Wednesday practice session 22-2412th June

Peter Radcliffe

Wednesday practice session 22-24
21.53 Three Audi works cars line up, smarting from the first session? The session may start early to include the time lost, engines fired up in many garages. Still dry but the sun has set this first half hour of the Wednesday session often produces a very quick time, there is rubber on the road and grip plus cool air.
22.00 Three Audi start the second session leading a long queue, the next few minutes could be interesting. Martin Short is over the moon with both the Ferrari and the circuit
22.02 The Brabham Panoz leaves
22.06 321 Audi pass the pits followed by the Riley and Scott which finished the session in 12th. The car which caused the early finish to the session was the 26 MG which blew an engine. It is now having an engine change to the race engine and is unlikely to be seen again tonight. The fireworks must come from the 27 MG.
22.09 a Pescarolo Courage is parked on the Mulsanne.
22.10 Capello goes top followed by Kristensen but Jan goes quicker than his earlier time only good so far for third. Lupberger improves to 12th . Cottaz, Montagni, Goosens and Angelleli have all set the fastest times for their cars.
22.15 Lammers comes in new tyres and quite a lot of fuel stays in the car and leaves again at 22.17 Spins the car out on cold tyres and car is parked for rest of the session.
22.18 Blundell does a 3.33.254 and goes 4th, Hugh chamberlain says not bad but drivers say it can go a lot quicker. Lola confirmed today that they are designing a power steering system for the car.
22.21 Audi 3 displaces the MG
22.23 Ferrari still leads GTS but Vipers now second and third Belloc and Bouchet.
22.24 Leader and the second Cadillac now have set times, 18th and 21st.
22.26 Angelleli has brought the 6 Cadillac up to 6th , 3.35.917 but comes in making signs that seem to indicate porpoising.
22.27 the Dallaras both jump the Cadillac. Now 7.5 secs. cover the first 10 cars, an Audi down in 11th! The heroes still lead the baddies 16th and 18th.
22.41 most cars now going on to longer runs and few cars setting faster times. But Angelleli goes a bit faster but stays 8th. The 27 MG comes in after a brush with the barriers passing a GT Porsche in the new section of the track. Blundell stays in car as repairs continue and he says there is still a second to come.
23.00 Brabham in the Panoz does 3.39.724 to go 13th a surprise is the French WR 3rd in class with a 3.47 in front of the private MG which has a problem starting and both Reynards.
23.08 Collard has now brought the second Cadillac up to12th three seconds behind its team mate, a more promising performance this evening particularly as it is now full darkness. The top 15 cars are within about 10 seconds of the lead Audi. Magnussen reports that the Panoz lacks grip and they hope that they can find a lot of time tomorrow. They have made several changes since the test and the changes made today have not improved the situation.
23.15 Reports that Dalmas has gone off in the Goh Audi at the first chicane on the Mulsanne.
23.29 Oliver Gavin has just taken GTS pole with 3.58.491 about half a second better than the Ferrari time. Menu and Rydell have the 550 to themselves today as Enge is away F3000 testing. All the drivers have to do three night qualifying laps and now many of the teams are ensuring that all the drivers complete this requirement.
23.39 Alain Menu has just done a 3.56.730 to put the Ferrari back on top of the GTS class almost two seconds in front of the Corvette. There is more to come as 3.52 was the test weekend time. This time has probably been set on race tyres.
23.45 one of the Konrad Saleens has had a close shave with a prototype at the first chicane on the Mulsanne and has now parked with the Goh Audi.
23.48 The Pescatori Audi has a failed clutch and may be finished for tonight as there is only 10 minutes left.
23.56 the Bentley has been in the gravel avoiding a slower car. It has been in and cleaned out the gravel. New tyres have been fitted and Andy has gone out again to try and perhaps set a quicker time now that very few cars are still on the track.
24.00 the session ends Bentley crosses the line with no improvement.
The Cadillacs have been much quicker than during the test weekend and now look as if they can at least compete for best of the rest. The Pescarolo Courages are 19th and 22nd over 10 seconds down on the works car, different engines and body but we expected better.
DOME ONE AUDI ONE

Club-Arnage images from qualifying

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