FIA WEC, 6 Hours Of Bahrain - Race Preview

Part Two - LMP2

23 SIGNATECH NISSAN D Oreca 03 – Nissan Jordan Tresson/ Franck Mailleux/ Olivier Lombard
24 OAK RACING D Morgan – Nissan Jacques Nicolet/ Matthieu Lahaye/ Olivier Pla
25 ADR-DELTA  D Oreca 03 – Nissan John Martin/ Tor Graves/ Jan Charouz
26 SIGNATECH NISSAN D Oreca 03 – Nissan Pierre Ragues/ Nelson Panciatici/ Roman Rusinov
29 GULF RACING MIDDLE EAST D Lola B12/80 Coupé – Nissan Fabien Giroix/ Keiko Ihara/ Jean-Denis Deletraz
31 LOTUS D Lola B12/80 Coupé – Lotus Thomas Holzer/ Mirco Schultis/ Luca Moro
32 LOTUS D Lola B12/80 Coupé – Lotus Kevin Weeda/ James Rossiter/ Vitantonio Liuzzi
35 OAK RACING D Morgan – Nissan Bertrand Baguette/ Dominik Kraihamer/ Alex Brundle
41 GREAVES MOTORSPORT D Zytek Z11SN – Nissan Christian Zugel / Ricardo Gonzalez/ Elton Julian
44 STARWORKS MOTORSPORTS D HPD ARX 03b – Honda Enzo Potolicchio/ Tom Kimber-Smith/ Stéphane Sarrazin
49 PECOM RACING D Oreca 03 – Nissan Luis Perez Companc/ Pierre Kaffer/ Nic Minassian
 
Starworks have had a simply amazing 2012 in their first season of LMP2 racing. Most observers agree that the HPD engine is not the best, but the chassis is head and shoulders above the competition, that has meant that the opposition have had to push very hard to keep in touch, and that, in turn, has seen rather too many reliability issues and on track incidents for the trailing pack. The Interlagos altitude may have helped a little too last time out, the result as emphatic as they come.
 
Tom Kimber Smith joins the team in Bahrain, subbing for Grand-Am cup tied Ryan Dalziel, that will be little comfort for the opposition as Peter Baron and co. 'do the math' to see whether the title is yet in reach of a conclusion (it is - just!)
 
ADR Delta had emerged as the closest opposition to the HPD but contact on track and a subsequent lost wheel saw them lose ground in Brazil, the Silverstone based team will be on the attack in Bahrain, and will have high hopes of taking the fight to Starworks on a track which should suit the Oreca Nissan.
 
That's good news to for Pecom Racing, the AF Corse run squad rang the changes in Brazil, drafting in Nic Minassian for the remainder of the season and the Frenchman didn't disappoint, the team had one of its more convincing runs of the season thus far and will, together with ADR Delta, be looking to climb higher on the podium this time out.
 
Actually reaching the podium will mark substantial progress for Signatech who, despite showing real pace, have failed to convert that into solid and consistent results. Their general form took a step forward in Brazil - but the results didn't - Nil points again, across both cars, for the second consecutive race won't be doing anything for the team's nerves.
 
Greaves Motorsport by contrast have scored at every round this season and, whilst they are unlikely to contend for race wins if attrition doesn't feature, have shown real form with what is a classically Pro-Am line-up.  They lie fourth in the points standings and might finish the season higher than that if others stumble.
 
Oak Racing too will be looking to consolidate on recent form - their cars have been consistently fast but have all too often been a magnet for trouble - Both are now Nissan engined of course and, with the re-emergence of the now HPD engined LMP1 for Fuji, there's no confirmation yet as to whether we will see both LMP 2 Morgan Nissans again after Bahrain.
 
A fine run in Bahrain for the #24 was interrupted by early contact for Lahaye and then a double pit lane speed infraction from Nicolet, without that the car could have been a contender for the win.
 
Alex Brundle is again slated to drive the #35 after a great drive at Interlagos and there is nothing to indicate why either of the cars couldn't produce a fine finish - they just need to find the luck that has deserted them this year.
 
The Lotus LMP2 squad saw a substantial turnaround in form last time out, the #32 car in particular coming up with the goods despite some strategic stumbles in qualifying. Vitantonio Liuzzi was as fast as he was expected to be with James Rossiter underlining his status as a potential coming man in Sportscars too.
 
Not only was the pace good, so too was the reliability with Liuzzi and others making it clear that the Judd had come on in leaps and bounds - A podium is not out of the question if that form continues,
 
Finally Gulf Racing Middle East, now confirmed as being reduced to a single car effort for the remainder of the season, the team citing spares issues that don't seem to have been insurmountable for others. 
 
Plaudits are due though for their recovery from an Interlagos first lap shunt not of their making which depleted their spares stock still further, after enough damage to have made withdrawal on the spot a reasonable conclusion - there are signs of life here, but is it coming too late?