Another race, another year. As does anybody
remember las year’s outcome?
The 93rd running of le 24 Heurs du Mans had a
different flavour for Mwah. Due to it also having a Formula 1 and IndyCar race
running in parallel with this iconic Sports Car event.
After getting up early Sunday morning for the
last 90mins of Le Mans, I “watched”, Err listened to the Canadian Grand Prix, since
it was being aired live at 11AM Pacific on ABC. And then for dinner, the
IndyCar race live from Gateway, nee Wide World Technology Raceway. (WWTR)
All of this after having attempted my yearly
ritual of listening to half of the 24 Heurs du Mans Saturday, albeit
interrupted by IndyCar and F1 qualifying – the nerve of them, Hya!
As what happened to the universe stopping for
the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Eh? When Open Wheel Racing used to take this weekend
off. As it seems a long time ago now when Nico Hulkenberg won at Circuit de la
Sarthe on an “Off” weekend. Wayback in Gory 2015 when driving for Porsche,
aboard it’s all conquering Porsche 919, Ja volt!
Having just realized that was the ten year
anniversary of thee Incredible Hulkster’s Le Mans triumph…
And I was guessing El Capitano’, nee Roger
Penske was in France overt the weekend collecting His one of a kind Porsche 963
RSP, the lone street legal 963 on the planet! Built 50 years after that
“One-off”, insane Porsche 917K Street Car for Count Gregorio Rossi di Montelera
of the Martini company. Having raced the car once in 1971, before returning to
the factory for road use conversion!
Porsche
Debuts the 963 RSP, a One-off Racecar for the Street
Briefly
noted the NO. 88 Proton Mustang had big “Off” early in race. Right rear
damage/wheel. Think it retired?
Porsche 963 plays leapfrog with Ferrari 499P’s
during early portion of race.
First left for F1 qualifying. Then IndyCar Qualie’
at Gateway, where DJ WillyP’ claimed pole. Being Will Power’s 71st and latest
pole position.
11.5 hours in; the No. 24 Nielsen Racing LMP2
had big wreck. With full course, three safety cars yellow flag for nearly 40
Freakin’ minutes, including repairing barriers at Tete Rouge.
Sadly, at half race distance, the Wayne Taylor
Racing (WTR) #101 Cadillac V-Series.R (LMDH) Hypercar entry with Felipe Albuquerque
at the wheel pulled off track and eventually retired. Being one of the IMSA GTP
Prototypes competing.
Good, long interview with Wayne Taylor in
middle of night, i.e.; 4AM-plus local time. As Wayne’s so pragmatic and
cerebral when talking. Telling pitlane reporter Joe Bradley that the BRM in ’92
was the worst weekend ever at Le Mans! Later learning this was the BRM P351 for
which they lasted only 20 laps, Youch!
With Wayne noting He’d done Le Mans 13 times.
(1987-2002) Saying He was most proud of winning His class in the (Doyle-Risi
Racing) Ferrari 333 SP. While His best race ever was ’96 when Le Mans had no
chicanes on the Mulsanne straight like in Steve McQueen’s movie…
Also drove a Spice C1, NissanR390 GT1 and the
Northstar Cadillac and various Porsche 962C’s. As Wayne noted none of His
“guys” had been here before…
(8PM Pacific = 5AM France; Hour 13)
John Hindhaugh Cornfuzed Mwah by giving the
current running order Arse-backwards, starting with GT3 runners. As I was
expecting typical Hypercar-LMP2, then LMGT3 order, so I missed out on most of
GT3 runners. Only managing to remember the No. 21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296
GT3 with Simon Mann was leading.
Then quickly jotted the following. LMP2: #43-199-18.
Hypercar: #50-8-51. Meaning the Toyota was the meat in a Scuderia Ferrari
sandwich, Hya!
And then I called it a “night” for listening to
Le Mans, at the 13.5Hrs “mark”, with the Radio Le Mans Booth boyz’ noting there
were still 12 Hypercars on the lead la.
Hurriedly typing the following during the
“Hourly” report at 8:30PM Pacific. As I always enjoy noting the leaders before
leaving the race to “See” who’s still leading come morning…
LMGT3: #81-21-92
LMP2: #199-28-48-43
Hypercar: #83-51-50-6-8-12
Then more of my scrambled, hurriedly scribbled,
Err typed notes during final 90 minutes of race. Just missing the “Hourly”
update which strangely were on the half hour, Huh? Quickly noting the
following, since all of the Attenzione was on the leader of the race.
With just over one hour remaining, full course
yellow for stranded United Autosport’s No. 59 Mclaren 720S GT3 Evo. Leaves the
sharp end of the grid continuously rotating. As the No. 8 Toyota was in the
lead, Huh?
Then with one hour remaining, jotted following
for Hypercars: #83-51-6-50. Before Kevin Estre in the No. 6 Porsche Penske
Motorsports Porsche 963 jumped the Ferrari’s, leaving the field of Hypercars as
follows: #83-6-Fuoco-Giovinazzi, i.e.; #50-51 respectively, seeing three
Ferrari’s of the race’s top four, Momma Mia!
Whilst the No. 43 Europol Dillmann-Yelloly
entry led LMP2.
Then with 35+ mins remaining; #43 leading LMP2
issued drive-thru penalty for speeding in pit lane by Yelloly, Sheisa! As I was
rootin’ for this entry to win, Sigh. Whilst the Hypercars category continued
ricking over like a digital clock. With the order as follows: #51-83-6-50-12-7-5-38-4-35.
Ironically, four years ago, Robert Kubica,
Yifei Ye and Louis Deletraz’s LMP2 leading No. 41 car ground to a halt on the race’s final lap; losing class win to
their Seester’ No. 31 Team WRT stablemate!
This year Kubica and Ye won overall. And
Deletraz wins LMP2 Pro Am in “Spike-the-Dragon”. As AO by TF runs crowd
favourite purple Dragon livery…
With thee Krakow Kid’, aka Robert Kubica and
Yifei Ye becoming the first Polish and Chinese drivers to ever win Le Mans
outright.
While Britain’s overlooked Phil Hansen rounds
out the trio aboard the privateer No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P scoring a Hat
Trick for la Scuderia. Being Ferrari’s third consecutive victory in the
Hypercar era.
Yet it was the LMP2 class where all the drama
was occurring. With the #48 VDS Panis Racing having problem after taking the lead
due to #43’s aforementioned Drive-thru penalty. Mechanical issue causes them to
be some 18 seconds per lap slower, with the #43 reclaiming class win As Nick
Yelloly redeems Himself by re-taking lead with some 20-odd minutes left! Seeing
Yelloly cruise to chequered flag. Along with co-drivers Tom Dillmann and Kuba
Smiechowski.
The No. 48 cruelly finished runner-up. With the No. 199 finishes third overall and winning the LMP2 Pro Am category. With team owner P. J. Hyett and Dane Cameron enjoying the spoils with Louie’ Deletraz.
