Le Mans Series 2007
Round 5. Silverstone 1000 Kilometers. September 14th - 16th 2007
Qualifying Press Release. Issued September 15th 2007

RML MG-Lola Second Ahead of Crucial Race

RML MG-Lola’s pursuit of the 2007 Le Mans Series LMP2 Championship remains on target after Tommy Erdos qualified the EX264 chassis second in class ahead of the crucial 1000km of Silverstone. The Brazilian, together with driving partner Englishman Mike Newton, will start fifth overall on the grid, behind the Team LNT Zytek 07S of Tom Kimber-Smith and Danny Watts.

The Wellingborough-based squad could confirm the 2007 LMP2 Championship this weekend, and their hopes have received an extra boost by the news that their nearest rivals, the number 40 Quifel ASM Team qualified in fifth place, 14th overall.

Tommy was first out on track, laying down a psychological marker against the team’s LMP2 rivals. He was immediately able to do this, and set a boiling hot pace, with a time of 1min, 35.847. This was the benchmark all
the other teams had to aim for, and for most of the session, no-one could get close to it. The time was 2.9 seconds quicker than the last time the team visited Silverstone in 2005.

With eight and a half minutes to go, Tommy returned the car to the pits, and the Team LNT Zytek was able to take the advantage, and the class pole position.

Tommy Erdos said: “I was pleased with the lap, and am happy with the position we achieved on the grid. From there we have a great opportunity to challenge for the lead of our class, and the head of the field. I am
looking forward to the race, as Silverstone is a very satisfying circuit for drivers.”

Mike Newton, Tommy's co-driver and the CEO of AD Group, said: “We are in a good position, and are encouraged by the fact that are closest rivals for the championship are nine places behind us. We have a clear advantage over our nearest competitors, and we will be looking for a good start to set us up for the rest of the race.”

Phil Barker, RML MG-Lola team manager, said: “The team have had an excellent period of preparation to this race, and we have been able to carry that through from the factory to the circuit. Tommy was able to put in
an impressive performance on the circuit today, which has sent an important message to our competitors ahead of the race tomorrow.”

Adam Wiseberg, Motorsport Director of AD Group, said: “It was an extremely strong showing from the team, and puts us in an excellent position for tomorrow’s race. We have a strong strategy in place, and I’m very confident that Mike and Tommy will be able to make excellent progress to the front of the field.”

LMP2 Qualifying Times

Pos	No.	Overall	Team	Driver	Car	Time
1	46	4	Team LNT	Kimber-Smith/Watts	Zytek 07S	1:35.149
2	25	5	RML AD Group	Erdos/Newton	MG Lola EX264	1:35.847
3	32	9	Barazi Epsilon	Vergers/Ojeh/Barazi	Zytek 07S	1:36.318
4	31	11	Binnie Motorsports	Binnie/Timpany/Buncombe	Lola B05/40 Zytek	1:37.416
5	40	14	Quifel ASM	Amaral/de Castro/Burgueno	Lola B05/40 AER	1:37.461
6	35	15	Saulnier Racing	Nicolet/Filhol/Jouanny	Courage LC75 AER	1:37.873
7	21	16	Bruichladdich	Moseley/Greaves	Radical SR9 AER	1:37.957
8	45	17	Embassy Racing	Hughes/Manning/Cunningham	Radical SR9 AER	1:38.010
9	27	19	Horag Racing	Lienhard/Theys/Van de Poele	Lola B05/40 Judd	1:38.986
10	20	20	Pierre Bruneau	Rostan/Bruneau/Pullan	Pillbeam MP93 Judd	1:41.559
11	26	22	Ranieri Randaccio	Randaccio/Lavaggi	Lucchini McLaren	1:45.045

High resolution images from Silverstone may be viewed and downloaded from the dedicated gallery.