Harvey claims Le Mans podium finish
Tim Harvey claimed a
fantastic
podium finish at Le Mans on Saturday (12 June) when he was one of five
drivers from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB to contest a race for the
Porsche Carrera Cup France on the morning of the most famous motor race
in the world.While Harvey led the race for 30 minutes and finally finished third overall, Archie Hamilton was a fine eighth, Alex Martin was 12th and Glenn McMenamin finished 15th in the 40-strong field. Only Ahmad Al Harthy failed to finish from the Carrera Cup GB squad after his car was damaged in qualifying. Frustratingly, Al Harthy was heading for a top six grid position at the time.
Harvey was among the pacesetters from the start of qualifying and started the race from fourth on the grid. With a damp track, all the field bar one elected to start on wets and Harvey used all his wet weather prowess to lead the race for 30 minutes. Unfortunately for Tim, Frenchman Sylvain Noel had gambled on slicks and was able to rush ahead in the final 10 minutes of the race to win. Then, Kevin Estre, running on the wet tyres from the French Carrera Cup, edged Tim back to third in the closing moments.
"It was great fun leading the race and it looked like we could win," said Harvey. "But the podium was our realistic goal and to stand on the podium at Le Mans was fantastic. The whole weekend was a great experience; the circuit and atmosphere was brilliant. There is no other circuit and event like it in the world."
Meanwhile, Hamilton
had a fine
race to take eighth place and a podium finish in the Junior category.
"It has been an incredible experience," said the 19-year old racer. "My
grandfather won here in 1953 and my father was so proud he was crying."Martin and McMenamin also gave excellent accounts of themselves in their first race at this level and their first experience of Le Mans. Now, all five drivers will return their attention to the Carrera Cup GB and rounds nine and ten at Croft this weekend (19/20 June).
