconds quicker to move up to 15th, few fast laps yet. The Knight Hawk Lola MG has still not gone out repairs from yesterdays off still being completed.
The Goh Audi has now left the pits so repairs must have been nearer completion than they appeared.
19.39 the RML Saleen has gone off into the gravel with perhaps a mechanical problem.
The 26 MG is back in the pits and Hugh Chamberlain is not going to do much running in the car until the drivers are all night qualified.
19.44 the Panoz with Magnussen at the wheel improves to 12th and Lupberger improves the Ascari time and 16 cars are now within 10 seconds of the Audi.
The Prodrive Ferrari is stuck out on the track with no drive Enge at the wheel. They are stuck there until the break
19.52 The Class leading GT Porsche is stuck in the Gravel at the Dunlop Chicane. Oil on the track brings a red flag
20.10 the session restarts, Brabham reports the Panoz is now moving in the right direction
20.24 The Ascari goes up to 11th just behind the 5 Audi, new engine and set up changes seem to be working, at this time probably still race tyres.
20.27 MG 26 with Reid at the wheel up to 8th with a 3.36.694. This is the fastest time today so far.
The weather is warmer tonight so track temperature is higher and the chance of a quick time when the air cools is good.
20.31 The Sarrazin Oreca goes 3rd 3.32.522, still air temp probably a little warm
20.33 Lammers puts on new nose with winglets and goes out himself followed by 2 Audi. Lupberger seems to be on a very quick lap according to first two splits but last split leaves them fraction slower than before.
20.36 Blundell goes out in the MG
20.37 Milko Duno brings in the MDB Panoz with nose damage, plenty of grass and gravel in the car, a Viper off at Dunlop has brought gravel onto the track.
20.39 Jan has the quickest first two splits so far.3.33.771 and up to 6th
20.42 Eric Bernard goes 9th in the 7 Cadillac just behind its teammate.
20.52 Blundell has stopped on the Mulsanne. Cadillacs both showing very quick splits and Angelleli moves up to 6th with a 3.33.569
20.56 Capello goes fastest with a 3.29.905 and Sarrazin also improves 3.31 863
20.57 Brabham does 3.34.824 to go 9th
21.00 Kristensen does a 3.30.490, the flag is out
Jack Cunningham reports the Blundell car has blown the engine and is finished for the night but the car is qualified.
Audi are changing Gearboxes on all the cars, they seem to be having a race, the 3 crew win in 3.5 minutes!
Rumours are circulating that Dalmas Flipped last night hence the extensive damage to the GOH Audi

The session has ended and we now have 16 within 10 seconds and 9 within 5 seconds of pole. We have seen big improvements from Panoz in the hands of David Brabham and also the Cadillacs, which are now beginning to look to be challengers for best of the rest. The Bentley has not improved and has slipped to 13th behind both MG 675 cars. The Ascari has improved and is fractions behind the Bentley. Despite not doing very many laps the Ferrari 550 is still fastest GTS and the PK Porsche has improved back to third in class. The Morgan only completed its engine change as the session ended, they will just bed the new engine in the second half of today's practice.

Club-Arnage images from qualifying

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