SALEEN
Photo Coutersy:ACO
PENDULUM CONTINUES SWINGING TOWARD SALEEN AT LE MANS
June 13, 2001 - Coming into this weekend’s 69th annual running of the 24 Hours of Le
Mans, one of the strongest factors enjoyed by the Saleen S7R teams was sheer momentum.
After winning March’s 12 Hours of Sebring, eight of the past 13 sports car races and the final Le
Mans tune-up last weekend et Mid-Ohio, the large Salean effort came to France with cautious
optimism.
Tonight‘s sparkling effort by the #6O Saleen/Allen Speedlab entry driven by Oliver Gavin,
Terry Borcheller and Franz Konrad has proven that this positive outlook - s0 far at least - has
certainly been justified. After taking the third time in this evening‘s first session, Gavin took the
potent S7R around the twisting 8.4-mile Sarthe circuit in a blistering 3:54.190, eclipaed the
team’s (and GTS-class’) fastest test time by nearly 3 seconds. The two other Saleen S7R'S
also enjoyed very strong performances during tonights two 2-hour practice sessions.
The Saleen effort comes only days after the team of Chris Bingham end Ron Johnson
took their Park Place Ltd. S7R to an overwhelming class victory at last Sundays Mid-Ohio
Grand Am event. Showing both performance and reliability that matched the car’s early
potential, Saleen S7Rs lead both the American and European Le Mans Series.
"While it is important to keep our focus on doing well come race day , thr whole Saleen
effort is very pleased with the momentum our team is enjoylng." explained Steve Saleen. "Our
whole Le Mans experience is building on the wave that started early this year. Our Saleen
presence at this important race is growing by the minute, and we all feel that we just might be at
the right place, at the right time and with very potent equipment."
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