Porsche Driving LeMans Race Coverage Article 15

6/15

2:58 am PST

"19th Hour Highlights"

19th Hour Highlights

By Bob Carlson

Racing can be a cruel sport. It certainly has been for Porsche factory driver Bob Wollek during the 1997 Le Mans 24 Hour sports car endurance race. One of the most successful Porsche drivers in history with four overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and numerous other major sports car racing wins, Frenchman Wollek has yet to capture an overall title at Le Mans. 1997 marked his 27th attempt to take home his most coveted prize.

After more than 15 hours of this year’s event, it seemed Wollek would finally realize his dream. He and co-drivers Hans Stuck and Theirry Boutsen were leading the race by mere seconds over the second factory Porsche 911 GT1. Up until that time, both cars had had a virtual trouble free race. Entering the famous Arnage turn, Wollek was attempting to overtake a stubborn back marker when his car slid off the course and into the crash barrier. The car suffered suspension and driveshaft damage as a result, and was forced to withdraw. A heartbroken Wollek would only say the incident was his fault.His quest for sport car racing’s greatest prize will have to wait until next year.

Since the unfortunate incident, the second factory Porsche, co-driven by Collard/Dalmas/Kelleners, has maintained a slim lead over the defending champion Joest TWR Porsche. The Joest prototype has been running extremely well during the later stages of the race, clocking lap times as fast as 3:46 with a car that's been running for 19 consecutive hours. Both cars continue to race at a torrid pace and a climatic finish is expected to entertain the huge crowd in attendance.

6/15	2:58 am PST	"19th Hour Highlights"
19th Hour Highlights By Bob Carlson Racing can be a cruel sport. It certainly has been for Porsche factory driver Bob Wollek during the 1997 Le Mans 24 Hour sports car endurance race. One of the most successful Porsche drivers in history with four overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and numerous other major sports car racing wins, Frenchman Wollek has yet to capture an overall title at Le Mans. 1997 marked his 27th attempt to take home his most coveted prize. After more than 15 hours of this year’s event, it seemed Wollek would finally realize his dream. He and co-drivers Hans Stuck and Theirry Boutsen were leading the race by mere seconds over the second factory Porsche 911 GT1. Up until that time, both cars had had a virtual trouble free race. Entering the famous Arnage turn, Wollek was attempting to overtake a stubborn back marker when his car slid off the course and into the crash barrier. The car suffered suspension and driveshaft damage as a result, and was forced to withdraw. A heartbroken Wollek would only say the incident was his fault.His quest for sport car racing’s greatest prize will have to wait until next year. Since the unfortunate incident, the second factory Porsche, co-driven by Collard/Dalmas/Kelleners, has maintained a slim lead over the defending champion Joest TWR Porsche. The Joest prototype has been running extremely well during the later stages of the race, clocking lap times as fast as 3:46 with a car that's been running for 19 consecutive hours. Both cars continue to race at a torrid pace and a climatic finish is expected to entertain the huge crowd in attendance.