FIA WEC, 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps - Warm-up

After two days of unexpected but welcome sunshine, the rain arrived at Spa with a vengeance late on Friday evening; a deluge of biblical proportions making driving on the local roads almost impossible. By Saturday morning the conditions had eased to a steady drizzle, but tracts of standing water and thick spray awaited the day’s first track action. The Radical Masters’ second race of the meeting was a fifty-minute sprint with 41 starters, and around 30 finishers.

What the event did achieve was to drive some of the water off the track in time for the WEC official warm-up at 10:05. By then even the drizzle had eased, although the track remained damp enough for spray to remain a problem - and, it has the potential to be a significant problem, according to some of the prototype teams and drivers. The removal of the louvres from the upper surfaces of the wheel arches, as part of current regulations, has created a new problem that became apparent during testing a few weeks ago. In conditions of heavy rain, the spray now comes up through the vents, and not only obscures the driver’s lateral vision, but also envelops the rear-view mirrors beside the cockpit. This creates an additional blind spot and makes it particularly difficult for LMP2 drivers to anticipate the arrival of a faster P1 car from behind, and then to see cars as they pass alongside – both when they’re being passed, and when actually doing the passing. This is an additional hazard to the anticipated problem of rubber pick-up and chuck-up, which has been predicted for some time.

So, Warm-up began on time at 10:05, despite some clearing up and minor barrier repairs required after the Radicals race. All 41 cars headed out as the pitlane opened, but the session had only been going a few moments before the first incident. John Martin in the ADR-Delta #25 Oreca 03 brushed the wall at the top of Raidillon, stopped for a check-up and then returned slowly to the pitlane.

Seconds later there was another spinner, this time the #28 Gulf Racing Middle East Lola, taking to the run-off at the end of the final complex but without contact. Similarly, there was a pirouette for the Jota Zytek a few moments later, but that was collected neatly and the #38 continued.

André Lotterer was fastest after ten minutes, setting times in the mid two-twenties. The only car at that time mixing with the Audis was the #17 Pescarolo Dome in the hands of Sébastien Bourdais, third quickest.

In LMP2, the first to show was Perez Companc fastest in #49 Pecom Racing Oreca. Bas Leinders was second quickest in the #35 Oak, with Simon Dolan third in the Jota Zytek.

For a while interest was concentrated on Jonny Kane in the Strakka LMP1 HPD, who caught the white line on the run through Stavelot and spun out across the gravel. It’s a rare sight to see the Irishman off line, but the marshals were swiftly on the scene and pushing him back onto the track. For reasons yet unknown, the only P1 not setting times was the #12 Lola; Nick Heidfeld static in the car and 35th overall after completing just three out and in-laps. Also still battling with issues was the #22 JRM HPD – three laps clocked and a best of 2:46, due apparently to a puncture.

In GTE-Am, the #50 Corvette was significantly quickest during the first half of the session to stand 22nd overall (2:48).

With fifteen minutes completed we had the next consequential incident of the session, with Brian Vickers in the #61 AF Waltrip going off before the final chicane, almost opposite the site of the old Bus Stop, and hitting the right-rear fairly heavily. The damage was immediately obvious, with the rear right wheel out of alignment and fairly major bodywork damage. The heavy but glancing blow came at the end of a lengthy loss of control.

Brian Vickers was not the only driver finding the conditions a challenge, and even the best occasionally get caught out. Allan McNish was the next to leave the racing line, taking to escape road at the end of the Kemmel Straight, but no harm done.

Marc Lieb in the #77 Felbermayr Porsche was already quickest in GTE-Pro, narrowly ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella in the #51 AF Corse F458, with Stefan Mucke third in the class. That’s how the situation would remain to the close.

Neel Jani had taken over in the #12 Rebellion Lola, and had completed a couple more exploratory tours, but still no flying lap to set a time.

Warren Hughes suddenly popped up as quickest in LMP2, setting a best for the #48 Murphy Prototypes Oreca of 2:34, but he had one more lap still to go. Then, just before the session ended we finally saw all four Audis back together again at the top of the screens.

The chequered flag was flapped soggily from the gantry over the startline, but too late to prevent a final spin for the #43 Extreme Limite Norma, and then a more serious one for Harold Primat in the #13. The Norma’s was of little consequence, but the Rebellion Lola hit the barriers a glancing blow at Raidillon that proved to be more serious than it looked. A small ding to the back of the car resulted in damage to the rear deck and a bent wishbone, although still fairly minor repairs compared to those incurred by the #61 Ferrari.

The final surprise came again from Warren Hughes as he crossed the line to end the session with a time of 2:30.417 to move into 5th overall, the fastest of the petrol-powered cars. Within ten minutes, it was raining again. The prospects look set for a wet race.

Top times

LMP1

1          #1 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro: 2:22.121
2          #2 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro: 2:23.200
3          #4 Audi Sport North America Audi R18 Ultra: 2:28.422
4          #3 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 Ultra: 2:29.386
5          #17 Pescarolo Sport Dome Judd: 2:31.353
6          #21 Strakka Racing HPD ARX 03a: 2:33.151
7          #13 Rebellion Racing Lola Toyota: 2:33.613

LMP2

1          #48 Murphy Prototypes Oreca 03: 2:30.417
2          #44 Starworks HPD ARX 03b: 2:33.656
3          #49 Pecom Racing Oreca 03: 2:34.421

GTE-Pro

1          #77 Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche 911 RSR: 2:43.920
2          #51 AF Corse Ferrari F458: 2:44.307
3          #97 Aston Martin racing Vantage V8, Mucke: 2:45.474

GTE-Am

1          #50 Larbre Competition Corvette C6-ZR1: 2:45.140
2          #81 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia: 2:48.974
3          #61 AF-Waltrip Ferrari F458 Italia: 2:49.398

For complete listing of times see later posting.

MP