The 2007 editiion of the 24 hours of LeMans is history. The anticipated epic battle between Audi and Peugeot came to pass, but the story didn't exactly unfold the way anyone expected.
Because a scheduled business trip coincided with the race weekend, I had the chance to see the race first hand. Of course I simply had to attempt to stay up for the entire event. Spending as much time as possible wandering the infield and taking in as much I could was another goal.
*Spoilers and impressions follow*
Audi brought three of their proven R-10 TDI diesel machine to this year's event. The working theory on the grounds was this: they planned to sweep the podium, spoiling the plans of overwhelming local-favorite Peugeot and their new 908 HDi FAP diesel machine.
It nearly worked. Well, not really. Things started to unravel in the second hour.
The Audi squad spent the first hour or so maneuvering around the Peugeots to assume the preffered 1-2-3 positions. Actually, it was and Audi 2-1-3 as the #2 car of Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello led from the #1 machine piloted by Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner, followed by the #3 of Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller and Primat.
Accelerating out of Tertre Rouge, the last corner of significance before the Mulsanne Straight, the #3 reportedly slipped on a damp patch as rain began to fall. The spinning Audi drilled the guardrail tail-first, retiring the car on the spot. Driver Mike Rockenfeller was unhurt. The remaining competitors circulated behind the pace car for an hour while track workers removed the wreck and replaced the mangled barrier.
As the sun rose and the race approached three-quarter distance, trouble struck the leading #2 machine while it held a six-lap lead. Driver Dindo Capello was approaching the braking area for the left-handed Indianapolis corner at a speed estimated near 200 mph when the left-rear wheel and tire came off his machine. Catapulted into a tire barrier, the Audi R-10 was damaged beyond repair while Capello walked away distraut but unhurt.
Dindo had been on an out-lap from the pits. Audi sources reported that no tires had been changed during the fuel-only stop, ending speculation that an improperly tightened wheel-nut had been to blame.
This unfortunate series of event left the #1 Audi in the lead, with multiple laps in hand over the #7 Peugeot of Jacques Villeneuve, Marc Gene and Nicolas Minassian, and the #8 Peugeot of Sebastien Bourdais, Stephane Sarrazin and Perdo Lamy. For a while the race looked like it would finish in this order. But LeMans is never so predictable.
With two-hours to go, the 37 Peugeot came into the pits and was promptly wheeled into the garage. The car was soon retired with an engine problem related to low oil-pressure.
Soon after, heavy rain swept the circuit. Before long the #8 machine was in the garage as well. The exact problem was not revealed, but damp electronics were suspected. Bourdais' car held a lead of several laps over the third place #16 Pescarolo-Judd of Emmanuel Collard, Jean-Christophe Boullion and Romain Dumas, so when it re-entered the course with a few laps to go, the Peugeot retained second place to the finish.
In the battle of the diesels, Audi's R-10 machines were a runaway success. Neither of the problems that befell the team were related to the engines. Still, Peugeot's first year program looked strong. Expect them to be stronger next year.
Other observations:
The Audi and Peugeot diesel machines are eerily quiet. Streaking by at a distance of just 100 feet, the only thing to be heard is the rush of air over the body and the whine of the gears in the transmission. Sixties-era Indianpolis fans will be reminded of the turbine powered "whoosh-mobiles".
Camping is big at LeMans - and not just your regular car-camping. It's not unusual to see a small tent pitched next to a new Aston Martin or Porsche 911 GT3. And then there are the tent cities set-up by tour operators.
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I wish I was there, Dan!
Was the Circuit de la Sarthe shortened for this year's race? I find it amazing that the Peugeots were running in the 3:26s. In my mind, I don't think they're as fast as the Toyota TS020 GT-ONEs that ran in 1999. I could simply be wrong.
I was watching the race on Speed Channel when Dindo's left-rear wheel came off before heading into Indianapolis (some birthday present for him). They said he pitted a few laps earlier and in fact the tires were changed. The broadcasters also mentioned he turned a 3:31 in one of the laps following the pit stop indicating all seemed fine at the time. The problem was a deeper issue that I can't recall at this time. When the #1 car came in for its next stop, the Audi team was very deliberate and checked every nook and cranny they could around the wheel hubs.
The Peugeots did quite well for their first crack at the 24. The Speed crew did a fantastic job mentioning that they didn't participate at the 12 Hours of Sebring due to delays in production. They also mentioned that the Audi team ran another 12 hours at Sebring the day after they won the race itself. I've heard it said that 12 hours at Sebring is just as punishing, if not more, on a race car as 24 hours at Le Mans because of the rough nature of the track's surface. What do you think about that, Dan?
It was nice seeing the Aston Martin claim the GT1 victory. Now if only Prodrive's other race team, the Subaru World Rally Team, could visit victory lane soon, that would be great! It also makes the race fan think that these GT1 class victories the Corvette Racing team has been getting are a joke from a competition standpoint. They can just cruise around since the only competition is each other.
I didn't really follow the GT2 action this year. I really would like to see Mika Salo driving something in GT1 or LMP as I think he's still more than capable of driving those vehicles.
Audi's press release for those interested:
www.audi.com/audi/com/en2/experience/motorsport_events/Motorsport_news.html
Confirmation the Circuit de La Sarthe was shortened and the Tetre Rouge corner was made quicker for this year's race:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=121233
that's hard core! Very cool...