The
RML MG Lola EX265 will line up sixth in class for Saturday’s
start to the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours, with Tommy 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,” he said. “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, Tommy 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 Tommy and Mike 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 Andy, “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 Tommy,
“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.
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