And don’t forget that the Mulsanne Straight Ain’t
Strait!
Much conjecture has been made over the past
months regarding IndyCar driver David Malukas pre-season mountain bicycling
accident which cost Him his seat at Arrow McLaren. For which although as I’ve
said. While I’m Sad for Meyer Shank Racing’s tom Blomqvist, I’m very Happy for
Malukas’s return to an IndyCar cockpit. Where He’ll drive the remainder of the
season aboard MSR’s #66 beginning at Laguna Seca.
Thus I missed another Memo initially over
former IndyCar driver Mike Ice-Ice, Baby! Conway’s cycling accident some nine
days before this year’s 24 Heurs du Mans. As the Toyota FIA World Endurance
Championship (WEC)Hypercar driver suffered broken ribs and a broken collarbone
whilst presumably training for the upcoming Le Mans race! And will be replaced by former Toyota Hypercar
driver Jose Maria Lopez.
Lopez’s sudden call-up caused the Akkodis Asp
Lexus RC FLM GT3 team to once again scramble to replace Lopez’s departure.
As the team confirmed that current IMSA GTD Pro
Vasser Sullivan driver Jack Hawksworth will deputize for Lopez in His Le Mans
debut in the team’s No. 87 entry.
As Hawksworth got the call that Conway had
fallen while preparing to compete at Mid-Ohio’s four Hours Michelin Pilot
Challenge race, driving a Toyota Supra GT4 Evo. Only having a three day “Kit”
packed before hopping an Aeroplane to France, in order to make scrutineering
that same weekend.
Hawksworth said it’s not quite the seamless
“Plug ‘n Play” that you’d Arse-sume for Him being a Lexus driver Stateside.
Since there are multiple differences between the IMSA and Le Mans GT3 spec
racecars…
Most notably going from a High Downforce
configuration from racing on Detroit’s ultra bumpy street circuit, to a low
Drag Downforcce configuration for the ultra smooth, long High speed straights
of Le Mans.
As Racer’s Stephen Kilbey notes, the Lexus LM
GT3 WEC variant runs torque sensors,
virtual energy tanks and upon Goodyear tyers vs. IMSA’s Michelin’s. Not to
mention tweaks to the Lexus LM GT3’s Aerodynamics.
As Hawksworth noted how different the car felt
initially from Detroit’s High Downforce predominaently first and second gear
corners to being trimmed out and doing some 290kph! Which I think is roughly
180mph?
But “Union Jack” said that the Akkodis Asp
Lexus RC F seems to suit le Circuit de la Sarthe well, and the car seems
“comfortable” over the nearly 8.5 mile endurance circuit…
As I’ll be interested to “See” how the No. 87 fairs this weekend. Yet Hawksworth won’t have time to bask in the afterglow of His maiden 24 Hours of Le Mans race outing. Since He’s already booked His return flight to Charlotte in order to be back to His “day Job” at The glen. Competing in IMSA’s six Hours Enduro’ at Watkins glen on June 23rd, which is just a quarter distance vs. Le Mans…
