RML
AD Group Le Mans News 2009
RML AD Group completes Snetterton Shakedown.
Issued June 4th 2009
RML
Completes Final Shakedown before Le Mans
Snetterton circuit has been busy
recently with teams completing their final shakedown tests
ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours next week. RML AD Group was
there on Tuesday with all three drivers; Mike Newton, Thomas
Erdos and Chris Dyson, completing an extended day’s
running in the team’s Lola-Mazda B08/86.
It is only the second time since
the official Paul Ricard test in March that the full driver
line-up has been able to work together with the team. Chris
Dyson may be the new face in RML AD Group’s driver
squad, but he’s not new to the Lola Mazda. In the
States he shares an almost identical car in the American
Le Mans Series with Briton Guy Smith, and has already secured
three podiums from the first four races this season. That
makes him very familiar with the handling, performance and
cockpit environment of the car, and the key issue to be
resolved at Snetterton was the completion of his seat fitting.
“The test went really well,”
said a buoyant Thomas Erdos. “It wasn’t about
setting-up the car, but it was a comprehensive systems check
to ensure that everything works OK and we’re ready
for six hours of Free Practice next Wednesday. The car ran
reliably all day, no problems, and it was good to get to
know Chris a little better. It has left us all in a very
positive frame of mind as we look towards Le Mans .”
The test was a valuable opportunity
for Mike Newton to spend time in the cockpit. Mike has had
his running severely curtailed this season, with stints
at Barcelona and Spa cut short by technical problems. At
Snetterton he completed more than 50 trouble-free laps.
“I was a little tentative for the first few minutes,
especially as we were all very aware of the fact that the
car will be on the truck for Le Mans in a day or two, but
I soon got into the swing of things,” he said. “There
was no official timing, but I believe my pace was very similar
to Chris’s and only a small margin behind Tommy. The
car felt great, and we achieved everything we wanted to.
From Chris down to Tommy, through our full range of heights,
we’re comfortable with the car, and looking forward
to the challenge.”
After the start the team has had
to 2009 there have been questions over reliability. “Of
course,” admits Thomas Erdos, “but that’s
something every competitor faces in the Le Mans 24 Hours.
It’s a very long race, and it places enormous demands
on every aspect of the car, not just the engine. The problems
we encountered in Barcelona and Spa served a useful purpose,
much as they were hugely disappointing, and they have allowed
us to focus on issues we might otherwise have overlooked
in our preparations for ‘The Big One’. I feel
we’re probably better prepared now than we’ve
ever been, and I know, and appreciate, the efforts that
AER has put in to these past few weeks. The engine is now
producing a little more power than it was at the start of
the year, and it’s getting nearer to parity with the
normally aspirated engines. I believe we’re now in
a very strong position.”
RML Team Manager Phil Barker declared
himself well satisfied with the test. “I came away
with a smile on my face,” he said. “I feel we
can now head for Le Mans feeling encouraged by the progress
we’ve made. It was good to get Mike into the car and
give him his first proper run for some while. He applied
himself with determination and got down to some very competitive
times. We were also able to try out some of the new failsafe
strategies that we’ve introduced to the car and to
refine the new intercooler and oil cooler arrangement we
fitted at Spa. That all appears to work very efficiently
and, all round, it’s been a very productive day.”
“Pace-wise, we’re not
far off by any means, as we proved in Barcelona and at Spa,”
concluded Mike Newton. “Provided we can run cleanly
and reliably, I think we have a very good chance this year."
RML AD Group took the LMP2 title at Le Mans in 2005 and
2006.
The Le Mans 24 Hours begins at 3:00
pm (CET) on Saturday June 13th.
Further
information please contact:
Dyson
Racing Website
RML: Rupert
Manwaring, Sponsorship & Marketing Director
Telephone: +44 (0)1933 402440
AD Group: Pauline
Norstrom, Director of Worldwide Marketing.
Telephone: +44 (0)1928 706 449