Wednesday practice session 19-2112th June

Peter Radcliffe

Wednesday practice session 19-21
6.00pm The "English" JMB Ferrari is ready to go and the mechanics practice pit stops, The only other car out of its Garage is the Riley and Scott now with patriotic white stripes down the body, just like a Cunningham from the 1950's
The Formula France Practice starts and a crowd of Formula France motorcycle engined cars buzz past, they look like rather dumpy miniature versions of the LMP and GTP cars that will shortly take to the track. They look more suited to a comic strip which is perhaps appropriate!
6.25
Konrad Saleen 67, Cadillac 7, and Corvette 63 emerge Tyre changes being practiced on the Corvette. More engines are running.
6.28 a ROC appears followed at 6.30 by the "baddie"
6.31 the second Corvette appears and both line up in echelon formation more like a traditional Le mans car
6.32 the "hero" emerges
6.35 crowds are now gathering in the stands, the weather is dry and bright but several dark clouds, rain is a possibility, will an early lap be important, The Formula France practice ends.
6.40 Cars now being fuelled and tyred, cacophony of airguns and engines rising in crescendo.
6.45 6 Cadillac appears much to prove for this car since a disappointing test. Michelin technician takes track temperature.
6.51 Audi 2 is pushed out of garage to head queue waiting for green light, they intend to lead from the start, Oreca respond and 15 emerges under own power followed by both Labre Vipers
6.55 Orbit Porsche joins queue as the photographers gather for that first action shot.
6.56 Cadillac 7 and Spyker join the Queue
6.57 The Goh Audi starts a second line followed by the second Dallara
6.58 The Corvettes emerge and line up side by side
6.59 Courage trump Audi emerging from last of the new garages to steal pole for the start Both Panoz emerge, over half field are ready for the off
7.00 Audi Beats Courage to the start, & Cadillac fails to move near the front of the second line, is pushed away, not a good start to the weekend.
7.04 Bentley, a healthy sounding Morgan and Lammers Dome leave before the Herbert Audi passes the pits
7.06 Courage is the first to pit after its installation lap Auto Exe screams onto second lap

7.11 Spyker is top 3.38.995 secs How they must wish an error soon corrected!
Audis now 1/2/3 as correction appear
7.15 Lammers Top 3.36
7.30 Lammers faster still 3.34.219 faster than the test after a ride height reduction. Four Audi follow
7.55 Lammers improves again to 3.31.355 Five seconds ahead of the first Audi
Cottaz goes up to 6th in the works Courage just in front of the Bentley.
7.58 timing gremlins return with a GT now top

8.00
Lammers has nearly 5 second lead on the best Audi the four cars filling the next four places, The works Courage is followed by the Bentley and Sarazins Dallara. One Cadillac is 9th but the other is third from the bottom having done one slow lap. This is now having the alternator changed which seems to involve removing all the floor. The 26 MG is 13th and The Ascari 14th . The Prodrive Ferrari leads GTS and Luhr leads the GT class in a Porsche
The surprise is the speed of Lammers so early when the track is probably still very "green"


8.13 the Bentley has moved up to 5th
8.15 The Leader has yet to complete a flying lap and is the garage, The problem? The camera!!
8.21 the PK Sport Porsche with Liddel at the wheel goes second in class Honary Brit Lammers lead LMP900, Bentley LM GTP, MG first and second in 675. Prodrive lead GTS and PK are 2ng in GT Good start for the Brits!
8.26 Bailey jumps to 9th, 3.41.600 still more to come Audi despite slight class improvements are still 3.186 behind the Dome with Tom Kristensen now second.
Tinseau's Cadillac is currently 10th with a 3.41 which is a slight encouragement but the other car is not on the time sheet still having the alternator changed.
8.32 Mark Blundell is just about to leave in the 27 MG. Weather still dry and bright but sun now low in the sky.
8.36 the Leader re-emerges, camera fixed and leaves the pits to set a time. The two film cars must set qualifying times in line with the rules.
8.42 Kristensen closes the gap .0.414 secs but I think Jan who is currently being interviewed by Radio Le Mans. Lap was set on qualifiers as he was worried about the chance of rain. Lost a little with traffic
Cadillac hope Bernard will get a couple of laps in 7 car which has had a small electrical fire. Lehto has removed his suit!
8.51Berreta has moved to 5th followed by Van de Poele who has also improved his time. We have red flag reason as yet not known
Ferrari 550 still leads GTS now under 4 mins leads the two Corvettes Red flag may be out just before Indianapolis, a prototype may be off at the side of the track but it does not seem serious. It now appears that the car off was the Auto Exe and the session has ended early.
Thus Jan Lammers has ended the first session on top followed by the three works Audi. Beretta is next in the first of the Dallara then the Bentley and the Goh Audi. The works Courage, the second Dallara and the MG complete the top ten with 10.24 secs. covering these cars. The Ascari is 15th with a time Collins set early in the session and the Ferrari 550 leads GTS I 26th place. Robin Lidell is second in GT while the Morgan is about 20 seconds away from class pole but has four cars behind it including the Leader and Cadillac that did not set times.

DOME ONE, AUDI NIL

Club-Arnage images from qualifying

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