FIA GT MAGNY-COURS
MAGNY-COURS
April 29 - May 1
Weather:
The rain was falling lightly at the start of the Superpole qualifying session, but the track was almost dry, and the rain did not last long.
Superpole Qualifying Session:
The big question for the drivers during the Superpole single-lap qualifying session was the tyre choice. Mancini was the first to go out, in the n°76 RWS Red Bull Racing Porsche 996 GT3-R, who set a relatively slow time of 2:02.701 on slicks. Christian Pescatori, in the n°62 JMB Competition Ferrari 360 Modena, was slightly quicker, on rain tyres. The n°51 Larbre Competition-Chereau Porsche, due to be driven by Jürgen von Gartzen, missed their departure slot, and so will be forced to start in 11th position, at the back of the Superpole group. Luca Riccitelli was the next to do his lap, and despite spinning his n°77 RWS Red Bull Racing Porsche 996 GT3-R on his out-lap, he recovered and knocked four seconds off Pescatori's time. Sebastien Dumez, choosing intermediate tyres on the drying track, was faster still, with a time of 1:54.957. Tomas Enge then set the N-GT pole, with an excellent time of 1:52.187 in the n°65 Coca Cola Racing Porsche 996 GT3-R, but his time was later disallowed after the car failed post-race scrutineering. This gave Sebastien Dumez the N-GT pole position for the n°50 Larbre Competition Chereau Porsche 996 GT3-R.
With the damp conditions the least favourable to the Paul Belmondo Racing cars, Vincent Vosse could not improve on his 6th GT position, and as the track dried, the times dropped steadily as the remaining GT cars lapped the 4.25 km track. Naspetti took provisional pole in the Team Rafanelli Ferrari 550 Maranello, but was demoted to second by Julian Bailey's time of 1:45.740. Jamie Campbell-Walter could not improve on his team-mate's time, dropping the n°1 Lister Storm behind the Ferrari. Mike Hezemans set an excellent lap in the Carsport Holland Chrysler Viper GTS-R, but it was not quite enough to prevent Christophe Bouchut taking pole, despite sliding over the line in his n°7 Larbre Competition Chereau Chrysler Viper GTS-R.
Second Qualifying Practice Session:
With the track almost dry, the times fell sharply for the drivers in the B group, who had fifteen minutes to improve on their morning qualifying times, in order to make up the grid from place 13 onwards. Fastest throughout was Sebastiaan Bleekemolen in the n°4 Carsport Holland Chrysler Viper GTS-R. "I was first on the track, and it was getting faster and faster, so although others took the lead, every time I came round I regained the lead," the Dutch driver said. He led a group of six Chrysler Vipers, consisting of two Paul Belmondo Racing cars, the ART, Racing Box and GLPK cars. The best N-GT time was set by Fabio Babini, in the #54 Art Engineering Porsche 996 GT3-R, with the Sugden/O'Rourke EMKA Porsche 996 GT3-R second.
Double pole for Larbre Competition Chereau:
Larbre Competition Chéreau will start from pole position in both categories for their home race. "I decided to start on intermediates, but it was really close to being dry," Christophe Bouchut said after claiming the GT pole. "So I lost the grip very quickly, and the car had a lot of oversteer. By the time I reached the last corner, I couldn't put my foot down, I was sliding, so I decided to floor it and hope for the best." As for Sebastien Dumez, the young French driver is enjoying being on familiar territory at Magny Cours, "I am very happy with this qualifying. This year is very difficult for me because I don't know many of the FIA GT circuits, so Magny Cours is one of the few tracks I know. This lap was very difficult because you had wet conditions and each lap was better and better. I didn't have any problems, it was difficult to go very fast, and it should be good for tomorrow." Larbre's third car, the Eichmann/von Gartzen n°51 Porsche 911 GT3-R will start from 11th position on the grid, having failed to take part in the Superpole session.
Hezemans takes second for Carsport Holland:
It will be an all- Viper front row for tomorrow's 500 km race, with Mike Hezemans qualifying the n°3 Carsport Holland Chrysler Viper in second place during the Superpole session. "We were not lucky in the previous race, but now it's all OK," Mike said. " We were second in nearly every session this weekend. We had a three day test last week, and we learnt a lot. We know we'll be quick in the rain, but in the dry we have too much understeer, but I hope we can do well in tomorrow's race."
Best 2001 qualifying for Lister Storm Racing:
Lister Storm Racing have not been lucky with qualifying so far this year, and their Magny Cours results, with Julian Bailey in third place with the n°2 Lister Storm, and fifth for the n°1 Campbell-Walter/Coronel car, is their best effort so far. " It seems that the Superpole has been working against me ever since it started," Julian Bailey explained. " Last time it got wetter towards the end, this time it got dryer. It's a question of picking the right tyres. Our car is difficult to drive in the wet conditions, and I'm very happy to be in third position."
Fourth row of the grid for Riccitelli:
Despite a spin on his out-lap, Riccitelli set the second time in the N-GT class, and will start from 8th position on the grid in the n°77 RWS Red Bull Racing Porsche 996 GT3-R. "It was the same as in Brno - it's difficult to know which tyres are best," Luca explained. " Our second car was on slick tyres, I was on intermediates, and Enge was on rain tyres, so he probably made the best choice. Anyway, it's difficult to decide. On my fast lap it was raining again. I tried to warm the tyres, but I spun and it was very slippery and difficult. But in these conditions you just have to do your best. I was driving a bit carefully during the flying lap - and this is the result. I did my best - and the race is another story."
Enge to start in 12th place:
The n°65 Coca Cola Racing Porsche 996 GT3-R will start from 12th position on the grid after failing post-qualifying scrutineering, meaning that Enge's time of 1:52.187 was disallowed. " We went on wet tyres and the decision was very good. I was driving safely because I didn't want to make any mistakes," Enge said before being demoted. " I have a very good team-mate for this weekend, my team-mate from F3000, Justin Wilson, so I'm looking forward to the race tomorrow, and obviously we'll be trying to win. GT racing is good fun, and you have good chances to overtake, so that even from tenth in your group you can still win the race, because it is so long and you have to make a good strategy."
Improvement for Wieth Racing:
The Wieth Racing Ferrari 550 Maranello is steadily improving, and confidence is growing within the team. " We had some problems today in the wet conditions with the tyres," team-owner and driver Franz Wieth said. " In the dry conditions we managed quite a good time, but we put rain tyres on, which was a mistake. It was wet in front of the pits, and we thought the whole track was wet, but it was actually completely dry in parts. And our TV set doesn't work here in France, so we couldn't see the conditions in the Superpole. But the power is very good - what we need is more grip. But we're hoping for a dry race tomorrow. If it's wet, we have no chance.
Camathias joins the FIA GT Championship:
20-year old Joel Camathias is the youngest driver taking part in this round of the FIA GT Championship. The F3000 driver is pleased to be driving the n°69 Redolfi Orlando Porsche 996 GT3-R, which will start from 26th position on the grid for tomorrow's race. He previously drove at Magny Cours in Formula Nissan. " But it's only the third time I've driven the car, and the first time in competition. So it's very good to have a friend like Philipp Peter to help me and show me what I have to do. I think it's good for me to take part in a competition like this, to show I can drive different cars. It's also good to have more time on the track, and to learn to cope with different situations, like yesterday's torrential rain."
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