LMES "Valencia" race thread

[harvick#1]

can't what for this race.

the race weekend in May 4-6

I'm really anxious to see what Swiss Spirit do with a Audi engine

also the Zytek's will make their first race with T2M in LMP2

[Tom206wrc]

I can't wait neither... ;)

[Erki]

Hopefully RfH will pick up and get a good result. :(
And Creation will be back!
And I hope ORECA gets the Saleen sorted out and gives the Vettes and Astons a run for their money. :D :up:

Oh, and wish the mechanics who got burned on Friday will be back fine. :D :up:

[Tom206wrc]

Just over one week to wait !! :bounce:

[Erki]

I read that Creation is still not ready yet. :(
And there's no second Courage there either. :(

[Scuderia ferrari]

Ditto, i can't wait either! Will be intresting to see what swiss spirit can do if there car is ready (please!) Even though we have not T.V coverage of it, i'll be very intrested to see how the race unfolds

[harvick#1]

I noticed Romain Dumas is in a Pescarolo for the race :D

its sad Creation can't make it yet. but the Zyteks are ready :D

[Erki]

T2M is with a Dome though. ;)

[Tom206wrc]

WAKE-UP !!!! :p :

First free practice is over... ;)

Results on http://www.lemans-series.com

Both 908s in front(Gené in front of Lamy) then comes the Lola-Judd Charouz(CZ), the first Pescarolo(driven by Dumas)...the Lola-Audi of Swiss Spirit was only 7th, 2.7s slower than the 908 of Gené :confused:

Second part of free practice in about 1 hour...

[Tom206wrc]

Second free practice over :D

Both 908s again in front, but with Minassian and Sarrazin replacing Gené and Lamy...

Bouillon takes 3rd in his official Pescarolo-Judd(a little more than 1s slower than the bastest 908) and surprise, the LMP1 Zytek(Shimoda/Johansson) comes 4th :eek:

Then the first LMP2 come after(Zytek and Lola-MG)... ;)

Disappointment for the Lola-Charouz(16th fastest) and the Lola Swiss-Spirit(17th) :(

[harvick#1]

good to see the saleens were 1-2 in both practices :D

disappointed with Swiss Spirits speed, hopefully they will adjust to the Lola alittle quicker

[1LM1]

So am I. Swiss Spirit is not fast enough so far.

On the other hand, I am very happy because Peugeot was on top today. Confirmation that Both the chassis and the engine of the 908 are very good.

Otherwise, the LMP2 cars are fast as expected !

[1LM1]

Interesting.
Romain Dumas thinks that the Lola LMP2 and the Zytek LMP2 should be very quick in qualifying tomorrow.

He even said that Valencia is "a track for LMP2".

[harvick#1]

hell nearly half the tracks in the ALMS series is suited for LMP2 cars, thank goodness for Salt Lake for the next race where they are finally back on a Permanent Road Course (where they belong, enough of this street racing crap)

[Tom206wrc]

Start of the 3rd free practice this morning at 9.50am(GMT+1) ;)

[Tom206wrc]

The Pugs in front again on free practice today, this time Lamy ahead of Gené, but gaps reduced again with the others(Zytek/Barazi LMP2 and at last, Lola-Audi Swiss Spirit!!) because lots of traffic, and hard clean run... :mark:


Qualifying practice at 1.25pm(GMT+1)... ;)

[harvick#1]

Racing for Holland has had it rough so far :( still they have not gotten a speed in the top 10

[Tom206wrc]

Qualifying started !!! :D

Gené and Lamy set times in the 1m23s at their first runs :eek:

Zytek seems to become stronger(LMP1 and LMP2) ;)

Lola-MG(LMP2) not bad also :D

[harvick#1]

Swiss ran 8th, looks like they are starting to figure out the car, but not surprised to see the Pugs running 1-2, Zytek has been very quick out there

[Tom206wrc]

Qualifying over for the Protos !!

Marc Gené and Nicolas Minassian will be the first on the grid, followed by teamates Pedro Lamy and Stéphane Sarrazin ;)

Two Zytek will be on the 2nd line of the grid :eek: then the best Pescarolo(Bouillon/Dumas)will follow, with the Lola-MG LMP2 just after... ;)

"Only" 7th and 8th for the Lola-Judd(Charouz) and the Lola-Audi(Swiss Spirit)but the race of 1000km is long, they can improve provide they're reliable... :mark:


All in all I'm really happy with 908s going from front tomorrow :bounce:

[harvick#1]

after 68 laps

Pugs run 1-2 with car 8 in front of 7 followed by the Zytek of Arena Motorsports, then its Swiss Spirit :D in 4th, with Charouz Racing's Lola in 5th

Barazi Epsilon is the current P2 leader

the Saleens run 1-2 in GT1 with Team Oreca in front of Racing Box

and GPC Sport is in 1st in GT2 in their Ferrari

notables (overall):
Racing for Holland 8th
Pescarolo Sport (17) 11th
RML 16th

[Tom206wrc]

Victory for the 908 driven by Pedro Lamy and Stéphane Sarrazin :bounce:

Retirement with clutch problem for the other 908(Gené/Minassian) ;(

Pescarolo well beaten by the Lola-Judd of Charouz-Racing and the Lola-Audi of Swiss-Spirit :eek:

But for me the true revelation of the race is the Zytek LMP1 driven by Shimoda and Johansson, as fast as the leading diesel Pugs(sometimes even faster!!) before its engine problem... !!! :up:

Very interesting race all in all ;)

I really liked the episode of battle in the traffic between Gené and Lamy !!

[harvick#1]

The pugs were 2 seconds faster than anyother car on the fastest lap.

it would've been awesome if the #8 pug retired cause then Charouz Racing and Rollcentre Racing would've had one hell of a battle for the win.

[Tom206wrc]

To me that would NEVER be interesting if any 908s had to retire !!! :mark:

[Tom206wrc]

A few more pics of Valencia... ;)

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?Y=2007&S=LMS&E=Valencia/Thursday

[Tom206wrc]

Another very cool race report with a lot of high res pics on http://www.ultimatecarpage.com !! :bounce:

[Tom206wrc]

Videos of MotorsTV in english !!! :bounce:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwNTMf_q6pw&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnM8sZ636Bo

[harvick#1]

awesome Tom, thanks for the find,

BTW did you see the start of the Utah race with the ALMS. the Audi goin from 8th to 1st in the first lap