Le Mans 24 Hours - Scrutineering 19 - Murphy's Men

If you ranked entrants on the sheer ‘buzz’ emanating from around the team, then Murphy Prototypes would end up somewhere near the top of the pile. Greg Murphy’s frenetic enthusiasm has infused the whole team with a sense of determination and, dare we say it, optimism. The name may be new, but there’s no denying that the squad possesses all the right credentials – a trio of well-balanced, quick, capable drivers; an experienced team of engineers, mechanics and, in Nick Reynolds, a steady hand on the tiller; and the weapon of choice in LMP2 - the Oreca 03 Nissan.

The #48 Oreca demonstrated consistently good pace to finish third in the Spa 6 Hours, and would perhaps have finished higher still if it hadn’t been for a misunderstanding with Race Officials over the starting-driver requirements. The team concentrated on race set-up at the LM test weekend, and insisted that nothing should be read into the car’s lap times. Sticking to the harder-compound tyres throughout, the drivers were never encouraged to go for quick times. Making some allowances for that, and interpreting Paul Truswell’s analysis of LMP2 (here) accordingly, the implications are that Murphy’s line-up should average out as one of the quickest in the category.

Warren Hughes will be making his ninth appearance in the 24 Hours this year. His record includes a class win in 2005, and he brings considerable experience to the squad. He also knows what it’s like to face the La Sarthe circuit in the wet. “Rain – it’s the random ingredient that can throw that element of unpredictability into a race. It’s the sudden showers that can catch you out.”

“We’re confident the car will be good in the wet. We raced the Oreca in the rain at Spa, and loved it, so we’re sure it will be good here too, but Le Mans can be tricky. It needn’t be one thing or the other, and there can be changing conditions around the circuit – damp at Arnage, bone dry in the pits, and then torrential along the Mulsanne. When it gets like that, it’s challenging!”

Warren’s first Le Mans with MG in 2001 was like that. “The race started dry, but a few hours into the race the rain came. I sat there watching the clouds getting darker and darker, and then it tipped it down for the rest of the race. Anthony (Reid) got caught in the downpour and shunted the MG. It’s so easily done.” The car sustained some rear-end damage, which was swiftly repaired, but the MG would eventually retire with a broken exhaust. “The only real danger is being caught unawares and aquaplaning at high speed, so having feedback from the team and watching the forecast is vital.”

At the other end of the scale, this will be the first LM24 for both Jody Firth and Brendon Hartley. “This will definitely be the biggest race I’ve ever done. It’s only Monday, and already I’m amazed by the atmosphere,” admitted Brendon, gazing round the Place de Republic. “The level of interest from the local people is amazing. There are so many of them here, and it’s only scrutineering!”

“It’s also great that I’m here with Murphy Prototypes. There’s a tremendous attitude in the team, and they are a great bunch to work with. There’s a bit of ribbing, of course, but it’s all really good natured, and it’s important, I think, that you have a bit of fun, even when you’re facing something as serious as the Le Mans 24 Hours.”

While this may be Brendon’s first Le Mans, several of his single-seater contemporaries, including Alex Sims, are also competing this year. “This was a very exciting option that opened up for me, but it’s not a change of direction. I certainly haven’t closed any doors,” insists Brendon. “I’ve been enormously impressed by my introduction to sportscar racing, and while I’m taking things one step at a time, it’s definitely something I’m keen to explore further. I’d certainly be very disappointed if this ended up being my only race here at Le Mans.”

Brendon made his sportscar debut with Murphy at Spa. “I loved that race. It was just such an awesome experience. If that was my introduction to racing prototypes, then I’m sure I’m really going to enjoy the 24 Hours.”

It’s also the first time in many years that Brendon hasn’t been racing in a one-make series. “What amazes me is that it’s so evenly-matched,” he says. “I can see that the LMP2 field is very competitive this year, and I’m told it’s never been as tough as it will be for this weekend’s race. I look down the list of other driver’s names, and it’s very impressive. Not only that, but there’s such a diversity of chassis, and almost every one of them seems to have a chance of winning. It’s going to be tough, but I think we should be one of the best prepared teams, and with Warren and Jody, I think we have a strong driver line-up.”

Jody Firth and Warren Hughes arrived at Scrutineering after a swift sprint from Rockingham, where they’d both been racing in the British GT Championship (of which, more later). “I think we’re in an excellent position going into practice and qualifying,” suggested Jody. “Our driver combination is strong, with a very competitive average lap time. We’re also well capable of keeping the car on the black stuff and still maintaining a good pace. We also have the support of a very experienced crew, and provided we can keep out of trouble, stay reliable, and have a good, clean race, the prospects look promising.”

Jody was also very conscious of the weather. “It was dry here during the test, which means I’ve not yet experienced this circuit in the wet, or in the dark. Those are some new experiences to look forward to!”

Greg Murphy was on top form, as always, and soaking up the atmosphere as he watched his car going through the scrutineering process. “I’m just over the moon to be here, and delighted to have gained an entry. The car looks great - we’ve made a huge effort with that, and the Irish Racing Green suits the car perfectly,” he says, proudly.

Warren did advise us that the drivers have been told of a couple of additional changes to the track since the test. The Astroturf that had been laid down on the outside of the final element of the Porsche Curves (thought to be where Tréluyer made his astonishing pass in the final hour of last year’s race) has been removed, and replaced by rumble strips. It is also understood that further work has been done at the start of the Porsche Curves, where four GT cars had accidents last Sunday, although dsc’s own visual check on Wednesday morning didn’t reveal any obvious changes.

Warren and Jody at Rockingham

While Warren Hughes and Jody Firth share the Murphy Prototypes Oreca at Le Mans and in the ELMS, they’re in the same team but different cars in the British GT Championship. They were in action on Sunday, while others were working through scrutineering in Le Mans. Their GT fortunes were different sides of the same coin.

Jody Firth’s race did not go to plan. Competing for Team WFR in GT3, and co-driving a Ginetta G55 with Riki Christodoulou, Jody finished fifteenth. “Our team has done some significant development on the car, and that’s why we’re a fair bit quicker than the other teams. We were on for another good result, with Riki running fourth before he collected a puncture. That dropped him well down the order, but with a fresh tyre fitted, he was by far the quickest.”

Riki made up a stack of places, but an incident brought out the safety car, and in a mix-up within the team, both WFR Ginettas came into the pitlane together. “That cost us a lot of time,” shrugged Jody, “That not only set us last again, but we also picked up a ten-second penalty for having too many people working on the car – a confusion caused by having both cars in together. I fought back to fifteenth overall.”

“That was disappointing, because the team worked so hard. They’ve done an amazing job in producing such an excellent race car, and they deserved better.

Warren was sharing the WFR GT4 Ginetta G50 with Jody Fannin. “We won, but it wasn’t without its problems,” said Warren. “I was very pleased to set pole. I think the Lotus Evora should be stronger round that circuit, so it was satisfying to post the better time. I wasn’t feeling too good – in fact, I’ve been a bit rough since the test weekend. I got into the car for the race feeling dreadful – probably the worst I’ve ever been going into a race.” Warren pitted under a safety car to hand over to Jody Fannin, possibly earlier than planned, although seemed relieved to get out of the car. Fannin took up the reins, and worked back through to regain the class lead. “It was great to win, and that gives us a healthy lead in the championship. As a pairing, we’ve never really been under threat, but GT4 is not really where I see my career going, of course. I’m happy to do it for the (WFR) team, though, and it keeps my eye in!”