Le Mans 24 - Qualifying & Race ***spoiler***

Red cars looking good in GT2 at half way/
Risi with Bruni, Virgo Bell, BMSScuderia Italia Ruberti, and JMB with Daudi at the wheel currently are all spaced out by a lap.

In a cruel twist of irony, the last thing Christian Montanari had said over the team radio before AF Corse's GT2 Ferrari F430 GTC was forced out of the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours was that the car was handling really well…

The #78 car was lying third in class when it suddenly rolled to a halt out on-track in the run up to midnight with a drive-train failure, stranding its Italian driver and bringing a premature end to a strong challenge that shattered the dreams of Montanari and Toni Vilander – La Sarthe debutants both – as well as more experienced team-mate Thomas Biagi.

Farnbacher Racing, best of the GT2 Porsches, losing time with undertray problems, while the Flying Lizards just want a finish now running many laps down.


Brabham and Magnussen going at it hammerand tongs as AM and Corvette battle it out in 15th and 16th. Also in 18th and 19th, separated from the leading pair by a LMP2 car are Picini and Gavin as the arm wrestle between the two GT1 teams continues.

Jack V and Dindo still on the same lap. The gap opening and closing with stops and traffic as Audi chases Peugeot for top honors.

 

Kind of a shame the Porsches are gone in GT2 (relatively speaking). Never thought I'd ever think that.

Nice close battles everywhere at the dozen, all you can ask for.....

 

Has taken the sting from the fight, I agree.
Enjoying Virgo's progress. A bunch of weekend warriors of no fixed abode doing the dream.

 

I love those in car camera shots. Just wonderful. Maybe Jacque has found his niche, it certainly wasn't NASCAR.

 

Jack V only Peugeot on slicks still as the rain arrives.

Pits and asks for full wets.

Will the other Peugeot change again? They took inters a minute or two earlier.

 

It is raining at Le Mans with 10 hours and 40 minutes left


#22 Courage-Oreca YGK in the heat of the night

Sunday 15 June 2008 - 03h37

#22 Tokai University - YGK Power, Courage-Oreca Ygk in its garage while the team set about fitting new, larger diameter coolant hoses for the brakes which are overheating. It is back out again

http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/actu/2008-06-15_CR_3419_gb.html

Spyker retires both cars

http://www.spykersquadron.com/?pag=71&newsid=579

# 12 Charouz/Cytosport Lola B07/10 Judd out with a broken valve

(after 10 hours)

LMP1 news

# 11 Dome S102 Judd with oil problems

http://www.janlammers.com/engels/XmlParser/index.asp?xmlfile=algemeennieuws\engels\nieuwsuk.xml&xslfile=algemeennieuws\item.xsl&id=514

Porsche frustrated by GT2 misfortunes

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68321

Safety car out with Marcel Fässler's crash with # 6 Courage-Oreca LC70 Judd

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68320

http://www.fiagt.com/driverinfo.php?drivername=Marcel%20F%C3%A4ssler

 

JV on Michelin rain tires.

 

Ferrari 1-2-3-4!!!!

 

Corvettes running Earnhardt spec front bumpers?

 

lol

 

That Vettes engine note is BRUTAL!!!! I remember at LB it was SO LOUD!!!!



Aston not starting

 

Its in the garage!!!!

 

Team chief for Risi called to Marshal's office!
Penalty?

 

What could they have done???

 

That's a shame.

However, the gap between the Peugeot and the Audi in only 6.5 sec now!

 

Was that just a GT1 Lambo???

 

Audi Takes lead!!!!!

 

AM has a lap up on the Corvettes but the 007 Aston has drive-train issues now.
No word on why Risi was called to the principal's office. Their car has pitted and taken on full wets to replace the inters.
Bell in the Virgo car continues to chase in #2 without power steering.

 

At 10:30 Milwaukee time the director cut to an onboard shot that was just amazing from one of the Peugeots and the announcer said something amazing...."While we have an onboard shot, lets just enjoy the ride." I don't remember the announcers name, but thank you so much for knowing you don't have to talk non-stop. He is knowledable and knows the cars are the show, not him.....its refreshing.

Mark

 

It's nice to have David Hobbs back in for commentary on Speed now.

 

the race is still going on?

 

+1...most fun commentator in all of racing.

Mark

 

Oh yeah. I think we still have about 8 more hours. Gotta love 24 hour racing.

 

Thanks John. i'm gonna tune in radio Lemans now

 

what happened?

Audi takes lead in the rain

http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=293662

Three different tires in top three in GT2

Risi Ferrari: Michelin
Virgo Ferrari: Dunlop
Scuderia Ferrari: Pirelli

Risi Competizione hour 15 report

http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=293658

Pictures from the endurance race

http://motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?S=LEMANS&E=24_Hours_of_Le_Mans/Saturday_race&Y=2008&O=288



# 10 Charouz Lola LMP1 coupe with Aston Martin V-12 close to top 10

Stefan Mücke at the wheel

after crash earlier with Jan Charouz - now 3 laps down to # 18 Pescarolo Judd of Rollcentre Racing

First closed Lola since 1992