Le Mans 24 Hours - Scrutineering 14

Zytek Nissans

There are a trio of LMP2 Zytek Nissans on the grid this year, Two from 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours and LMS Champions Greaves Motorsports and a single car from 2012 Spa 6 Hours winners Jota.

Greaves Motorsport

Greaves of course have a car apiece in both the ELMS and FIA WEC with both entered here, the ELMS car fielding 2009 GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez and father and son combo Martin and Alex Brundle.

Lucas Ordonez

“I forgot all of this from last year, it was so overwhelming in my first year that in some ways it’s like experiencing it for the first time!

“Testing went really well for us, I only did 4 laps in the afternoon but all was fine, we’re all really happy.

“We will though have a lot of work to do on Wednesday and Thursday and we’ll probably be a little under the radar, not looking to run at the top of the timing at all.  We’ll stay calm, find our level and not push, certainly to keep off the kerbs and not get any punctures  - I had 6 punctures here last year (when he finished second to Greaves with a Signatech Oreca Nissan).

We can have a quick and consistent pace from all three drivers and that will be our real strength, anything that interferes with that consistency is what we need to avoid so no heroics and look for economical running on fuel and tyres.”

Alex Brundle

“It’s my first real experience of scrutineering here and I can’t believe how big an event they make of something that at many events I go to they do in the back of a tent in an empty paddock.

“There’s a real buzz here around the whole event and it really is massively exciting to be part of it.

“It also gives me back a real enthusiasm about motorsport when you see the media, the competitors and the public all so enthused about it at such close quarters and in such large numbers.  I love racing where I do but all too often in some single seater series you race in front of almost entirely empty grandstands – this renews your faith in the sport.

“Now it’s about soaking it all in and getting on with the job – It’s time to get it done!”

Jota

Over at Jota the plan is beginning to come together:

Sam Hancock:

“This is an epic LMP2 field, real quality in depth and a very big deal for us.

“We’re up against serious teams and serious drivers and when you add in the additional spice of so many different chassis and engine variety too it’s a really interesting contest.  There has never been a class battle like this here.

“Of course it is great to come into this on the back of a win in a WEC race and a successful Test day – The real work though starts now."

Haruki Kurosawa

“I raced for Jota back in 2005 and it is very good to be back with them.  I tried to get back with an LMP programme many times but this is a strong car and a good team, my good relationship with Zytek helped me to come back here and I know we can go well.”