Monza weekend race report: frustration follows excitement
01.05.2008 by Joey Foster
The second round of the LMES series took place at the historic Monza circuit last weekend. The great weather combined with Monza's fast straights and quick corners were always going to provide a spectacle for any Sport car fan at the circuit over the weekend.
The team had completed a test day prior to the Monza meeting at Silverstone GP track the Monday before. It was a day we really needed to utilise. With our testing having been limited this year we used it to once again to gain more knowledge about the WF01. We did just that, and managed to put in some very impressive lap times which compared well to the race there last year.
We were confident that when we got to Monza we would be able to hold a great pace and challenge for the win.
The Friday morning test session went well but we realised we still had some work to do on the balance of the car to get the most out of it as possible. Throughout the rest of Friday and into Saturday we attempted some big changes to the cars aero down force and found a whole new avenue to explore, as it appeared to find us more time. It was going to be a risk running this setup for the qualifying and the race without really having run the car in this way over a long distance, but we were confident we had found a setup with good race pace.
The LMP2 class looked even more competitive as the cars headed out for qualifying with Jonny at the wheel of our #46 machine. When the 20 minute session was over the two embassy cars lined up 10th and 11th on the grid. Everybody in the team wanted to have more of a showing of ultimate pace but knew the positions were realistic, and the whole team had come a long way since the cars first took to the track at that cold and wet Snetterton back in March. We knew the race would show our true potential come Sunday afternoon, and that was certainly to be the case.
The race started well and Jonny held a great pace throughout the first stint. Warren was also chasing hard in the WF01 #45 sister car. The first pitstop ran smoothly for our #46 car. However, it wasn't quite the case for the #45 as they lost some time with starter issues. With myself jumping in to start a double stint, it was about to be the longest time I had spent in the car in one complete go. It was a great run. I was happy to keep the car lapping with quick, consistent lap times. I had to come in and refuel after the first stint and it was almost as smooth as the first stop. A minor clutch pressure problem cost us fractions of a second on the getaway but that would fade into insignificance during the 1000k race.
Jonny took over during for the next two stints and kept up the great pace we were setting. This started to reflect on our overall position and we started to climb the timing screens. Just before the end of his double stint we were running in 3rd position in class and 8th overall. This was a great boost for the team and the results we all knew were possible were starting to arrive.
With about 40laps of running to go we switched once again and I headed back out onto the track. The lap times remained consistent and we were still chasing that podium spot. A good 10 laps into the stint had past when I saw tyre smoke at the end of the pit straight. A normal site as it's a very heavy braking area from high speed. Although what I saw next wasn't quite so normal. Stephane Ortelli's LMP1 Courage had had a failure and was launched into the air as the car spun. I saw the car crash back down and cartwheel down the track and come to rest up against the barrier the right way up. Truly a terrifying accident, but also a lucky escape with Stephane suffering just a broken ankle. Videos on Youtube show the accident and demonstrate the advanced safety in modern day motorsport.
The safety car was out and we managed to get in a pitstop that would ensure we would have to stop again. We were looking good. However, just a lap into the restart we encountered a problem. Our car slowed and it was clear to me that we weren't going to be able to get back to the pits in order to finish the race. Our promising run and hopes of a podium in just the Embassy Racing WF01 second race start was over.
The #45 car finished the race and salvaged a point which is in itself a massive achievement for the team who have worked so hard over the last few months.
It was a weekend of massive frustration but also once again of huge promise. At Spa the team are going to be hungrier than ever in the fight for a podium. I think it would take a brave man to bet against it!!