Dave Murry's Le Mans Journal
Submission #4
"Team Porsche"
The car is different from last year. It now has the engine, six-speed sequential transmission, and rear suspension from the GT1 car. The body is also different. It looks great! I drove the GT1 and the WSC car in testing at Paul Ricard. They were about the same lap time there, but in different ways. The WSC car is a little lighter and the GT1 has a bigger restrictor because of the rules. The GT1 also has ABS, while the WSC car doesn't. But they both have carbon brakes.
The rules for Le Mans are different than for FIA. The Joest team is running the WSC car, and that's who I will be working with. They are really great - so professional, yet so friendly. Ralph Juettner is the team manager, and from the first time we spoke on the phone, I felt like I had known him forever. The team is trying to teach me German but I'm slow to learn. It's really like a family though, even between the GT1 camp and the WSC camp.
Herbert Ampferer, head of Porsche Motorsports worldwide, has been very helpful to me. It is ultimately his decision who drives, so he is responsible for my being in the race. All of the other drivers have been helpful as well. We all go to dinner together during testing. Stefan Johansson and I rode back to America together on the plane from testing at Paul Ricard. Pierre Raphanel helps me order off the French menu, and Alan McNish is always good for a joke or two. Yannick Dalmas helps to guide me along in the right direction, while Bob Wollek has been very good to welcome me and make me feel at home. Alboreto talks with me about our car. Stephan Ortelli helped me with driving reference points at Le Mans. Everyone has been great! Norbert Singer was really a thrill to meet. This guy has been responsible for building some of the best and fastest sports cars in history, yet he couldn't be more warm and down to earth.
I go over to test again before the race...and then the big show!
Sincerely,
Photos courtesy of www.cyberspeedmedia.com
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