Le Mans 24 Hour - The Longest Day!
MGs promising in fraught first hour Sat 16 Jun 2001, 5.52PM
Dramatic weather produced some early casualties during the first hour of the race - none involving injuries - but the two MGs escaped largely unscathed. There was a 12 car pile up at the Porsche curves, which Anthony Reid, in car 34, navigated successfully in 10th place. But then the car ahead of him aquaplaned in deep standing water, sending Reid off course into a spin that had him him to clipping the armco and damaging the rear wing. He pitted, and changed the rear wing, which sent him slithering down the leader board. But the capricious weather soon had the sun drying out the track, bringing him in for dry tyres - and they didn't stay on the car long, because he picked up a puncture, bringing him pit-bound for the third time.At around 4.30pm, Reid reported problems with the telemetry, according to Radio Le Mans, the water sensor suggesting a malfunction. But team boss Hugh Chamberlain passed the car fit. It was further checked during a subsequent pit-stop.Meanwhile car 33, driven by Mark Blundell, was setting some impressive lap times of around 3 minutes 45 seconds. At one point, with various Audis and leading cars knocked back by the surprise weather, Blundell was running as high as fourth. At 5.00pm French time car 33 was running in 20th place, and third in its LMP675 class, while car 34 was 37th.
Car 33 climbs leader board, but hits trouble Sat 16 Jun 2001, 8.41PM
MG Lola number 33 gradually climbed from 20th place at 5.00pm to 14th place an hour later ? but was then troubled by mechanical difficulties. Sudden power loss turned out to be caused by a broken exhaust manifold, though it wasn?t serious enough to prevent the car returning to the pits, where the mechanics set to work. Car 34 suffered a similar problem, but it was successfully repaired, though the stop placed the car well down the leader board.
Car 33 climbs to eighth spot Sat 16 Jun 2001, 8.55PM
The MG of Mark Blundell, Julian Bailey and Kevin McGarrity - that's car 33 - picked its way back up to eight place after struggling with exhaust manifold problems, difficulties also suffered by car 34. The solid climb was the work of McGarrity, who had to put up with appalling conditions. Sheeting rain, massive, aquaplane-inducing puddles and visibility problems massively increase the challenge facing the drivers, making McGarrity's effort all the more impressive. Veteran Le Mans racer Thierry Boutsen reckoned the conditions were the worst he had ever seen at the event.Sadly, the damp finally got to MG Lola 34, the spark snuffed out of its electrics too far from the pits for it to return to base. But both cars have been running longer than many sceptics expected. No doubt about it - the MG Lola team has already earned itself glory.
Car 33 leading class, but Sat 16 Jun 2001, 9.36PM
Now the sole remaining MG, car 33 had been pounding round on in eighth place, enough to put it at the head of the leaderboard in the LMP675 class,, when a routine pitstop at around 10.00pm turned into a somewhat longer stop. Wringing damp in the electrics caused the car to jam in gear as it started to drive out of the pit, and it had to be pushed back into the garage for a drying-out session which so far, has occupied the best part of an hour.Considering how little development it has had, the car has done spectacularly well, especially considering that it has done no testing in the monsoon conditions that it?s been running in. And given the extraordinary weather conditions, and the fact that well over half the race has yet to run, anything could happen.
MG crew battle to keep 33 on track Sat 16 Jun 2001, 11.44PM
Car 33 spent well over an hour in the pits while the crew sorted electrical problems caused by the torrential rain, but by midnight it was back on the track, running in 27th place. Not as good as the fourth place it held near the start of the race, nor the 8th place before the electrical problems struck, but the good news is that it is still running - well after many thought its race would be over. And still the rain keeps falling...
Thirteenth hour unlucky for surviving MG Sun 17 Jun 2001, 4.13AM
It was all over for the surviving Car 33 in the thirteenth hour. And it had been going so well: at 21.30, Mark Blundell had been the fastest driver on the track, leading the LMP 675 class and running 8th overall. At 21.45, he bought the car into the pits to have a misfire corrected and handed over to Julian Bailey, having completed 69 laps. Electrical problems at midnight (after 8 hours) led to the rear lights going out, and safety regulations meant the car had to be brought in again. Frank Dernie, chief engineer at Lola, said: "It looks like we had some water in the fuse box, so it looks like we have a few problems with waterproofing the electrics". Back out again after the 12-hour mark, Kevin McGarrity took over from Julian Bailey but didn't get long out there before more trouble struck. The team battled to tackle an oil leak and took on a full rear end rebuild, tracing the leak to a pipe, but almost as soon as McGarrity returned to the track (standing 26th overall after a long time sidelined) he reported high temperatures and had to return to the pits. Official retirement was declared; in an interview with Channel 4's Louise Goodman, McGarrity said that the engine had been too stressed from the oil loss. But team boss Hugh Chamberlain vows that MG will be back next year - the MG-Lola has proved to be one of the fastest runners out there when on track, and with a whole year to prepare, its prospects look good for 2002. General consensus amongst the assembled media crews and reporters was that it had been a magnificent effort from the whole MG-Lola team and all expectations had been well and truly surpassed.
MG Lola celebrate first year success Sun 17 Jun 2001, 9.47AM
MG Lola might not have won, but there is no doubt that the team can consider its Le Mans debut a success. Rob Oldaker, managing director of MG Sport and Racing, was celebrating MG's impressive debut in the small hours of Sunday, the EX257 surprising everyone not just with its pace and handling, but with its longevity too. Said Oldaker, 'We knew it was quick and we knew it handled, but we also knew that it was unreliable', the car having benefitted from far less development time than most of its competitors. So Oldaker was absolutely delighted that car 33 had driven well into the night. 'We are immensely proud to have brought MG back to Le Mans and frankly it has been beyond our expectations to have been running as high as third and to have completed more than half the race time.' Many commentators reckoned the MGs would be lucky to last much more than an hour - but it was not until the 13th hour that car 33 finally retired. 'This has always been our learning year and we are now confident that we will have the right package to make MG even more successful next year', added Oldaker. Just as pleasing for MG Lola was the support for the team, not only among the spectators around the track, but from supporters who rang in to congratulate them on their efforts. It looks like MG Lola have really started something - and there will be planty of fans who can't wait to see the green and graphite team race again.
Above text courtsey of Channel 4 in association with MG Rover
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Comment
It has to be said that it has been an X-cellent performance from Team MG Lola, as team boss Hugh Chamberlain said "all expectations had been well and truly surpassed", along with great support from the media and of course the British motor racing fans. The weekend will be remembered for many years to come (not least for the rain) and marks the begining of a new chapter in MG motorsport history. MG X-Power has arrived and is here to stay!
At the begining of September EX259 will make its debut in the British Touring Car Championship, the achievements of the Le Mans team can only enhance the already 'great team spirit' at MG Sport & Racing. Make a note of the date September 8/9, and we think the organisers can expect the car parks at Silverstone to be dominated by MGs!!