LMS – Nürburgring – Sunday – Warm-Up
Caution The Best Policy For AMR The 20 minute race-day warm-up took place at 08:30 local time under beautiful conditions; it looks like it will be a very pleasant day indeed. Tyres and track were still cold though, evidenced by Darren Turner trickling out of the pitlane into the first corner and spinning the car. He seemed very frustrated on rejoining the track, smoking his tyres all the way to the next left hander. That’s one way of getting heat into the tyres... All cars were soon out on track, so the Speedy Racing Team Sebah guys had clearly done a good job in repairing the damage after Pompidou’s qualifying crash, the re-fettled Lola Judd certainly appearing very much back on the pace. Danny Watts was initially quickest in the session in Strakka’s Ginetta Zytek, whereas Aston Martin Racing seemed to have taken an understandably cautious approach. Despite this the Gulf-backed cars again looked awkward at times, particularly on the brakes into the first corner. Their eight drivers are going to have to concentrate extremely hard in the six hour race, though any difficulties are likely to be less marked as the track inevitably heats up for the 12:30 start and the track rubbers-up through the race. Mücke: “We tried some different things this morning but I only did one lap. I think it will be a tough race; the balance for the race is not as good as it was in qualifying, but I am looking forward to it. I think the temperature and the track will help us, I think it is the track and not the car that is the problem. On used tyres it is more difficult for us and we need to see if we can double-stint the tyres, we can’t say exactly at the moment. It is very important that we can, otherwise we’ll have real problems, but we’ll have a look after the first stint to see how we are doing.” Jan Charouz in the 007 Lola Aston Martin took a rather less cautious approach to passing the Corvette however, the two making contact on the approach to the final chicane. The AMR driver seemed to think that Yann Clairay had seen him but there was an odd side to side contact, resulting in the front right wing of the Corvette being ripped off. “I didn’t see him there; I saw a car behind so I went to the right quickly to let him come through. There is no damage to the car, just the wing.” The Aston Martin appeared to be unscathed. Nicolas Prost finished quickest overall with a 1:44.988, just ahead of Watts and Collard. No prizes for guessing that Quifel were again quickest in P2. GT2 was JMW from Hankook, FBR with Felbermayr’s #77 first of the non-Ferraris. PS | 
