Dave Murry's Le Mans Journal
Submission #3
"Pre-qualifying"
Pre-qualifying at Le Mans was an experience! There were a lot of fans there for scrutineering two days before, and even more for the day of pre-qualifying. Scrutineering is a technical inspection of the race car to make sure it complies with regulations. The cars were scrutineered the day before pre-qualifying and then locked in a lot with security overnight until we were able to get them out just before we went onto the track. Scrutineering for the actual race will take place in downtown Le Mans over 2 days, with our #7 scheduled for June 2.
I didn't know what to expect until I got there. I didn't know that the cars are split into 2 groups and get 6 hours of track time each. The fastest lap of each car is the time that either puts you in the race or sends you home.
It rained the night before, so the track was wet for three of the first six hours. My car, #7, was in the first group. Michele Alboreto drove the car, and if there was time, Stefan and I would get some laps. Since the track continued to get better, we couldn't afford to drive and not qualify for the race, so Michele drove the whole session. I did walk around the part of the track that is a permanent track, and I drove my rental car on the parts of the track that are roads. It looks like it will be a great track.
After looking at the track, it seems the toughest set of turns will be the Indianapolis turns. I'm told you approach them in 6th gear at 200 mph and then brake, downshift to 5th and enter the first one, which is a right hander, then downshift again for the slower left hander to follow. It is a very fast section. The Porsche curves look more interesting in person than even on the video that I watched (Derek Bell in a 956 in the 80's before the chicanes). "The second left hander in the Porsche curves is off-camber," Pierre Raphanel and Stephan Ortelli tell me. "Be careful there." I went back to look at the turn and I hadn't noticed it before. Good teammates are a real blessing!
Sincerely,
Photos courtesy of www.cyberspeedmedia.com
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