Le Mans

As the sun is setting at the Circuit De La Sarthe, One of the Corvettes cut through a corner sand trap, nearly taking out the number 1 position, Audi R10 driven by Allan McNish. Slight contact was made, causing the R10 and Corvette to both have to pit. The #2 R10 had to have the rear engine cowl replaced after loosing part of the rear air diffuser in the collision. The final bit of sun is just now dipping out of sight, but the crazy fans have gone nowhere. Helicopters continue to strafe the circuit. Things on the track seem rather calm, however the tension is high in the paddock, with crews running too and fro getting the next batch of tires ready for the cars, moving spare parts to the pits, and trying not to run the spectators over with their golf carts.

Current running order as of 16:41 is:
1 2 Audi Sport North America LMP1 CAPELLO R
2 1 Audi Sport North America LMP1 BIELA F
3 7 Team Peugeot Total LMP1 MINASSIAN N
4 16 Pescarolo Sport LMP1 DUMAS R
5 15 Charouz Racing LMP1 MUCKE S
6 18 Rollcentre Racing LMP1 BARBOSA J
7 8 Team Peugeot Total LMP1 BOURDAIS S
8 33 Barazi Epsilon LMP2 FERNANDEZ A
9 7 Aston Martin Racing LMGT1 KOX P
10 9 Aston Martin Racing LMGT1 BRABHAM D
11 40 Quifel ASM Team LMP2 HUGHES W
12 12 Courage Competition LMP1 FREI A
13 63 Corvette Racing LMGT1 MAGNUSSEN J
14 100 AMR BMS LMGT1 BABINI F
15 8 AMR Larbre Comp. LMGT1 GOLLIN F
16 31 Binnie Motorsports LMP2 BINNIE B
17 55 Team Oreca LMGT1 ORTELLI S
18 54 Team Oreca LMGT1 BELLOC J-P
19 72 Alphand Aventures LMGT1 POLICAND J
20 59 Team Modena LMGT1 GARCIA A
21 24 Noel Del Bello LMP2 HALLIDAY L
22 97 Risi Competizione LMGT2 MELO J
23 35 Saulnier Racing LMP2 NICOLET J
24 17 Pescarolo Sport LMP1 TINSEAU C
25 73 Alphand Aventures LMGT1 BLANCHEMAIN J-L
26 87 Scuderia Ecosse LMGT2 MULLEN T
27 93 Autorlando Sport LMGT2 SIMONSEN A
28 67 Convers Menx Team LMGT1 VASILIEV A
29 80 Flying Lizard Motorsport LMGT2 NEIMAN S
30 76 Imsa Performance LMGT2 LIETZ R
31 99 Risi Competizione LMGT2 KROHN T
32 70 PSI Experience LMGT1 SMET D
33 85 Spyker Squadron LMGT2 BELICCHI A
34 78 AF Corse LMGT2 AUCOTT B
35 6 AMR Larbre Comp. LMGT1 BORNHAUSER P
36 44 Kruse Motorsport LMP2 BURGESS T
37 83 GPC Sport LMGT2 VILLAROEL J.
38 13 Courage Competition LMP1 GOUNON J-M
39 14 Racing For Holland LMP1 LAMMERS J
40 82 Team LNT LMGT2 BELL R
41 32 Barazi Epsilon LMP2 VERGERS M
42 19 Chamberlain Synergy LMP1 BERRIDGE B
43 25 RML LMP2 ERDOS T
44 20 Pierre Bruneau LMP2 MACALLISTER CH
45 86 Spyker Squadron LMGT2 JANIS J
46 71 Seikel Motorsport LMGT2 FELBERMAYR H Jr
47 81 Team LNT LMGT2 KIMBER-SMITH T
48 29 T2M Motorsport LMP2 LONGECHAL R
49 9 Creation Autosportif Ltd LMP1 NAKANO S
50 5 Swiss Spirit LMP1 DELETRAZ J-D
D.N.F. 3 Audi Sport Team Joest LMP1 LUHR L
D.N.F. 21 Bruichladdich Radical LMP2 GREAVES T
D.N.F. 29 T2M Motorsport LMP2 LONGECHAL R
D.N.F. 53 JLOC Isao Noritake LMGT1 APICELLA M
D.N.F. 64 Corvette Racing LMGT1 BERETTA O
D.N.F. 81 Team LNT LMGT2 KIMBER-SMITH T

A little over five hours into the 75th running of the 24 Heures Du Mans. The clouds have broken, and we are seeing the best track conditions since Wednesdays sessions. With the improving track conditions, speeds have gone up dramatically with the #2 Audi lapping at 3:29.219 just a few seconds off of the pole qualifying times, and faster then last years fastest racing lap times of 3:31.116. There have been a number of cars that have withdrawn from the competition for mechanical reasons.

Peugeot driver Sabastein Bordais is quoted as saying “I am very disappointed I didn’t make the most out my pole position. I couldn’t do anything when I had to brake at the Dunlop corner. Peugeot is currently under pressure by Audi. They are 3 to 4 seconds quicker than us, which is unexpected. Audi must have bluffed during qualifying. Our car has a lot of oversteer, so I hope things will improve.”

It would seem by the running order that Sabastien’s comment is true, however when you look at the history Audi has at Le Mans, one could also chaulk it up to experience. Recently the #8 Peugeot 908 HDI was pulled into the pit garage to replace a blown right rear wheel bearing.The #64 Corvette Racing C6.R reports that their retirement comes from a broken carbon fiber drive shaft. Driver Oliver Gavin believes that it was shaken apart under the extremely long caution flag, when the team switched to a special fuel saving mode where the engine cuts a number of cylinders. It appears to have created a vibration that caused the damage.

Current standings are after 5 hours are:

1 2 Audi Sport North America LMP1 McNISH A
2 1 Audi Sport North America LMP1 WERNER M
3 7 Team Peugeot Total LMP1 VILLENEUVE J
4 16 Pescarolo Sport LMP1 BOULLION JC
5 15 Charouz Racing LMP1 CHAROUZ J
6 17 Pescarolo Sport LMP1 TRELUYER B
7 18 Rollcentre Racing LMP1 SHORT M
8 8 Team Peugeot Total LMP1 SARRAZIN S
9 12 Courage Competition LMP1 FREI A
10 7 Aston Martin Racing LMGT1 HERBERT J
11 9 Aston Martin Racing LMGT1 RYDELL R
12 33 Barazi Epsilon LMP2 FERNANDEZ A
13 63 Corvette Racing LMGT1 FELLOWS R
14 40 Quifel ASM Team LMP2 DE CASTRO MA
15 100 AMR BMS LMGT1 DAVIES J
16 8 AMR Larbre Comp. LMGT1 ELGAARD C
17 59 Team Modena LMGT1 MENTEN J
18 31 Binnie Motorsports LMP2 TIMPANY A
19 55 Team Oreca LMGT1 ORTELLI S
20 54 Team Oreca LMGT1 PROST N
21 24 Noel Del Bello LMP2 IANETTA R
22 72 Alphand Aventures LMGT1 GOUESLARD P
23 97 Risi Competizione LMGT2 MOWLEM J
24 76 Imsa Performance LMGT2 LONG P
25 87 Scuderia Ecosse LMGT2 KIRKALDY A
26 93 Autorlando Sport LMGT2 NIELSEN L.E.
27 6 AMR Larbre Comp. LMGT1 FISKEN G
28 35 Saulnier Racing LMP2 JOUANNY B
29 80 Flying Lizard Motorsport LMGT2 BERGMEISTER J
30 67 Convers Menx Team LMGT1 PERGL R
31 86 Spyker Squadron LMGT2 JANIS J
32 73 Alphand Aventures LMGT1 VOSSE V
33 70 PSI Experience LMGT1 PETER Ph
34 82 Team LNT LMGT2 TOMLINSON L
35 99 Risi Competizione LMGT2 BRAUN C
36 71 Seikel Motorsport LMGT2 FELBERMAYR H Jr
37 85 Spyker Squadron LMGT2 CHIESA A
38 78 AF Corse LMGT2 NEWEY A
39 44 Kruse Motorsport LMP2 SIEDLER N
40 83 GPC Sport LMGT2 ROSENBLAD C.
41 13 Courage Competition LMP1 MOREAU G
42 81 Team LNT LMGT2 MILNER T
43 20 Pierre Bruneau LMP2 PICKERING G
44 14 Racing For Holland LMP1 BLEEKEMOLEN J
45 19 Chamberlain Synergy LMP1 EVANS G
46 32 Barazi Epsilon LMP2 OJJEH K
47 29 T2M Motorsport LMP2 LONGECHAL R
48 25 RML LMP2 NEWTON M
49 5 Swiss Spirit LMP1 ALEXANDER I
50 9 Creation Autosportif Ltd LMP1 ORTIZ F
D.N.F. 3 Audi Sport Team Joest LMP1 LUHR L
D.N.F. 21 Bruichladdich Radical LMP2 GREAVES T
D.N.F. 53 JLOC Isao Noritake LMGT1 APICELLA M
D.N.F. 64 Corvette Racing LMGT1 BERETTA O

The last couple hours have been quite interestig here at the Circuit de La Sarthe, with many cautions due to rain. #3 Audi R10 was involved in a very bad accident at Tertre Rouge right before the long Mulsanne straight. The driver, Mike Rockenfeller was unhurt in the accident, however the car had to be pushed off the track. Rockenfeller worked frantically on the R10 trying to get it mobile to limp back to the pits, however in the end it was towed off the course ending its day. Currently the sun is peaking through the clouds and the track is drying, slowly. My bet is as soon as they switch to the dry tires, it will start to rain again.

Current standings after 3 hours are:

1 2 Audi Sport North America LMP1 KRISTENSEN T
2 8 Team Peugeot Total LMP1 LAMY P
3 7 Team Peugeot Total LMP1 GENE M
4 16 Pescarolo Sport LMP1 BOULLION JC
5 1 Audi Sport North America LMP1 PIRRO E
6 18 Rollcentre Racing LMP1 HALL S
7 13 Courage Competition LMP1 GOUNON J-M
8 12 Courage Competition LMP1 BESSON B
9 15 Charouz Racing LMP1 MUCKE S
10 14 Racing For Holland LMP1 HART D
11 40 Quifel ASM Team LMP2 HUGHES W
12 17 Pescarolo Sport LMP1 PRIMAT H
13 9 Aston Martin Racing LMGT1 TURNER D
14 63 Corvette Racing LMGT1 MAGNUSSEN J
15 59 Team Modena LMGT1 FITTIPALDI C
16 7 Aston Martin Racing LMGT1 ENGE T
17 72 Alphand Aventures LMGT1 POLICAND J
18 100 AMR BMS LMGT1 MALUCELLI M
19 8 AMR Larbre Comp. LMGT1 GOLLIN F
20 5 Swiss Spirit LMP1 DELETRAZ J-D
21 31 Binnie Motorsports LMP2 BINNIE B
22 54 Team Oreca LMGT1 BELLOC J-P
23 55 Team Oreca LMGT1 LAPIERRE N
24 33 Barazi Epsilon LMP2 KUROZAWA H
25 6 AMR Larbre Comp. LMGT1 BERVILLE R
26 24 Noel Del Bello LMP2 PETROV V
27 93 Autorlando Sport LMGT2 SIMONSEN A
28 70 PSI Experience LMGT1 SMET D
29 35 Saulnier Racing LMP2 NICOLET J
30 25 RML LMP2 WALLACE A
31 82 Team LNT LMGT2 TOMLINSON L
32 87 Scuderia Ecosse LMGT2 MULLEN T
33 81 Team LNT LMGT2 WATTS D
34 67 Convers Menx Team LMGT1 KOSTKA T
35 97 Risi Competizione LMGT2 SALO M
36 86 Spyker Squadron LMGT2 HEZEMANS M
37 85 Spyker Squadron LMGT2 BELICCHI A
38 76 Imsa Performance LMGT2 LIETZ R
39 80 Flying Lizard Motorsport LMGT2 NEIMAN S
40 71 Seikel Motorsport LMGT2 FELBERMAYR H
41 83 GPC Sport LMGT2 MARSH M.
42 99 Risi Competizione LMGT2 JONSSON N
43 73 Alphand Aventures LMGT1 ANDRE D
44 78 AF Corse LMGT2 AUCOTT B
45 29 T2M Motorsport LMP2 TERADA Y
46 44 Kruse Motorsport LMP2 DE POURTALES J
47 19 Chamberlain Synergy LMP1 EVANS G
48 20 Pierre Bruneau LMP2 PICKERING G
49 3 Audi Sport Team Joest LMP1 LUHR L
50 64 Corvette Racing LMGT1 BERETTA O
51 9 Creation Autosportif Ltd LMP1 CAMPBELL-WALTER J
52 32 Barazi Epsilon LMP2 VERGERS M
OUT 21 Bruichladdich Radical LMP2 GREAVES T
OUT 53 JLOC Isao Noritake LMGT1 APICELLA M