LMS – Spa 1000 Km – Friday Afternoon Notes
News & Gossip

The JWA Porsche was the unfortunate victim of a minor fire in the pit lane early in the morning session – Aidan Watt confirmed that the problem had been caused by a faulty fuel return line, a small amount of fuel spilt as the car pitted with a fire at the rear left corner.

“We’ll be out this afternoon: the boys are just checking and re-checking everything now.”

At the other end of Porsche fortunes, Marc Lieb was clearly very happy with his Friday morning efforts, a 2:22.775 was actually a lap where he hit minor traffic trouble.

“It should have been a 2:22.5 and we are running a reasonable amount of fuel, not full tanks, but not light either. We have a number of the Pirelli tyres that were used on the BMS car at the 24 hours, not enough for the whole weekend, but enough to make a difference I hope. Pirelli has been working very hard but there is still work to come on consistency.

“On set-up we have copied the BMS car and I think we can look forward to a big fight with the Ferraris.”

Richard Lietz at IMSA Performance meanwhile is hoping for the temperature here to rise, after a mid-afternoon shower: “The Pirelli cars are much faster and much stronger when the weather is cooler. We want the weather, and the track to get much warmer so that the advantage comes back to us (Michelin runners).”

Team Bruichladdich meanwhile has been working this morning with a new nose configuration on the #21 Radical AER, and will be back to back testing the original nose in the afternoon session. Rumours that a breast implant and tummy tuck had been considered are understood to be not at all funny.

Prospects for new prototype programmes are always cause for speculation and Henri Pescarolo was very happy to bring dsc up to date on Pescarolo Sport’s point of view for 2008, after rumours had linked his team with either a move to the ALMS or even the purchase of a customer Peugeot 908: “We are waiting to see what the ACO say about the situation for next season.

“As far as a 908 is concerned, if Peugeot want to place a car with me to provide more competition then of course we would look at this, but it is simply not possible for us to purchase a car.

“Remember that we are running two brand new cars this season and this takes time to work for a small team. I am fairly sure that Peugeot are not interested in placing their engine in any other chassis than the 908 at the moment either, so we must wait and see what comes next from the ACO. It will certainly be difficult to carry on next year in the same way if things do not change.”

At Luc Alphand Aventures, Le Patron was happy to confirm that the team is “80% likely to be running two Corvette C6.Rs next season, but we will not know for certain probably until after Interlagos.”

Anything more than the 2008 Le Mans Series would be impossible for Alphand himself: “The relatively short programme fits well with my main job with Mitsubishi” (team leader on their rally raid squad).

Rumours abound that the second car could see the return of the Ollies to a full European programme after their run at the Spa 24 hours. But Alphand was insistent that no final decisions have been made: “We have a very good relationship with Pratt & Miller but they will have to decide what the US programme is going to be before that can be properly discussed.”

Still with entry news, Peter Kutemann is racing the JMB Ferrari, with Bo McCormick and Maurice Basso. McCormick reports that the car’s handling problems this morning were simply down to tyre pressures at the rear.

Creation had a very good test at Magny-Cours on Tuesday of this week, and Ian Bickerton reports that “we’ve now got a third spring at the front and the back, and new front and rear anti-roll bar systems, all designed in-house by Ian Smith. We tested for five hours on Tuesday, and everything is going well here.”

Peter Owen comments that the missed session at Chamberlain-Synergy was the first the team has ever missed for mechanical reasons: he was grateful that the fuel leak became apparent before the car even left its garage.

Paddock rumour has it that the 2008 Le Mans Series season might include Monza, Spa and Silverstone (no surprises there), plus Barcelona, Interlagos (if this year’s event is a success) – and perhaps the A1 Ring…. on the assumption that the circuit is rebuilt by Mr. Red Bull.

No news on Neil Cunningham’s next edition of fatherhood, but the team’s Karl Patman became a dad again early this morning – Mrs. Patman having delivered a baby boy, the couple’s third child.

Embassy Racing team owner Jonathan France let slip that the team is about to move to a new workshop – up from 3,000 sq. ft. to 20,000 sq. ft. … so a huge increase….

Kruse Motorsport had a misfire in the first session, and the team hopes that the problem has been fixed, but won’t know until the second session - due off here soon, at 17.20. Jean de Pourtales isn’t keen on the changes at the Bus Stop, which make steering the car rather difficult (for someone with one arm): “It’s very difficult when I turn the wheel so far, crossing my arms.” Jean’s prosthesis is attached to the left side of the steering wheel, and he does all the gear changing with his right hand.

Next session due to start very soon…