Le
Mans 24 Hours 2008
Le Mans Qualifying - June 12th 2008
RML
Looking Comfortable for Le Mans 24 Hours
The
RML MG Lola EX265 will line up sixth in class for Saturday’s
start to the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours, with Thomas Erdos setting
a time of 3:40.027 on very second-hand rubber and a full
race set-up. “We did that time with old tyres –
really old tyres – and a full tank of fuel. Given
a chance on qualifiers, I think we could easily have dipped
into the low thirty-sevens,” said Erdos. “Clearly,
the grid position we will occupy doesn’t reflect the
true pace of the car, but it places us in a strong position,
knowing that we’re quick enough to cope with all the
cars around us.”
An
accident during the first of Wednesday’s two qualifying
sessions had cost the team dearly in terms of track-time,
and with a priority to ensure that all three drivers achieved
their regulatory minimums, the team’s serious attempt
at a fast lap had to be postponed until Thursday. Having
set his time of 3:40, Erdos had been preparing for a run
on qualifying rubber, with a suitable fuel load, when the
session was red flagged and then terminated early.
“Going
for a qualifying run after the break would have compromised
our second session plan,” explained Adam Wiseberg,
Motorsport Director for AD Group. “However, we’re
confident in the knowledge that there is much more pace
in the car than we’ve demonstrated today. Allowing
Tommy to have a run on qualifying tyres might have achieved
a more representative time, but we now know that we’re
in excellent shape for the race.”
Phil
Barker, RML’s Team Manager, was happy with the situation.
“We didn’t get the chance to run on soft tyres,
but we’re not concerned about that. Even if we’d
found three or four more seconds, which certainly looked
on the cards, it would not have changed our strategy for
the race. It was more important to give the other two drivers
more time in the car, and they tell us we’ve created
a well-balanced car that’s easy to drive. In the long
term scheme of things, that’s more important.”
There
is recognition that the MG Lola, which claimed pole at Le
Mans in 2006, is no longer the swiftest car in the LMP2
category, but it enjoys a well-proven record for reliability
and as an inspiring driver’s car. In a twenty-four
hour race, these qualities generously compensate for any
lack of outright pace. “I know that I’m comfortable
with the car, and the longer I stayed out there, the more
confident I felt,” said Mike Newton, who set the fastest
lap he has ever recorded round the Le Mans circuit on Thursday
evening. 2008 will be his sixth Le Mans start.
Sharing
the car with Le Mans Series regulars Erdos and Newton is
Andy Wallace. This same driver combination won the LMP2
class at Le Mans in 2006, and is now looking for a third
win for RML in four years. “We’re more-or-less
where we expected to be,” suggested Wallace, “and
we’re quite happy with that. I was particularly pleased
to string together a lengthy run of fast race-pace laps
in the final hour, carrying out fuel and gearbox tests that
complete the data collection process that we’d had
planned for these sessions.”
Ray
Mallock, founder of RML, was in confident mood. “Apart
from missing out on the qualifying run because of the red
flag, everything has gone to plan today. That’s been
very satisfying, and I believe we’re in a strong position
now for the race.”
The
team’s next duty is to lead out the drivers’
parade through the centre of Le Mans on Friday evening,
where RML’s trio will spearhead a tribute to Lola,
celebrating 50 years of race car construction in 2008, and
also as a mark of respect to the late David Leslie, who
not only owned and raced Lola cars, but was also an RML
driver for many years. “This is a great tribute to
David,” said Thomas Erdos, “and I’m both
humbled and delighted to be part of this acknowledgment
to what he did for motorsport, and to Lola’s immense
heritage as a sportscar manufacturer. It’s a great
honour to lead out the parade.” The Grande Parade
begins at 6:00pm on Friday evening.
Please
visit the high
resolution gallery
for images from Le Mans 2008