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Total Spa 24 Hours - Hours Nine & Ten Eddie Cheever on the demise of the #11 United Autosports Audi: "The car went slower and slower and then the power just cut off completely after I’d heard a loud mechanical noise from the back. I’m very disappointed – it’s such a shame for the team and my co-drivers. We ran on different tires to what we did last year, so we were always chasing the right balance. It was fun to drive here again – I’m just gutted.” And his team-mates: “Matt had done a great stint before I
took over. Immediately after a Safety Car period the revs increased but the
speed didn’t when I hit the accelerator. I tried different gears so pitted. We
replaced the ECU but dropped nine laps and after that the Audi felt like a brand
new car and I drove the single best stint of my life. The R8 LMS was just
fantastic. It’s such a shame we went out so early.” Matt Bell “The start of the race was manic. The car’s handling wasn’t
great as I was on worn tires but made an adjustment in the pit stop which
improved the balance. Near the end of my stint the car suddenly lost power and
went into ‘safe’ mode so I had to do a re-set. What with the weather conditions
on Thursday and going out so early in the race, it’s been a bit of a baptism of
fire in terms of my maiden 24 hour race but it’s all good experience.” Mark Blundell “I am personally disappointed but more for the entire team
who worked very hard and the sponsors who have supported us. Of course it would
have been nice to drive with my co-drivers and get to the end of the 24 hours
and claim a top result like last year. It has been great to work with Mark,
Eddie and Matt.” Bad news then for the #11 squad but thee's continued good news for the #90 Team Preci Spark Mercedes team - DSC caught up with David Jones after his latest stint with the car lying in an excellent 15th overall: "We've had no major problems at all, we've kept out of trouble when others have been been throwing it off, particularly early on in the race. "We're single stinting drivers and double stinting the tyres, keeping our fingers crossed that we don't get rain because the (Avon) wets are a real problem, we can't get heat into them and they are destroyed in 8 or 9 laps." On the Safety Car: "We simply can't catch it at 120 km/h, it's going too quickly" Down at Ecurie Ecosse, Chris Needell was looking pleased with progress, the #79 car having no problems at all since the early race power steering issue: "We're battling away at our own pace in a little gaggle of cars between 17th and 20th. The boys are doing a great job, playing a waiting game and keeping it on the island." The #57 RMS Cup Porsche has stopped at the bottom of Eau Rouge. 00:14 Rain - again The #888 Haribo, #18 de Lorenzi and #57 RMS Porsches all receive drive through penalties for exceeding the maximum driver stint time. 00:24 The #92 Marc VDS Mustang is up into the top 20, passing the Ecurie Ecosse Aston as it does so. The #55 Graff Mercedes is in the gravel at T13 Piff Paff, the car had been running in 12th Antony Kumpen reports that the KRK Mercedes, despite being strong in the wet was almost undriveable in damp conditions. The team had no communication from Mike hezemans but it is clear that the car has been in the wall and has lost a wheel - Confirmed retirement. The GT4 battle is still on between the Lotus and Nissan, the 370Z's issues earlier though have given the Evora a near 4 lap cushion. Cars #41 (Marc VDS Ford GT), and #43 Faster Racing BMW Z4) get dribve throughs for exceeding stint length maximum. 00:39 More rain but only at some parts of the track 00:44 - SAFETY CAR as we have heavy rain here - unaware at present whether it is simply weather related or we have a further incident the #98 Phoenix Audi had moved up to second overall but has now stopped twice in quick succession we believe - It's losing laps to the leading pair and will soon start to drop down the order. |