Le Mans Series 2007
Round 4. Spa 1000 Kilometers. August 17th - 19th 2007
Friday Report
It has been a very long break for the Le Mans Series teams, with no race action since the Nurburgring at the start of July. Thomas Erdos has seen action in the British GT Championship at Brands Hatch and Silverstone, co-driving the #10 Damax Ascari KZ1R GT3 with Stephen Keating, but it has been six weeks since Mike Newton attacked a track in anger. The two Friday free practice sessions are therefore an opportunity for both drivers to get their eye back in, and also to address the changes made to the Spa Francorchamps circuit since they each raced here last year.
The circuit itself has seen two significant amendments. Once again, there have been alterations to the "Bus Stop" chicane, to the point that it now no longer exists. The famous lay-by (left-right, short straight, right-left, and out again) has disappeared, to be replaced by a more conventional right-left sequence, but on a significant scale. Extensive run-offs shoulder either side of the track, and the whole chicane is built out upon a new plateau of reclaimed land that overshadows the old support paddock. "It's very slow on the way in," suggests Tommy Erdos. "I do prefer it the way it is now, from the safety point of view, but it's very awkward, too tight, and it doesn't allow you to flow smoothly through the bends. The kerbs are a bit harsh too, but I suppose we'll get used to it!"
The other changes are at La Source. A totally new pit complex (above, with incomplete grandstand to the left) now overlooks the signature Spa hairpin, and the surrounding walls have been reprofiled to accommodate the fact that the start-finish line has now been moved to the upper paddock straight. Yet again, generous swathes of run-off border the track, and the concrete walls have been moved back. "It looks very different indeed," claims Mike Newton, "but actually, you treat the track exactly the same as before. You're following the same lines, and using the same tarmac, but all your old points of reference have gone." That means braking points have to be recalculated, and apex and turn-in positions reassessed.
First Session
The day's first session got under way at midday under uncharacteristically blue Ardennes skies, bright sunshine lending a rich green tint to the surrounding forests. Thomas Erdos was first out in the RML MG Lola EX264, and moved straight to the top of the LMP2 screen with a first flyer of 2:12.561.
That initial benchmark was soon bettered, first by Michael Vergers in the Barazi Epsilon Zytek, and then by Warren Hughes in the Embassy Radical (partnered this weekend by Darren Manning while regular co-driver Neil Cunningham awaits the imminent arrival of his first child - due yesterday).
After 20 minutes the MG stood 12th overall; a minor improvement from Erdos setting a new best for the #25 of 2:12.068. This had been insufficient to stave off assaults from Stuart Moseley in the Bruichladdich Radical and the Belgian crew in the #27 Horag Lola - local knowledge perhaps giving the Swiss team an edge this weekend - and leaving the RML entry fifth in class.
Just before the half hour Tommy prepared for his final run, and two green sectors at the start of the lap suggested a quick time was on the cards. He duly swept across the line to record 2:09.670, and thereby claim ninth overall, second in LMP2 behind Verger's earlier time of 2:09.611. He pitted at the end of the next lap, and handed over to MIke Newton.
Mike was rapidly into the groove, and started out with a 2:16.822. He followed that with a succession of very similar times; 2:15.834, 2:15.846, 2:16.513, 2:15.698, 2:15.246 and 2:16.091. It was extraordinarily consistent running but, as he later admitted, he was "always finding traffic through the third sector! I didn't get a single clean lap. It was becoming a little frustrating."
Elsewhere within LMP2, most of the acknowledged quicker drivers had completed their stints and handed over to their co-drivers, but one exception was Miguel de Castro. The Spaniard had taken over the #40 ASM Lola from Miguel Amaral, and came through with a much improved time for the AER-engined Lola of 2:09.869 - eleventh overall and third in class behind Tommy.
Shortly afterwards a light drizzle began to fall, but it wasn't enough to deter most drivers, and Mike Newton rounded off his ten laps with a new best of 2:14.009. Under the circumstances, it was an excellent time, and placed him neatly among some of the quickest on track at the time.
With less than a minute of the hour remaining MIke brought the MG back to the pitlane and ended RML's opening session. He was grinning broadly. "I was going no-brakes through Eau Rouge!" he said with considerable satisfaction. "That feels pretty awesome. I'm not quite "flat" yet, but I'm getting there. I'm also nearly flat through Blanchimont, so I'm feeling pretty good about things just at the moment." How had he managed to fins almost two seconds for that last lap? "I finally got a clear lap," he said. "Up until then, I'd kept meeting traffic through the middle section."
Top LMP2 Times - Session 1
Pos No. Overall Team Driver Car
10 Barazi Epsilon Vergers/Ojeh/Barazi Zytek 07S
11 RML AD Group Erdos/Newton MG Lola EX264
12 Quifel ASM Amaral/de Castro/Burgueno Lola B05/40 AER
14 Embassy Racing Hughes/Manning Radical SR9 AER
15 Bruichladdich Moseley/Greaves Radical SR9 AER
17 Horag Racing Lienhard/Theys/Van de Poele Lola B05/40 Judd
18 Saulnier Racing Nicolet/Filhol/Jouanny Courage LC75 AER
19 Binnie Motorsports Binnie/Timpany/Buncombe Lola B05/40 Zytek
20 Kruse Motorsport de Pourtales/Siedler Pescarolo C60 Judd
21 Pierre Bruneau Rostan/Bruneau/Pullan Pillbeam MP93 Judd
Second Session
The day's second free practice period started even later in the afternoon than the 5:20 schedule, thanks to the frequently interrupted World Series Renault session that preceded it. The Le Mans Series cars weren't out on track much before six o'clock, but the light was still good, and the surface significantly less "green" than it had been. A full day's activity had laid down a generous layer of fresh rubber, and times looked set to improve.
Mike and Tommy had spent the hours in between poring over the video footage from their earlier runs, comparing notes, and seeking out those areas where a few tenths might be saved.
The intention had been to give both drivers an equal share of the hour, but in the end Tommy stayed out for the duration after Mike decided that the Brazilian could make better use of the time. This may have been prompted by the light drizzle that set in part-way through the session, enough to wet the pitlane anyway, but leaving some corners totally unaffected - typical Spa conditions really, and something that it was useful to address ahead of the likelihood that Sunday's race may offer similar situations.
It wasn't until after the track had dried again that the times really began to tumble. The first to show a significant improvement was Angel Burgeno in the Quifel ASM Lola, who set an impressive 2:07.180. On Tommy's next lap the MG came through in a much improved 2:08.3, followed by a 2:08.1, and then a 2:07.750 to move eighth overall, second in LMP2.
That was how the session closed, with the ASM Lola quickest in the class, Tommy second, and Michael Vergers third in the Barazi Zytek by almost a second. Stuart Moseley in the Bruichladdich Radical ended up fourth, almost three seconds behind the leaders. "We've seen this from them before," said Erdos later, with reference to the rapid time set by the Portuguese Lola. "They did much the same thing at Valencia, but then couldn't repeat it in qualifying. We'll just have to see what they can do tomorrow, when they have to qualify on the same tyres they intend to use for the race, but overall, we're very happy with the way things have gone today. The car feels really good."
The Brazilian's only gripe appeared to be the driving standards of one of the GT2 Ferraris, which had chopped across his nose at the first of the two Stavelot corners, weaved towards him wildly into the second, and then thumped the MG up the rear on the exit. There was minor damage to the back of the car, although even a small panel is a costly replacement on cars at this level.
Phil Barker wasn't overly concerned. "We're just working through our usual routine," he said. "This is the first time we've raced a medium-downforce setting this year, so we're simply working towards achieving a good balance for the car. We made a number of changes after the first session, and those have been positive. The grip level is steadily improving now, but as much as we move forwards with the car, so does everyone else. Tommy did well to find that seven-seven, and we're pleased to be up there with the P1 cars again. "
5 Quifel ASM Amaral/de Castro/Burgueno Lola B05/40 AER
8 RML AD Group Erdos/Newton MG Lola EX264
9 Barazi Epsilon Vergers/Ojeh/Barazi Zytek 07S
For full results of all races and events being staged at the Spa this weekend, please visit this link, where it is possible to download PDF files for all sessions
The third Free Practice session is scheduled for 09:45 tomorrow.
There are high resolution images posted in the Spa Gallery.