18 Jun 03
TVR is running two Tuscans in the GT class, and a huge contingent of TVR owners have come down to support the team. The majority of flags waved from the grandstands are green, however, for Bentley, starting in positions 1 and 2 after qualifying. No surprises there. Third-placed on the grid is the Audi Sport UK R8, to be driven by Frank Biela, Mika Salo and Essex boy Perry McCarthy, followed by the American Champion Racing Audi of Stefan Johansson, Emanuele Pirro and JJ Lehto and the Japanese Team Goh Audi (Ara/Magnussen/Werner). The Dutch fans - and there are plenty, wearing orange wigs - are out in force for the Racing for Holland team led by Jan Lammers in one of two Dome Judds, to start just behind the Audis; also among the front-runners are the French Courage teams, the Courage-Judd (Cochet/Gounon/Gregoire) and the two Courage-Peugeots (Bouillon/Lagorce/Sarrazin), all classified in the LMP (Le Mans Prototype) 900kg class, though the hard-topped Bentleys are in a class of their own, as GT Prototypes. The LMP 675 (up to 675kg) class is less well-subscribed, but the American MG-Lola, a development from the works car which raced in 2001 and the Durango MG, featuring an MG XPower engine, are tipped to be quick, if not reliable, and the Welter Racing Peugeots and the Pilbeam team usually make a brave effort, though are generally unable to match the might of the higher-budget, large manufacturer-backed competitors. The majority of contenders in the GT class are Porsche 911s, as usual, but new competitors include the Dutch Spyker, the TVRs and a couple of Ferrari 360 Modenas. More variety is promised from the GTS cars, as besides the stalwart Vipers and Corvettes, there's the British Prodrive team with their Ferrari 550 GTS Maranello, a Pagani Zonda and a pair of Saleens.
Four in the afternoon, and after a parade or three, wolf-whistles at the Hawaiian Tropic girls and a marching band, the cars are off... the tremendous sound of high-powered racing engines, which ranges from a low growl (the Panoz is lowest of all) to a high squeal starts, not to be silenced for a whole 24 hours. Jethro's down in the pit lane in a pair of huge red headphones, staring intently at a blue clipboard. I meet 4car editor Richard and longtime contributor John Simister; they've driven down in Richard's Alfasud, which has - uncharacteristically for one of Richard's cars - made it all the way here without a glitch. It wouldn't be Le Mans without a breakdown story, however, and it's John's 1964 Singer Chamois that's in disgrace this time, with a failed clutch master cylinder. It has been left at Richard's house after a tow through London. Other non-starters, we hear, include a vintage Ferrari, due to be driven by Tony Dron in the Classic race, whose engine overheated in practice.
