July 2012

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July 2012 My First Buemi, Bonanomi, Griffin, Taylor and others share their thoughts on debuting at the world’s greatest race. 38 ALMS Mid Term Report The reaches its midway - what have we 50 seen so far? What’s to come? Mind Games With Brabs David lets us into his pysche, talking about his mental preparation and how he believes it to be key to racing. 34 Nic and the 905 Ex works driver got the opportunity of a 64 lifetime at the Silverstone Classic - drive the .

Photos: Jake Yorath, Nick Busato, Scott Mitchell lendurance.co.uk 4 5 lendurance.co.uk July 2012

l’endurance

Editor: Jake Yorath

Deputy editor: Dan Bathie

Chief staff writer: Stephen Errity

Creative director: Jake Yorath

Designers: Dan Bathie Adam Pigott

Staff photographers: Jake Yorath Dan Bathie Nick Busato

Contributing photographers: Adam Pigott Scott Mitchell Gerlach Delissen Ben Yorath

Contributing writers: Jack Evans Ben Yorath

Cover Design: Jake Yorath

[email protected]

Supported by

lendurance.co.uk 6 Photo: Dan Bathie

7 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 in focus

lendurance.co.uk 8 , Donington Park Dan Bathie used a Nikon D50 and 300 F4 Nikkor. Shutter 1/1600th at F5.6, ISO200. 9 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 in focus

lendurance.co.uk 10 American Le Mans Series Mosport Nick Busato used a Nikon D3s and 300mm F2.8 + 1.4x Tele. Shutter speed 1/1600th at F5.6, ISO100. 11 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 in focus

lendurance.co.uk 12 British GT Championship, Adam Pigott used a Canon 60D and 70-200mm F2.8 + 1.4x Tele. Shutter speed 1/1600th at F4, ISO100. 13 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 in focus

lendurance.co.uk 14 Le Mans 24 Hours Jake Yorath used a Nikon D300s and 80-200 F2.8 Nikkor. Shutter speed 1/800th at F2.8, ISO1250. 15 lendurance.co.uk July 2012

Click with us Looking for high quality motorsport photography? Look no further. [email protected] lendurance.co.uk 16 17 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 in focus

lendurance.co.uk 18 British GT Championship, Brands Hatch Adam Pigott used a Canon 60D and 70-200 F2.8 + 1.4x Tele. Shutter speed 1/800th at F4, ISO100. 19 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 in focus

lendurance.co.uk 20 Le Mans 24 Hours Jake Yorath used a Nikon D300s and 300mm F4 + 1.4x tele. Shutter speed 1/640th at F11, ISO250. 21 lendurance.co.uk July 2012

lendurance.co.uk 22 :

23 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 in focus

lendurance.co.uk 24 British GT Championship, Brands Hatch Adam Pigott used a Canon 60D and 70-200mm F2.8 Canon. Shutter speed 1/640th at F2.8, ISO100. 25 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 in focus

lendurance.co.uk 26 Le Mans 24 Hours Jake Yorath used a Nikon D300S and 10-20mm F4-5.6 Sigma. Shutter speed 1/20th at F11, ISO250. 27 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 in focus

lendurance.co.uk 28 American Le Mans Series, Mosport Nick Busato used a Nikon D3S and 300mm F2.8 + 1.4x Tele. Shutter speed 1/1600th at F5. 29 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 in focus

lendurance.co.uk 30 Le Mans 24 Hours Jake Yorath used a Nikon D300s and 300mm F4 + 14x Tele. Shutter speed 1/640th at F14, ISO320. 31 lendurance.co.uk July 2012

lendurance.co.uk 32 Patriot Games Keep up with every race of the British GT Championship with l’endurance on Twitter, Facebook and the website.

33 lendurance.co.uk July 2012

Mind Power

Stephen Errity interviews on training the mind for racing.

lendurance.co.uk 34 S een from the outside, a racing car attacking a circuit is noisy, exciting, chaotic – even violent. But inside the cockpit, and inside the driver’s head, should ideally be an oasis of calm. 2009 Le Mans winner David Brabham appreciates this even more than your average driver. One of the calmest yet most focused individuals you’ll find in I drove at a higher level than I any racing paddock, he’s worked throughout his career to optimise the relationship between mind and ever thought I was capable of body to extract the best possible performance on track. His first insight into the effect a driver’s mental state can have on his potential behind the wheel came early in his career, at a Formula 2 race supporting the Australian Grand Prix. “That was when it was first highlighted to me, though I didn’t understand it at the time,” he remembers. Although young Brabham’s star was on the rise, and he was already being talked about as a future F1 prospect, it was a very difficult time for him personally. “I had a massive problem with my family leading up to the event, because I had to tell my parents my girlfriend was pregnant. To my Dad, that was the end of my career. We didn’t speak for a month leading up to the race. So I was trying to strike

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I got to a point where I would write down exactly how I wanted my day to pan out.

up a conversation with him at the That was Brabham’s first started doing it, it was a case of just track, and he said to me ‘the chances introduction to the psychological writing things down as I wanted to of you getting to F1 are finished’. A side of racing, but he says the biggest see them. Racing with in the switch went off in my head – I was turning point came in 1992, when he ‘90s, I got to a point where I would absolutely furious at him.” lost hearing in his right ear. “I though write down exactly how I wanted my This was only one of many things to ‘that’s it, my career’s gone, my life’s day to pan out. Then I would visualise go wrong for Brabham that weekend. gone’. I went to a lot of specialists it, see myself doing a lap and see a An electrical problem in qualifying and met a lot of people along that time on my dash. I’d write down that had prevented him from setting a journey. One was a chiropractor, time and give it to my engineer, Chris time, so he started the 15-lap race a guy called Steve Carpenter. He Gorne. It would frequently be scarily from the back of the grid. “After I taught me a lot about the body, but close to my actual time.” had that conversation with Dad, I was also about how the mind relates to Mind management in qualifying a different person,” he says. “I had the body, and I became intrigued by and sprint races is one thing, but it so much anger, which I shifted to a what he was showing me.” takes on a new dimension in determination and a hunger that I’d Brabham then began experimenting 24-hour events, where a driver never experienced before. I drove with different approaches to race must combine total focus during at a higher level than I ever thought meetings, to see how his new-found his driving stints with an ability to I was capable of, and I ended up understanding could improve his ‘switch off’ and rest when he’s out of winning the race. It was the first time performances. “It’s not always easy the car. “You only find a routine that I’d experienced something being to get ‘in the zone’ with the amount works for you through experience,” triggered in my head that made me of distractions at your average race says Brabham. “I’m sure other do extraordinary things.” meeting,” he notes. “When I first people do different things that suit

lendurance.co.uk 36 them. For me, it’s all about letting go recharge that way.” And ramping the of any pressure. That’s very difficult focus back up in time for getting back to do when you’re young. You get out in the car is as important as winding of the car and you’re thinking about down. “I come to a point where I what your co-drivers are doing out start thinking about my next stint there and how the race is panning and how I’d like it to go. I visualise out – you never let your mind have it, see it, feel it and smell it.” a rest. When you get a bit older, you Full-season programmes in the get a bit wiser and you know there’s Blancpain Endurance Series (with nothing else you can do at that ) and the World point. It’s in another person’s hands, Endurance Championship (with JRM the team have got it under control, Racing) will give Brabham ample you trust your team-mate, and if opportunity to exercise these skills in something goes wrong, it goes wrong, 2012. And he’s constantly striving to it happens.” perfect and refine his methods. As he So what comes after getting out describes it: “Once you get into using of the car? “Focusing on breathing is these techniques, they become like a very important, because it makes me muscle. The more you develop it, the look inwards and forget about what’s stronger the gets, and the mind is no going on around me,” Brabham different.” continues. “It calms me down and I find it a lot easier to switch off and

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My First Le Mans. Words and photos: Jake Yorath S MYe Mans. We don’t mind the (particularly... OK, a lot). I’ve Mythology, MeccaFIR comparisons, T traffic jams, the endless also been disappointed, pleasantly McQueen. ‘Magic’. There really is miles of clogged pavements surprised and outright exhilarated. something about this grand gathering or the expensive beer. It’s just one of those places. of the world’s best sportscar racers We’veL actually come to be rather My most enduring memory is and their enduring fans. fond of the fields full of drunk Danes actually from my second Le Mans. Jordan Taylor, making his debut and roundabouts full of drunk Brits I was having a dire race. Shooting with Corvette Racing, found himself (usually doing donuts), so it must be on outdated camera equipment in a very similar situation this year. a pretty special place. Certainly, without any real appreciation of the “It was just beginning to get light it’s a daunting one, whether you’re scale of the challenge, I had planned when I started, and it was really cool spectating, working or racing. far too little and had a whole lot to go through the Curves at Personally, I have been cold of photos I didn’t like and was sunrise and then down the Esses at (particularly so at 5am), wet exhausted. However, that Sunday Dunlop, to remember the footage (particularly so during this year’s in June provided a spectacular dawn and photos from the old days and to damp drivers’ parade) and drunk and suddenly it all made sense. think that I was in the same position

lelendurance.co.uk 38 mans S MY FIRas those cars. I’m glad I got to do many people notice when they first LikeT any junior racer who plans to that kind of stint and feel the history come here - the size. be successful, he’s not afraid to ask while I was driving.” “I went to Le Mans in 2001 and for advice, but he’s not just looking Taylor was far from alone in being 2002 to watch my dad drive in the for racing tips. “I’d been talking a debutant - this year provided one race,” he muses. “I remember going with Jan and Antonio about Le Mans of the richest rookie fields in history, around the track, seeing the cars at since our first test in January. They with 40 drivers getting their first Indianapolis corner, watching the told me what to expect and gave me taste of La Sarthe. Recent Formula drivers’ parade, and taking it all in. advice on how to focus on the race. One expatriates, experienced GT I thought how amazing it would be I’d driven the track on video games drivers and straight up rookies - the to someday compete in the race. Le and studied onboard camera videos field had them all. Mans seemed so massive - we left to get up to speed,” he adds. But “This is the race that made me the paddock and it took 20 minutes onboard videos were not his only pre want to race sportscars over open- to drive to another corner. That was Le Mans TV time. “I watched Steve wheeled cars,” beams Taylor. He is when I realized just how huge the McQueen’s Le Mans movie with my quick to latch onto one of the things track is.” Dad,” he admits.

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It’s not just about magic - Taylor Familial connections were start Le Mans for the first time and might be a young man experiencing something of a theme at Le Mans we gave a great performance until something amazing, but at the root this year - continuing the trend, the accident. It was amazing; I really of it he’s a professional racing driver. Sebastien Buemi. The Swiss, moving enjoyed it!” The 21 year old, who hails from from (and not shy Fellow rookie Kazuki Florida, is likely to be coming back about returning) into the Toyota Nakajimi (who was given ‘Rookie of for some years to come - having been team, followed in his grandfather’s the Year’ in the run up to the race, picked this year for enduros with footsteps in racing at La Sarthe. before connecting with the DeltaWing Corvette, he’s a surefire hope for the “I am impatient to be there at during the 24 Hours), got caught up future. the start of this famous race,” he in the parade. Another with a father son enthused in the build up. “The feeling “The parade is an amazing event,” connection to this race was Alex only grew during the test day when I he said. “The streets were lined with Brundle, breaking his Sarthe duck discovered that the track is really a thousands of fans who route around alongside his father, 1990 Le Mans superb one. I like the last part, with the narrow streets of the old city winner Martin - and he sums Le Mans the Porsche curves and Ford corners. of Le Mans despite the rain pouring up in a fantastically succint manner. There is also an emotional connection down and it was great to receive such “The circuit is amazing, the people to this race because my grandfather a warm welcome from the crowd. As crazy,” he grinned, just before race already raced here and I am glad to it is my first time I did not know what week. “The fanatical nature of the follow in his footsteps. My family is to expect and I have to say that I spectators is quite incredible!” also tied to the TOYOTA brand, so it really enjoyed it.” For him, too, the race was far is special.” None had it quite as bad as Matt from perfect, various issues meaning His enthusiasm didn’t fade, Griffin, however. The Irishman has his Zytek despite not finishing the race. “It moved from a largely GT3 based finished eighth in class. was an unbelievable day for me to career with into GTE-Am with

lendurance.co.uk 40 AF Corse in 2012. He saw a strong For ’s newest star, it was find a clear lap without traffic, but position catastrophically fall apart always a clear choice on career path. I managed to get one or two during when his team mate, Piergiuseppe Italian Marco Bonanomi trained as a qualifying. I love the Porsche curves Perazzini, clashed heavily with graphic designer before he found he - when in a clear lap, it’s really ’s Toyota at was good at driving and a career in fantastic,” he told lemans.org before Mulsanne Corner. Italian GTs followed. He was reserve the race. Remarkably, it was not just “Finally running at Le Mans was a driver for Audi in 2011 and stepped his debut at Le Mans but in 24 hour dream come true for me, so of course up for 2012. racing. “I’m just excited. Everything the crash was very disappointing. We “I think sportscars are better than is big here: great expectations, a lot had a really good car and we were single-seaters. For sure, it’s a better of pressure even if we have less on getting stronger and stronger, which option for many young drivers right my car. It is true that I never did A was the plan. We were getting great now,” he explains. “It’s one of 24-hour race before, it is new but I’m fuel consumption, too, with 16 laps the few categories in racing at the in one of the best cars on the grid!” per stint. It’s motorsport, though, moment where you can be guaranteed It’s safe to say, there’s a good and these things can happen, a professional drive if you’re good likelihood all of the drivers featured especially in multi-class endurance enough. Once you’re a professional, in this piece will be on the grid in racing. I’m just happy that neither you can just concentrate on your job: 2012. But perhaps it won’t be as driver was too badly hurt, but given driving the car, developing it with special the second time, with each the effort the team put in, hopefully the engineers and not thinking about man taking a special set of memories we can race at Le Mans again.” anything else.” away with him. Some, it seems, will The incident was arguably the And his love of sportscars have been rather surprised by the 24 stand out moment of the 2012 - translates, naturally, to a love of Le hours of Le Mans, and might just find hopefully Matt can return in 2013, Mans. “The track is really beautiful. themselves hooked. Others were with less drama! But with 56 cars, it’s not easy to probably hooked already...

With thanks to: Stephen Errity, Ed Fahey 41 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 Never“ before at any race or venue had I felt as involved in a community as I did at

Ben Yorath tastes his first Le Mans and, via drunken men, menus and marvelling at the view, finds he rather likes it. Photos: Ben Yorath le mans

lendurance.co.uk 42 Never“ before at any race or venue had I felt as involved in a community as I did at le mans ”

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s this was my first Le Mans dampen the spirits of the thousands counted down to Saturday. I was looking forward to of people attending the race. The Part of Le Mans that I had heard Aseeing the iconic circuit in only thing I was slightly disappointed only about in passing was the so the flesh. I thought about angles by was the drivers’ parade and that called ‘Mad Friday’. For those who of photos I would love to take from again is due to the rain - I had heard do not know, let me first explain the sweeping views of the Porsche such great things about the event the idea behind the madness. It’s curves and the speed filled Mulsanne and I was really looking forward to the day where drivers have only straight - the whole idea of the it however the rain seemed to ruin the obligation to sit in old cars and energy and atmosphere of Le Mans the spectacle as drivers sat under be driven through the centre of the enthralled me, and I was prepared their umbrellas and waved to a damp town. So, with no on track action, it for the spectacle of endurance and dreary crowd. I find it hard to gives those old enough to do so the racing that has captured the hearts blame them, mind, as I found myself opportunity to cram a few extra beers and minds of motorsports fans for soaked through a hoodie, T shirt and into their already busy schedule of decades. jeans combination that has served ‘wake up, drink and see how the day The first thing I would like to well in the sun and snow of the ever progresses’. mention is the sheer volume of changing British climate. people spread out around the nearly I would also like to advise an early eight and a half mile circuit. Bearing arrival at the circuit. By early, I don’t in mind the expanse of campsites, mean the night before, but get there stalls and other Le Mans related for Wednesday and see the whole paraphernalia around and inside show. The build up was arguably the circuit the whole area is just better than the race itself to me. I enormous. In my first trip I would enjoyed seeing so many people who The whole love to say I saw everything but were all attending for the same reason that would be a lie. I walked miles, as I (except some rather flamboyant circuit just caught the sun and barely scratched displays of drunkenness by some the surface of this place. rather flamboyant gentlemen). Never I must also mention Le Mans’ before at any race, show or venue seems to lack of ability to control the rain... had I felt as involved in a community Waking up in the morning to wet as I did during the trip build up. buzz with feet is never pleasant but it’s even With even the first practice bring a worse when it’s scorching hot murmur of anticipation to the crowds life outside. However, the rain could not the tension only rose as the days lendurance.co.uk 44 ” The atmosphere at Le Mans is unmatched

After two days of alcohol there’s no way you’ll get a car caught off guard and though we were consumption, someone had the great through the traffic. It’s reasonably handed an umbrella, I ask you this - idea to stand in front of moving priced, bright orange and drops you would you hand an umbrella to a man vehicles (anything expensive or right where you need to be which is in a swimming pool? turbo charged, particularly) with always a bonus to those of us who Then came what the crowds handmade placards stating only the aren’t particularly fluent in French wanted. The procession of cars and word ‘burnout’. That these signs are or map reading. bikes was wonderful but I couldn’t usually in English says a lot for our Once in the centre I realised how help but think it all took too long! intrepid spirit I suppose. ‘Insane!’ much of a spectacle Le Mans really Gaps of up to five minutes as you could say. You’re half right, is. It isn’t just the odd poster here each car is mobbed doesn’t help, but it seems to have caught on and and there like you would get for your especially with the torrential down draws quite the crowd and to those local village fete, it’s a person from pour. A ten second glimpse of a slow drivers who agree to the burnout, a every corner of the planet welcomed moving supercar just doesn’t need place in many a photo album surely warmly into the arms of a French such a gap. I also think it would be awaits. But the crowd keeps growing, town. Even the McDonalds employees wiser for the parade to be in the vehicles keep coming - and even the spoke a host of languages and only actual Le Mans cars not classic cars odd van had a go (always to much let a slight giggle escape them as being driven by someone who isn’t a applause and spilling of beverages). you try desperately to order a burger driver. But I suppose on a sunny day So as I travelled from our lovely meal (confusingly a ‘menu’ - ‘Menu?’ the opportunity to shake hands with Travel Destinations campsite (who ‘No I’ve looked at the menu, I want a drivers and get an autograph on the looked after us spectacularly and meal!’) and a Coke in French. hat a previous driver had thrown at even let us join in an enjoyable game We (we being me and l’endurance you would be quite enjoyable. of Frisbee) to the tram station I Instagram photographer Dan Bathie, The trip back on the tram was as witnessed firsthand the beauty of Le who performed amicably as a Le eventful as the trip there and this Mans and the atmosphere it creates. Mans tour guide for the whole time) time the song of choice from the Such was the enjoyable nature found lovely spots all along the route tram goers was something I shall of the whole week even the tram of the drivers’ parade to view from have drilled into my head for a long journeys were riddled with singsong and wasted no time in grabbing some time. It went, and I quote ‘Pescaa-ro- and conversations about the overall snaps of the scenery and the slightly lololololoooo’ and repeat with ever outcome of the race. amusing use of fake tan. Then came growing gusto. For the first three Here’s a piece of advice - use the that blasted rain! You’d think being verses it was rather entertaining... tram to get to the drivers’ parade, British we would have dressed And then came what I am going to as it’s a huge distance to walk and accordingly but as ever we were laughingly call ‘the big sleep’ this is

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lendurance.co.uk 46 the sleep you have before the race itself in order to ready your mind and body for the 24 hours of awakeness which is soon to follow. I say I name it laughingly because the chance of sleeping any later than nine o’clock is just impossible. The whole circuit just seems to buzz with life and I finally understood the phrase ‘cut the tension with a knife’. The murmurs had grown in intensity as everyone knew what was soon to come. I took a trip to Arnage and thoroughly enjoyed watching the start of the race from there - the big TV helped Dawn but also the thick crowd helped to make it a fantastic start to the race for me. at the I must admit I didn’t manage the whole 24 as I decided a trip to bed Porsche and a wake up at dawn was a good idea. It worked, and dawn at the Curves is Porsche curves is something I will never forget. Not just because there was a man asleep in what appeared something to be about four sleeping bags and a cardboard box, but because of the I will never beauty! If I could recommend one ” place to be at dawn that would be it. And I can’t think of any better view forget at a race circuit that I’ve seen. I have thank the wonderful Travel Destinations guys and girls. They were fantastic in handling any problems that arose on the campsite, which from what I gather were not particularly frequent, and they treated everyone who stayed with them brilliantly well so thank you to them! Thanks also to l’endurance taxi Tim Yorath, who once again suffered admirably for the cause.

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lendurance.co.uk 48 Enduring Love Le Mans might be over but there’s still the rest of the World Endurance Championship, American Le Mans Series and European Le Mans series to come. l’endurance, c’est Le Mans...

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Prototype racing in the American Le Mans Series has been dominated by Muscle Milk... a tale of two halves

lendurance.co.uk 50 a tale of two halves ...But the GT ranks have been as open as ever. Words: Jack Evans Photos: Nick Busato

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he American Le Mans Series leaves the Grand Prix of Mosport with half a season done. Five races haveT produced many questions and few answers, and only five races remain to fulfill. But fulfill they will, because, as proven in the ALMS, nothing can be known until the racing is over. Until that racing is over, we know only this, the story of the first half of ALMS 2012. The was the first round of the new FIA World Endurance Championship, so its competitors were to intermingle with those of the American Le Mans Series—each class in it’s own race for long-term points. But that meant little on the track. There was still a Sebring to be won. Overall, it was duly won by Audi with a predicted one-two, and the highest-placed ALMS car was the P2 of Scott Tucker, , and Joao Barbosa in an admirable fourth behind a similar Starworks HPD. For contenders Muscle Milk, it could have been as good as third, but the heartbreak of fueling rig problems was realized with minutes to go. They dropped to a non-running 28th place, leaving their only regular season rivals, , happy with eighth overall—it was still a full points haul over Muscle Milk. But a few classes down the competition was much harsher. And

lendurance.co.uk 52 The white Honda is faster than the blue , but “ a slip up could still hand Dyson the championship

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The GT battle turns the mid-season corner “four wide. Corvette, BMW, Porsche or Ferrari can challenge from here on out

lendurance.co.uk 56 much closer; BMW’s , Dirk race, then again just before green The next month, at Laguna Seca, it Müller and racing resumed, and happened again for Muscle Milk and continued the team’s overwhelming were able to run flat out Corvette, only both times in much 2011 record of success, but only by to the end while (in the more convincing cases. The P1 Honda a few seconds over the opportunistic Dyson) pedaled around saving fuel. took victory from Dyson by twenty Corvette of , Antonio The brilliant strategy call pulled the laps, and was followed immediately Garcia, and Jordan Taylor. That car Honda team right next to their rivals by Level 5’s second car that was not was promoted by ’s in points. chosen to score points for the round. (AF Corse) mistake on a desperate P2’s usual commanders Level 5 had The exciting battle in LMPC put the final lap, and the Ferrari dropped to a new challenge in the form of their winner at the foot of the overall third, albeit first in the WEC’s GTE own 2010 Lola chassis, podium. Pro class. curiously powered by a Honda engine, Meanwhile, Gavin and Milner Also on the lead lap as the but now painted in GTC experts emerged first from a rotation of GT checkered fell were the other Black Swan Racing’s signature white, lead changes. Just behind them was Corvette and the other BMW. Clearly, green, yellow, black, and chrome a second Chevy and a BMW, but not the championship was to be their (catchier than you might think). the usual points-hoarding #56. That battle. The ALMS’s third major While it looked optimistic, the car’s launched the winners to the top of the manufacturer—Porsche—didn’t show debut was a failure, starting from standings, as well as putting Corvette well that 12 Hours, even between the the pitlane and exiting straight into Racing over Team RLL, and so began newly threatening Team Falken Tire, a GT pileup. Though Level 5 did have the summer break; six weeks off for two veteran Flying Lizards, and a a poor race, they automatically won resting, testing, and Le Mans before few major WEC entries. Perhaps the the class by finishing as an LMPC car a return to Connecticut’s Lime Rock revised 2012 chassis isn’t what they took ‘their’ third spot on the podium. Park in July. expected. In GT, the #56 BMW was finally felled Only a few ALMS entries would So a fascinating Sebring, and a by the win-deprived Corvette team, appear at Le Mans in June, and none good showing by ALMS machinery on specifically their #4 / did particularly well. Flying Lizard the temporarily international stage, car. Milner is himself had its usual 24 hours of bad luck and but who would come to the fore in an ex-Bimmer-er, and the win must Corvette failed to repeat last year’s the lessened competition of the have felt especially deserved after win, particularly in the garage. The regular season? seven dry ALMS rounds for , BMW team found itself isolated The answer, in P1, is Muscle Milk. even if #56 was just behind them (on from the German factory HQ at the The next race at Long Beach proves a deflating tyre, actually!). In third, beginning of the year, and funders why.The pump that betrayed them Extreme Speed Motorsports stood BMW North America elected to skip La in Florida was put to good use when, having finally made an impression on Sarthe. That left the win for a hard- by diving into the pits immediately the Series in their green and black charging AF Corse Ferrari, and those after yellow flags came out mid- . ALMS teams came home disappointed

57 lendurance.co.uk July 2012 to prepare for Lime Rock. useless iteration of the 997 GT3 to a team behind it. Corvette has lost But while they were occupied, fantastic win complete with speed, little but is vulnerable to misfortune, a few other teams appeared at dominance, and reliability—all the and ESM can, in fact, race anyone Virginia International Raceway for ingredients of racing potential. But now and must be watched for. some testing before September’s if this represented a U-turn in the But then, in the late afternoon Four Hours. Most notably, it was team’s fortunes, it would need to at an empty racetrack, a bit of a Dempsey Racing’s new ALMS Lola have a tight radius. Corvette, so far shuffle. Actually, a major shuffle; project that timed in… second ahead already and right behind, 2-3 at Flying Lizard didn’t win. They failed to anLMPC car. But some further Lime Rock, would have to be beaten a “stall test.” When IMSA covered running was accomplished after their each round without fail and even the intakes of the Porsche post-race, Laguna ended early in the sand. The have a bit of bad luck—something no the engine kept running. Air was Extreme Speed Ferraris also put in rival can count on. making it in and potentially boosting laps, and even the But at Mosport the next weekend power. Congratulations, ESM, #45 Evora appeared and didn’t break. (or Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, disqualified and #01 bumped up to a And, interestingly, Black Swan Racing to be commercially correct), the maiden win. did not appear in their Lola. They are Lizards dutifully gave it their all, So the racing ends with two weeks to tipped for an eventual return to GTC. moving from fifth to first purely on Mid-Ohio, the second half of a season The month and a half away left speed, using the raw simplicity and with only a few essential questions many burning questions; is there gut-dropping, limit-hugging hill- so far answered. Though the white any speed left in the aging Dyson corners of the Canadian track to their Honda is faster than any blue Mazda, car? Can they mount a comeback on advantage. They held off a Corvette, a Petit Le Mans mechanical slip-up Muscle Milk? Will it be Corvette or Jan Magnussen diving up and down, (where points value is increased with BMW? Gavin/Milner or Hand/Müller? almost and almost close enough to race length) could still hand Dyson Will ESM surprise? Is the 2012 Porsche the flanks of the #45 Porsche. While the championship, and with not a even capable? None of these, of it lurched about, thrown from the round after for Luhr and Graf remedy course, could be answered until the racing line by the scent of first place, a sudden drop down the charts. The two hours and 45 minutes were up at an interesting guest stepped into Lola is nothing if not reliable, while Lime Rock Park. second, one lap remaining. the HPD finds this to be it’s weakness. And yet, after only an hour of Lime It was the ESM Ferrari. So as But that’s for a coming half of the Rock Park, the first two questions Bergmeister won in Canada, Johannes year. The fact is that Muscle Milk has seemed to be done with, because van Overbeek gave his team its won four times in succession. the Muscle Milk Honda sat four laps highest-placed finish, and right on The GT battle turns the mid-season down, victim of phantom electronic the back of fourths and thirds. He corner four wide, any Corvette, issues, lost time exacerbated by the and , owner-founder of a BMW, a Porsche, or a Ferrari can safety car, all gone wrong. Still, to the long-standing, rarely successful challenge from here out. Their conclude the question of the one- outfit celebrated their second, but success will depend just as much on-one rivalry so early would be a realised, dreamt that it could have on their own accomplishments mistake, especially with Lucas Luhr been a first. Meanwhile, Corvette as other’s shortcomings, though. driving. celebrated a mediocre third and Unpredictability abounds. In the car now, he gains back a lap. tenth in class, the Americans failing Speaking of unpredictability, Mid- Then another lap. Then hands over to to find success in Canada once again Ohio. It’s next, and last year biblical Graf, who gains back a lap. Maybe a on this bicentennial of the War of downpour shuffled the order class- full comeback now? They’ve certainly 1812. BMW followed in fourth with by-class until Team Falken Tire got the lap times over Dyson. But the #56, but only got the #55 to topped GT. Though 2011’s flash flood then another safety car; the agony! seventh. was entirely a wildcard, the ultra- So Klaus puts his foot down and Up at the front there was little technical track still doesn’t provide passes the Mazda for the fourth time contest. The weekend had belonged any hints of advantage to one team in a row. The next overtake will be to Muscle Milk. They practiced little or another. It’s followed by Road for position. No longer a distant but were clearly faster, then set a America,(home of the six-hour race charge, but a battle. Nevertheless, pole time 2.2 seconds faster than with .6 second finishes) the streets of he sweeps by Guy Smith like just any Lola-Mazda. Chris Dyson was Baltimore (an unforgiving labyrinth another GT car, and is headed for furious, but could not channel his that tends already to produce upsets), another lap around—a full tip of the rage into any scrap of contention. Virginia international Raceway scale from just minutes earlier—when They finished many seconds back, (where the rolling hills disguise an the flag falls. watching their challengers slip away unknown quantity of challenge), and On the podium, as Dyson rued with their challenge. Petit Le Mans (where everything’s their chassis from second, Porsche On the Mosport Podium, the wild tested and the stakes are high). It’s a celebrated. They had won! A surprise questions started to settle down. tough second half, and the racing will to all in the midst of some “slump.” Muscle Milk had and will have more be equally tough, and there are still Classic, faultless driving from pace, that’s clear. The new Porsche more questions. and Jörg Bergmeister is not crap, not at all. It’s a back- Who knows what the answers will carried what was thought to be a to-back race winner with a brilliant be until it’s over? lendurance.co.uk 58 59 lendurance.co.uk July 2012

010000010111010101100100 011010010010000001001100 011001010010000001001101 AUDI_WIN 011000010110111001110011 LOADING.... AUDI_TEAM_JOEST CAR_#01 FASSLER_LOTTERER_ TRELUYER E-TRON_TECHNOLOGY his year Audi wrapped up LE_MANS INTIALIZING... its eleventh win at the DRIVE. prestigious in the 80th running Tof the Le Mans 24-hour race, a race which would go down in the history books. In this feature we take a look at the numbers that made 6.4 Audi’s win at Le Mans so special.

FASTEST LAP 03:24.189

lendurance.co.uk 60 78.57% AUDI_WIN WINNING PERCENTAGE FASTER 6.4% THAN 2011 VICTORIES FUEL11 USAGE_

REDUCED CONSUMPTION BY 10%

61 lendurance.co.uk July 2012

EACH UNIT_10,000

DUNLOP_BRIDGE 0630H 240,000 SPECTATORS

23 CARS DNF

33 CARS FINISHED 5,151.762km 326 LAPS LED lendurance.co.uk 62 40:59.968 TIME SPENT IN THE PITS

326 LAPS LED

63 lendurance.co.uk July 2012

Nic and the 905 The Silverstone Classic provided a rare opportunity for Nic Minassian - driving the Peugeot 905. Words: Stephen Errity Photo: Scott Mitchell

lendurance.co.uk 64 aving been part of Friday’s qualifying session, and he so old – it definitely doesn’t feel 20 ’s present was immediately impressed. years before my time.” right up until the “This was my first time in the 905, Minassian of course has extensive Nic and the manufacturer announced and it’s really fantastic,” he says experience racing the 905’s 21st- itsH shock withdrawal at the start with a smile. “It’s funny, because century descendent, the diesel- of this season, Frenchman Nicolas it doesn’t feel like an old car. I’ve powered 908. So how do the two Minassian was able to sample the driven historic cars before, but this machines from the same stable team’s past at the recent Silverstone does feel like a proper factory-run compare? “The 905 feels quite Classic historic motorsport festival, machine. Chamberlain-Synergy have different, because it’s a much stiffer where he got behind the wheel of done a very good job preparing it, car,” says Minassian. “That’s mainly one of the last, and greatest, Group but the set-up hasn’t been adapted because the tyres worked differently C cars: the Peugeot 905. yet. The car hasn’t raced since Le back then compared to how they Now owned by British pub Mans in 1992, so it still has the full do now. There’s hardly any and restaurant magnate Rupert Mulsanne straight aero kit, which is suspension movement at Celevely, the rarely used machine a very low-downforce set-up. But all. It’s lighter than the was prepared for the event by the it’s still really well balanced and 908, too, and it’s a Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport the engine is fantastic. Everything bit easier to drive outfit. Minassian’s first taste of the works perfectly: I don’t feel like I’m than the diesel, iconic low-slung prototype came in struggling to drive it because it’s as there’s no

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turbo and not as much torque, so it’s unexpected bonus for the Frenchman “I don’t really know what’s going to more driveable out of corners. But I when Cleveley offered him a seat in happen with that, but whatever Loeb was impressed by how much grip it another of his historic racing fleet: a Racing decide to do, I’ll be involved,” has – there’s a lot for a 20-year-old Lancia LC2. Minassian took the car to he says. “It’s a shame, because it was car. Although I’m not really surprised second overall in Sunday’s 30-minute actually a great championship, there when I look at the lap times this car race, battling with Porsche 962s and was just not enough people doing it. used to do at Le Mans – they’re similar a Sauber-Mercedes C9. He found But when you split championships all to what I was doing in the 908.” the 30-year-old Italian machine to over the place, that’s what’s going The Silverstone Classic fell shortly be a much different prospect to the to happen.” The other possibility is after news broke that the two 905. “That’s a wild, wild car,” he that the Dome will run again at the remaining rounds of the European Le exclaimed on the podium afterwards. Japanese team’s home race – the Mans Series had been cancelled and Fuji round of the World Endurance the championship would instead hold Championship. “We’ve talked about a combined season finale with the it, but they haven’t said they’re ALMS at . After Peugeot It’s funny, going to do it for sure – I hope they

Sport cancelled its programme, do.”

Minassian was quick to sign up for because it And there remains the intriguing the ELMS with French multiple possibility that Sebastien Loeb World Rally champion Sebastien himself will grow tired of his ongoing

Loeb’s eponymous team, sharing an doesn’t feel dominance of the World Rally

Oreca-Nissan LM P2 car with fellow Championship, and seek to complete Peugeot refugee Stephane Sarrazin like an old the challenge he began during his two and Nicolas Marroc. And although outings at Le Mans for the Pescarolo the overall turnout for the series’s team in 2005 and 2006 – the latter ‘ first two rounds was disappointing, car. It feels ‘ year as team-mate to Minassian. he has nontheless greatly enjoyed “It would be good to have him in the intense compeition that’s been like a proper the car – just not taking my place!” a feature of LM P2 this season. “The laughs Nicolas. “He’s a great guy – team is very well organised and factory-run for somebody who has won as much the engineer I used to work with as him, he has a very humble, at Peugeot is now working at Loeb simple personality, and he’ just Racing as well,” says Minassian, “so machine so talented: he jumps in everything works really well. The anything and straight away way things are right now, I much he’s quick. It’s a very prefer fighting for wins in P2 rather natural, unforced than struggling in P1.” speed – it comes Struggling in LM P1 was something very easily to Minassian did a lot of at Le Mans “And with the manual gearbox and him.” this year, driving a Dome S102.5 clutch, it’s so physical – I was pushing for – a team he last very hard and I’m surprised by how raced for back in 2006. “Le Mans was tired I am after only half an hour tough,” he states simply. “The engine driving it.” vibrated a lot, and lots of other With the Classic out of the way, things went wrong that shouldn’t. I the rest of 2012 is looking decidedly don’t know if it was because of Seiji quiet for the ex-Peugeot works [Ara]’s crash on Thursday night, but driver, with no more top-line the car never felt right after that. It’s race appearances confirmed. a shame, because basically the Dome Minassian doesn’t know yet is a really good car and really nice if Loeb Racing will take to drive. But sometimes racing is like up the offer to race this: sometimes it works, sometimes in the combined it’s a nightmare!” ALMS/ELMS And as if to ram that point home, finale at gearbox trouble prevented the Petit Le Peugeot 905 from playing any part in Mans. either of the Silverstone Classic’s two Group C races, although there was an

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