PRESS INFORMATION 

Qualifying for LMP900 & LMP675 Classes – 30 Minutes

LMP900 Class

Tom Kristensen took his first ever pole position in sportscars after fighting for the honour with first Stefan Johannson and then teammate Frank Biela. 

While the works Audi’s waited in the pitlane and the Panoz team suffered mechanical and electronic gremlins with both their cars, it was the impressive Chrysler Oreca that set the early pace.  The Ascari Team also had its problems with the number 4 car not taking any part of the session, sidelined with engine problems.  The number 3 car came back into the pits after only one lap after suffering a driveshaft failure.  The team worked hard and the car re-emerged from the garage after only ten minutes.  Stefan Johannson took provisional pole position after ten minutes, which he held until the works Audi’s emerged half way through the session. 

Kristensen took provisional pole with ten minutes remaining, but three minutes later he was demote by Frank Biela in the second Audi.  Kristensen pushed harder and regained the front of the grid, securing another all Audi front row.  As Johansson took the chequered flag, just failing to improve his 2^nd row grid position, he put the cars tyres on the rumble strip on the exit of Redgate, sliding the car onto the grass.  The ended up in the tyre wall at the top of the Craner Curves with heavy front end damage.  Johansson was unharmed in the incident. 

Once again the Chrysler Oreca was the fastest non Audi, but Olivier Beretta was disappointed not to be ahead of at least one of the Audi’s after being so close all weekend.   

1          1            Capello/Kristensen              Audi R8                   1:21.122
2          2            Biela/Pirro                          Audi R8                   1:21.281
3          7            Johansson/Smith                Audi R8                   1:21.687
4          6            Dalmas/Beretta                  Chrysler Oreca         1:22.721
5          72          Boullion/Redon                   Courage C60            1:23.899
6          3            Collins/Lupberger                Ascari A410             1:24.117
7          50          Brabham/Magnussen          Panoz LMP07           1:24.817
8          8            Cochran/Boss                    Panoz LMP01           1:26.242
9          51          Graf/Salles                         Panoz LMP07           1:27.329 

LMP675 Class 

The Rowan Racing Pilbeam MP484 got the better of the Dick Barbour Racing Reynard in the smaller LMP675 class.  The two cars swapped times for most of the session but it was the Pilbeam which posted the fastest time of session. 

1          21            O’Connell/Carway                Pilbeam MP484            1:27.971
2          05            Van de Poele/ De Radigues  Reynard                       1:29.030