AA5/07 82-87 12/23/07 8:42 PM Page 82

LE MANS

Changing Face small displacement and not A Le Mans line up SOGGY the most powerful. For many The 24 Hours of Le (far left), but no one years, the Index was an Mans, the world’s oldest ran across the road equally respected measure and greatest endurance and jumped in for of performance. But, as the race, is governed by the ARTHE the start. the hand- Index winner was not neces- Auto Club de l’Ouest, whose sarily the first over the line, S —Ah, Le Mans… France against Germany some (left) it was difficult for fans to fol- vision of what racing should be has always been a few was fast but not for low a race. As time passed years ahead of those who for LMP1, Britain vs. the USA in GT1; an American long enough. So, and other races solely priori- promote competition as a how wet was it? tized speed, the ACO con- tinually looked for ways to method of financial gain. team wins LMP2 as perseveres for GT2. Really, really wet! Since 1906, when the club use its race to enhance the PHOTOGRAPHY BY GAYLE BROCK & PETER BROCK was first established and values it considered most 1923, when its unique race Peugeot’s long-awaited 908 coupes finally appeared at British friend Allen Timpany and Le Mans rookie Allen important to the average was first organized, the Le Mans to confront ’s almost undisputed seven-year Buncombe, they qualified 4th in Class with a 3:48, com- motorist. visionaries looked upon their ownership of the famed 8.46-mile Sarthe Valley circuit, pared to Fernandez’ swift, pole-winning time of 3:44.1. The focus in Europe, as competition as a method to but hours of not-uncommon rain left the French challenge In the Pratt and Miller Corvette vs. Aston war, it soon will be everywhere, raise the public’s awareness is to power production auto- of motorists’ rights—and to in question. Early speculation by veteran team managers ’s David Richards came fully prepared to mobiles with diesel engines. improve the automobile during scrutineering in the Place Jacobins in downtown win—as he always does, But this time, in addition to the The development of new, itself. Le Mans, opined a pole time of 3:22 and change—if the two genuine British-entered racers, there were four more cleaner diesel fuels, with less In those early years, Le weather held—but dark clouds rolled in for the first qualify- of the special Prodrive-built DB9Rs on the grid in French, sulfur content, makes them more environmentally friend- Mans was still quite rural, ing session Wednesday evening, putting the whole race in Italian and Belgian livery. , a top several hours by dirt roads ly. Performance, too, is now Pquestion. It wasn’t just the anticipated battle between French pilot with 13 Le Mans starts under his belt, posted comparable with gasoline from the bright lights of Paris. The ACO was estab- German and French prototypes that attracted over a quarter the fastest GT1 time for the French Labre Aston team engines. The ACO, always lished, as were many early of a million spectators, but the expected retaliation of the with a time of 3:50.7, about 2 seconds quicker than the sensitive to the interests of its clubs, as a practical, local British Aston Martins against the American Corvettes, and fastest Corvette, which was third on the GT1 grid. The members, began a serious service group for motorists dialogue with several manu- ’s return to the scene of past glories, again taking on French team under ex-Viper team manager Hugues living far from well-equipped facturers who might be inter- garages. The ACO’s first Porsche in GT2, along with relative newcomers and de Chaunac arrived with two beautifully prepared ested in participating at Le endurance races were envi- the Dutch Spykers. S7Rs that were the dark-horse entries, as most observers Mans with diesel power sioned as a practical way of Stephane Sarrazin threw down the first serious number felt the car only needed a top team to win over the Two years ago, after demonstrating the various against the in the first qualifying session; his sleek, Corvettes and Astons. years of tedious organiza- marques’ virtues, competing tional meetings regarding black Peugeot turning a 3:27.3 on a rain-slicked course that Perhaps the most interesting race within the main event for survival in that turbulent specifications, the ACO and exciting period, when was still green and dirty from disuse. The Scot, Alan was this year’s GT2 contest with three of Porsche’s latest opened the 24 Hours to new engineering concepts McNish, leading the Audi challenge (with seven-time win- 997 RSRs against four of the now well-proven Ferrari diesel competition. Audi and were so varied few knew ner and twice-victorious Dindo Capello), 430GTs—plus two of last year’s class-winning Panoz Peugeot were the first to announce prototypes for the which would survive. responded with a very effective 3:26.9 that looked like it Esperantes and two Spyker Audi-powered C8 roadsters Being first across the fin- new category. Audi hit the ish line was not necessarily would secure the pole for Audi in the now-worsening condi- thrown in for good measure. So far (in the past two years) ground running and had the primary value in a “win- tions. Sarrazin, not to be outdone, went back out and brave- in American short-course competition, the Ferrari GTs were two of its V-12 R10 TDI ning” performance. The ly retook the night’s fastest time with a 3:26.3—a number dominant. But no one had yet seen the new 997s on a really turbo-diesels on the grid last ACO certainly used speed that held for Saturday’s 3 p.m. start, as Thursday’s qualify- long course like Le Mans, which, theoretically, should give year, setting a new distance record and easily winning and efficiency, as well as ing sessions were rain hampered. them an aerodynamic advantage. Unlike years past, when durability, in determining its the race by four laps. This winners—but there was The LMP2 class was a bit of a mystery this year, as two were clearly dominant, this year’s grid held an year Peugeot brought its more. One of the ACO’s of the fastest potential entries—both American teams— imbalance of , with -based Risi new V-12 powered 908 first attempts at prioritizing Porsche and () didn’t feel ready enough to Competizione fielding this year’s Sebring winners Mika coupes to create the world’s these multiple values was its enter a race of this duration. Consequently the grid was Salo and , along with . A sec- first confrontation of diesel- unique “Index of powered racers. filled with marques like Zytek, Creation and Courage, and ond 430, (painted a bright poison green!) for owner Tracey Performance,” a complicat- A sidelight to this high- ed mathematical system that driver names more familiar to British and European fans. Krohn, driving with Nicolas Jonsson and Texas karting star tech German and French determined the race “win- Interestingly, one of Acura’s top pilots, the Mexican Adrian , added to the mix. California’s Flying Lizards engineering confrontation is ner” by who went farthest Fernandez, was entered in the French Barazai Epsilon brought a single 997 for team owners and privateer , a AND fastest on the least Zytek, showing Acura’s future commitment to winning Le to share with their fastest driver Frenchman who has made it amount of fuel. The Index his life’s work to win the 24 was actually a transparent Mans. Bill Binnie, the Scot-born American racer from Jorg Bergmeister. The German ex-Works driver was able to Hours for the glory of ploy by the ACO to favor Boston with three 24 Hours on his resume, headed up his post an impressive 4:05.5 in the spotty conditions, but it France with a French car. French cars—most were of small U.S.-entered squad with a Zytek B05-40. Teamed with was last year’s fastest qualifier, Andrew Kirkaldy, in the Pescarolo competed at

82 Sep/Oct 2007 83 AA5/07 82-87 Le Mans 12/23/07 8:42 PM Page 84

LE MANS

Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari from Scotland, which again set fast Corvettes, the remaining five Astons, some privateer Belgian time—this year at 4:04.1. America’s , a Porsche and French Corvettes, and a lone Russian-entered 550 Works team driver, set the fastest time for Porsche in the Ferrari. In GT2, Kirkaldy had the Scot’s Ferrari well in the French-entered IMSA Performance 997 from Rouen, getting lead, while Patrick Long quickly closed the gap in the ensu- second on the grid at 4:04.6. ing first laps in the IMSA Porsche. They were followed by Le Mans 33 times as a Saturday’s start under uncertain skies went perfectly, Flying Lizard’s beautiful Troy Lee liveried “art car” and the mind was another idea: non- driver, winning three times petroleum-based fuel. This in the late ’90s with a Matra with most teams opting for slicks—even with the surround- Risi Ferraris. idea may sound incredible and once in ’84 with a 956 ing rain clouds a constant threat. With an Audi and a The race’s first hour presented one of those weird series at the moment, but no more Porsche. He’s spent the last Peugeot each on the front row, it appeared it might be an of events that would affect the whole course of the race. so than when Baretzky first seven years as a team even match, especially with the French cars’ officially When it began to rain heavily at the South end of the circuit, suggested using diesel fuel owner/organizer, building timed, faster top speeds on the long straights. As the leaders some cars that had started on slicks were forced to slow to to the ACO several years and running racecars. Last ago. year, one of Pescarolo’s rolled under the French flag at the start line, though, it was avoid sliding off the tarmac. Others pressing on in the The third announcement sleek prototypes finished Dindo Capello’s Audi that pulled away like it was on almost opaque spray were running into the slower cars, addresses the never-ending 2nd to the winning Audi. nitrous! By the first lap, he had 100 yards on the field and it causing numerous “offs” and semi-serious collisions. A yel- issue of increasing costs of Pesca’, as he’s known to his looked as if the Audis were again easily going to win. In low flag was thrown, which brought out the safety car. At fielding a team for Le Mans. French-fan legions, is not too The ACO’s organizers real- GT1, Bouchut had the lead in the French Aston, trailed by this point, all three Audis had gone to the front with the fond of the diesels that are ize that unless complex fabri- permitted to run against his an eclectic mix of ORECA —which hadn’t qualified running 4-5. Both the English Astons were leading cation costs are reduced, the -engined, gasoline-pow- as well as expected—the twin Pratt and Miller Works-built GT1 with the Corvettes close behind. appeal of running the race ered racers. When the full-course yellow appeared, both of the Pratt prototypes were 5-6 overall and now “leading” in the non- will diminish. Thus, restricted Under the new rules, and Miller Corvette drivers switched their engines to “pace existent “petrol class,” gaining a sympathetic and very vocal rules governing allowed almost every non-diesel-pow- modifications will apply to ered entry will be at a dis- mode,” a specially devised fuel-mapping system that would support from Pesca’s legion of fans seated in the stands all classes. This will have the tinct disadvantage—even if drop certain cylinders from the engine’s firing order, thereby every time his cars passed the pits. ACO’s desired effect of both it can compete in speed it saving fuel at the slower pace. After a few minutes of this Uncharacteristically, the two Risi Ferraris were strug- reducing speeds and forcing cannot compete in laps slower speed, one of the Corvettes inexplicably pulled off to gling in GT2. The door of the faster #97 car wouldn’t stay manufacturers to build ever- before refueling. In 24 the side of the circuit just after Arnage. Driver shut for Jaime Melo, so he dashed into the pit for a quick more reliable automobiles hours, even a single-lap that can withstand the rigors advantage relegates the reported over the radio that the ’Vette’s carbon-fiber drive- door replacement, which was followed by a slow and inef- of a 24 hour endurance gasoline-powered racers to shaft apparently failed! This catastrophe occurred at less fectual first hour due to fickle weather and two changes of race in something closer to the “also-ran” category. than freeway speed. Since one of the Corvettes experienced tires (slicks to rains and back to slicks). By the fifth hour, the way the car was deliv- Obviously the ACO could exactly the same symptoms earlier in the season at St. however, #97 settled in and took the lead. Both the Italian ered. Prototype racing, espe- equalize this by requiring cially in the marquee-class Petersburg—also under yellow-flag condition—the light of Autorlando and French IMSA Porsches were on its tail, but the diesels to run smaller LMP1s will almost certainly fuel tanks, but that counters understanding suddenly went on in the Corvette garage. the Ferrari’s speed was such it wasn’t long before all the be the preserve of perform- diesel’s superiority and tech- Team engineers immediately radioed the remaining Corvette Porsches were a lap down. ance-minded manufacturers nical impact—which is what to switch off the pace mode. By halfway (3 a.m.), the highly favored who can manage the huge the organization is trying to Prior to this moment, the driveshaft’s failure had been Capello/McNish/Kristensen Audi had a five-lap lead on the development costs required promote. to field the most technically Above: Still one of the great racing stories of this century, so far. This last surviving team Corvette hung onto the same lap as the ascribed to some flaw in the manufacturing process. Since fastest Peugeot of Villeneuve/Minassian/Gene, and it Three of this year’s advanced racers. announcements by the ACO GT1 winning Aston Martin DBR9. Still glorious after all these years, the winning Audi rushes up pit road and into the fray. Upper new shafts were manufactured for Le Mans, the team’s engi- appeared the rest of the race would be a yawner. Pesca’s two No U.S. manufacturer indicate some awareness of right: Bill Binney beat some very tough competition for his LMP2 victory. neers were now certain something different had occurred— protos were still yapping at the heels of the diesels, but were seems ready to accept these the situation and an interest something to do with the uneven firing order of the engine 10 laps down and some 6 to 8 seconds off the pace—unless top-level engineering chal- in making changes. The first under pace mode. There was no way to prove it at the all the diesels failed, Pescarolo’s chances for overall victory lenges, but GM’s Corvette is is changing all prototypes America’s finest example of over to enclosed configura- moment, but they theorized some freak harmonic resonance were highly unlikely. success at Le Mans. Porsche tions, which Peugeot already in the shaft caused the failure. Gavin then tried to drive the In LMP2 the “American” Zytek with Bill Binnie at the with its stunningly fast RS uses. Audi, like all the other car back to the pit using its starter motor, but was prevented wheel took the lead. Fernandez and Kurosawa in the other Spyders hijacked LMP2, the open, LMP-class cars current- from doing so by an angry turn marshal who banged on the Zytek led initially, but mechanical problems caused them to class the ACO originated ly running, will be allowed door forcing him to stop. With no way to return to the pits, fade. The GT1 race was so strong among the leading Astons and designated as a place to run its current designs for for advanced, small-scale two more seasons. Although the Corvette was officially withdrawn from competition a they were now 8-9 overall, leading the remaining Pratt and constructors and wealthy pri- one doubts Audi would miss short time later. Miller Corvette by a full lap. vateers. Now Honda, under the opportunity to make the Then, after only 23 laps, crashed one Dawn is treacherous at Le Mans. The light is inconsistent its Acura brand, has indicat- change for next year, simply of the three leading Audis! He’d just taken over from Lucas and everyone is tired, including the machinery. Risi ed a serious intent to com- because of the second point pete with Porsche by fielding Luhr and was on a tear, setting a new lap record for the car. Competizione, though, seemed oblivious to these facts. Its of the ACO’s new rules: the a three-car program in the allowance of bio-mass fuel! Going wide, under full throttle at Terte Rouge, a tire ran #97 car had two full laps on the GT2 field, the discs and U.S. Expect to see both at Audi’s genius engine over the white stripe that marks the edge of the circuit. pads were routinely changed, the were triple Le Mans in the near future. designer, Ulrich Baretzky, Normally, no problem, but with a light rain wetting the stinted and the car was “right” to run to the flag. Jaime Racing is in for some inter- was the first to propose painted stripe he lost traction for an instant and that was all Melo had just taken over from Johnny Mowlem and the esting changes, as the con- diesels to the ACO years stant need to compete and ago and got his wish with it took. The odds were evened: it was now two Audis weather gave indications of improvement. The Brazilian was excel will continue to pro- the current rules. But always against two Peugeots…and two Pescarolos! The veteran lapping faster than the competition. It’s not that he was vide ever better and more in the back of Baretzky’s French team owner’s two gasoline-powered, Judd-engined pressing to make time; it was simply the ease of driving a efficient equipment.

84 Sep/Oct 2007 85 AA5/07 82-87 Le Mans 12/23/07 8:42 PM Page 86

LE MANS

well-setup car on a track that lost much of its congestion to attrition. As he headed down toward the first chicane on the long back- straight, the tires suddenly lost traction—per- ALMS haps oil or hydraulic fluid mixed with rain. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS Melo, who seldom makes mistakes, crashed (Teams and Drivers as of heavily. He was able to limp back to the pits, , April 21) TEAMS: P1: 1 Audi Sport North America 126, but even with time-consuming repairs it was P1: 2 Creation, 87, still not right. Mika slid into the to take P1: 3 Lola, Autocon Motorsports 49, P2: 1 Porsche, Penske Racing 119, over and quickly returned. The crew tried P2: 2 68, P2: 3 Dyson again, but it was no use. The engine was over- Racing 66, GT1:1 Corvette Racing 126, GT2: heating and the car was done. Gloom. Risi still had one bul- The forever controversial finish; under yellow after 24 hours. 1 Ferrari, 109, GT2: 2 Porsche, Flying Lizard Motorsport 106, GT2: let in the chamber with the Krohn car, but realized they The finish crowd was still the same, but with umbrellas. 3 Porsche, Tafel Racing 69 were almost too far down to think about the lead. Second, DRIVERS: P1: 1 122, Allan though, was a possibility. McNish 122 both of Audi Sport NA, P1: 2 Then about 7:30 in the morning, as Dindo Capello in the 100, 100 both of Audi Sport NA, P1: 3 Clint Field 87, P2: 1 overall leading Audi was arcing down Les Hunadieres at 107, 107 well over 300-plus kph, the left rear wheel came off. It’s a both of Penske Racing, P2: 2 98, 98 both of testament to the strength of the Audi’s construction that he Penske Racing, P2: 3 David 68, survived unharmed. The silver-and-red machine smashed 68 both of Highcroft Acura, GT1: 1 Oliver Gavin 122, Olivier hard into the first chicane barrier, destroying Audi’s best Beretta 122 both of Corvette Racing, GT1: 2 chance for a seventh win (and co-driver Tom Kristensen’s 90, Johnny O’Connell 90 both of Corvette Racing, GT1: 3 eighth). This was no fault of the pit crew, as the car was on 26, Corvette Racing, GT2: 1 Jörg its second stint with its magic Michelins. Incredibly, the Bergmeister 92, Johannes Van Overbeek 92 both of Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsche, Italian ace walked away from the wreck, but it was a disap- GT2: 2 88, Jaime Melo 88 both pointing loss for the trio of vets who must have thought this of Risi Competizione Ferrari, GT2: 3 63, 63 both of Tafel one was in the bag. Racing Porsche As the morning passed and the afternoon’s finish approached, the rain moved in with a vengeance. Even though it was now one to one, Audi’s last racer still had the situation well under control with a six-lap lead over the ALMS SCHEDULE 2007

remaining Peugeot. The wet got into the other French Audi won LMP1 with ten laps to spare, while Peugeot, Grand Prix of Mosport coupe’s wiring and—rather than have it expire ignominious- saving French honor, was second and two of three Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, August 26 ly on the circuit—it was retired. As the clock moved toward Pescarolo-Judds, one French and one English, took 3rd and 3 p.m., the rain got even heavier. Suddenly, the yellow flag 4th. The French protos would have been 1st-2nd overall, if it Grand Prix of Detroit Belle Isle Raceway was displayed. There was no discernable incident on the weren’t for the diesels. Pescarolo’s fans, whistling in the Detroit, MI, USA, September 1 track, but the pace car was dispatched anyway. One won- stands, were angry at being robbed of victory by the new- dered if visiting NASCAR officials had somehow taken con- era diesels. After years of trying, they felt their heroes were trol to bunch the field for the finish. An official announce- cheated. Aston Martin, with , Braselton, GA, USA, October 6

ment was made that the yellow was out in the interests of and Rykard Rydell, won GT1. And Corvette’s , Monterey Sports Car Championships “safety.” Rumor filtered back that “some” of the LMP1 team Jan Magnussen and Johnny O’Connell came in 2nd; a most Laguna Seca Raceway Monterey, CA, USA, October 20 managers requested the reduced pace because, even with amazing performance for the Brit racers, as all six Aston full “wets,” their prototypes were almost uncontrollable. Martins finished! What a glorious start for Aston’s new Now the ACO was really in a dilemma, as it would be less owner, who has just purchased the company from Ford. safe to release the tightly compressed field. It was almost Porsche, amazingly, won GT2. The privateer team from impossible to see through the rooster tails of water that were France, IMSA Performance, with American Patrick Long at vacuumed off the track’s surface by the prototypes’ wings. the wheel, took the flag and with it recouped much of the Nevertheless, the race again went green. It turned out to be credibility Porsche lost against its Italian rivals in the past largely ceremonial, though, as the spacing in each class two seasons. Risi’s back-up team, , took 2nd. didn’t warrant a last-minute attack to gain position. It wasn’t a great year at Le Mans for American teams, Binnie’s LMP2 Zytek, even though it was still in the but Bill Binnie’s victory in LMP2 made up for some disap- lead, was garaged to find a frustrating problem with the pointing losses. In years past, the American flag was promi- wiring that could have caused it to fail. At the last moment nent on the overall winners’ podium. This year it was possible, the Zytek took to the track. Binnie had to make absent. With the unpredictable weather it was, however, one sure it was running at the end, as required to officially fin- of the most interesting mixes of marques and international ish…and in this case, win! teams in recent years.

87