As it was just plain Weird running at Le Mans in
August! Although Not as weird as in September with No Fans!
Although last year’s race was run less than a
year ago, it now feels like forever, and like this year’s event, my Attenzione
was focused elsewhere…
89th 24 Heurs du Mans
Otay, I’ll start with the Tintop’ Boyz’ and
Girls, since unfortunately the No. 98 Aston Martin with Marco Gomes at it’s
controls was the first of a litany ‘O retirements from last year’s overly
adventurous race…
As I must admit I called it an early night
after having left Circuit de la Sarthe earlier in the evening in order to “Watch,”
Err listen to the IndyCar race from Gateway on Nothing But Commercials! (NBC) As
I’m really not a Fan of that overly long
Wide World Technology Raceway moniker, but I digress…
Thus I tuned into the race for another 45mins
via Zed Internets before calling it a night with just over 10 Hours remaining.
Whilst the few notes I took during the day’s action mostly centered upon the Prototypes
instead. Since I only Jotted the following notes below whilst bouncing between
Motor Trend TV and Radio Le Mans coverage.
Hour 4 the No. 98 Aston Martin Skitters
Off-track at Indianapolis corner Slamming into the Tyre Barrier! Pretty sure it
was Game Over then, as first lengthy Safety Car period to repair the Barrier!
Somebody mentioned that the Corvette,
Arse-sumedly the #63? Was running in 4th and was just starting to
show it’s potential whilst chasing the class leading Ferrari, as indeed the #63
led for a considerable time during Hour 5.
As Tommy Milner in the No. 64 reported he’d
been Hit in the Heiny’ by a Ferrari during one of the two prolonged Warm-up
laps when the field was behind the Safety Car whilst trying to Dry the track,
Crikeys!
As think it was the #52 AF Corse Ferrari? Since
the driver of the offending Ferrari Apologized, saying he had Fog on his
Windscreen and simply misjudged the distance, which I’d say sounds totally logical
since the race’s starting conditions were
Atrocious!
Actually it was
eventual class winner James Calado in the #51 Ferrari who was the culprit that
accidently Punted Tommy Milner’s Corvette…
Know that the #72 Pole winning Hub Auto Racing’s
Customer Porsche 911 RSR-19 dropped like a stone when the Safety Car finally
pulled off down to eighth and last in class, while it soon became a game of
Leapfrog between the No. 51 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo and the No. 63 Corvette C8.R for
the class lead, with Corvette making it’s much anticipated Mid Engine C8.r
debut at Le Mans.
But it’s All a Blur now, especially since we’ve
just concluded the 90th Edition of le 24 Heurs du Mans. As the No.
51 AF Corse was victorious with Alesandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Come Ledogar
behind the Keyboard.
As the #63 Corvette C8.R finished second, with
the Box Score saying it was behind by 41 seconds, but the Vette’ never really
got that close due to the litany ‘O Slow Zones, Full Course Cautions and
inclement weather.
Whilst the Seester’ #64 Vette’ was never in
contention, with Calado’s “Love tap” the Beginning to it’s End. Suffering from
Clutch, Transmission and Diffuser problems. While the No. 92 Porsche 911
finished third.
AF Corse, which becomes Scuderia Ferrari’s
Factory LMH Hypercar team in 2023 scored a Double in the Saloons ranks, when it’s
#83 Ferrari won the Hotly contested GTE Am category with Francois Perrodo,
Nicklas Nielsen and Alessio Rovera at it’s controls.
Don’t think much of anything was mentioned
about the #85 Iron “Dames” Ferrari entry of Sarah boby, Michelle Gatting and Rahel
Frey, who finished 36th Overall and 9th in Class, some 39
laps behind the winning No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hypercar.
Some two-plus minutes behind and finishing
runner-up was the #33 TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage AMR, which suffered a
litany of problems. And after having clawed it’s way back to the Pointy end of
the field, Ben Keating Had to pit early for a misfire while leading, which
caused him to exceed His allowable Drive time. But the Aston fiished second.
Third Overall was the No. 80 Iron Links Ferrari
488 GT3, which featured former FIA Formula 2 Championship Runner-up and Ferrari
Academy Driver Callam Ilot as one of it’s three Chauffeurs.
As perhaps Y’all have heard of Him? As Ilott’s now plying His trade in Indy Cars for Juncos Hollinger Racing, and I’ve taken a total “shine” to the 23yr Old Englishman for His tenacity behind the wheel of the Only single car IndyCar entry on the Grid!