Le
Mans Series 2008
Round 1. Catalunya 1000 Kilometres. April 5th-6th 2008
Qualifying Press Release. Issued April 5th 2008
RML
Hamstrung by Technical Issues
RML
AD Group’s Mike Newton and Thomas Erdos remain buoyant
ahead of this weekend’s 1000 Kilometres of Catalunya
in Spain, despite having two-days of practice and qualifying
hampered by engine management problems.
The
reigning Le Mans Series LMP2 champions came to Barcelona
knowing that they face a stiff challenge this season from
fresh teams, new cars and several highly-experienced driver
line-ups. In the end, they found that the greater trial
in Barcelona would begin from within. The team announced
a new engine deal in January, and the introduction of the
MG AER XP-21 unit heralds an exciting new phase in RML’s
sportscar programme. However, at the official Le Mans test
at the Paul Ricard circuit in France in March, the car suffered
two unexpected engine failures. Since then the team has
worked tirelessly in conjunction with engine preparation
specialists AER to address the problem, which had been traced
to a compatibility issue with a new bio-fuel formulation.
Tests in the UK demonstrated great strides forward, but
not until the squad arrived in Spain were they able to begin
detailed race-preparation procedures.
Over
the course of three, hour-long practice sessions, the team
made significant progress. Having been seventh fastest out
of fifteen in LMP2 during the first session, they progressed
to fourth quickest by the end of the second, and were faster
still during Saturday’s third period. “We’d
had engine management issues throughout the first two practice
sessions,” explained Phil Barker, Team Manager at
RML. “Then it looked as if we’d got on top of
them by the third, when Tommy set his fastest lap. Unfortunately,
during qualifying the problem seems have returned, although
the situation may also have been made more acute by the
wrong choice of tyres.”
Thomas
Erdos started qualifying with great confidence, and was
first on track at the beginning of the fifteen-minute session.
He was followed out by one of the Audi R10s, and during
the process of the out-lap, the LMP1 prototype swept by
the LMP2 MG to start the first flying lap narrowly ahead
of Erdos. Pushing on what Tommy thought would be his best
opportunity on fresh tyres – which peak just two or
three laps into a stint – Erdos was alarmed when the
Audi went sideways through Turn 3. “He got out of
shape and I had to back right off – otherwise I’d
have gone straight into the side of him. I aborted that
lap, and it would probably have been my best too. When I
came through for the next lap I could tell that the tyres
were past their best.”
On
such narrow margins are grid positions lost and won. RML
AD Group’s MG will now begin tomorrow’s 1000
kilometre, six-hour race from ninth in class, 21st overall.
“We’ll start the race from the middle of the
pack,” said Adam Wiseberg, Motorsport Director at
AD Group. “It will be very tough for Tommy, but it’s
still a six-hour race, and we intend to be there at the
end.” Thomas Erdos agreed. “This is a good team,
with an excellent record, and I’m confident we can
rise above this. It’s a very long race, but provided
we can make the most of our experience and the reliability
of the chassis, we can still be there at then end, and get
a good result out of this.” As Phil Barker concluded:
“We’re not here to qualify, we’re here
to do an endurance race. In that context, what’s one
lap?”
Thomas
admitted to being “disappointed”, but he and
co-driver Mike Newton are already looking ahead, towards
the race, which begins at 11:35 tomorrow, Sunday 6th April.
There
are high resolution images posted in the Barcelona
Gallery.
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