Porsche pilots with good team effort
With
places four, five and six on the grid, the Porsche pilots have
secured good starting positions for the third round of the Le Mans
Series. Fastest in the 911 GT3 RSR of the German Felbermayr-Proton team
was Martin Ragginger (Austria) in fourth ahead of French Porsche
factory driver Patrick Pilet (IMSA Performance Matmut). For the title defenders and GT2 points’ leaders after two wins, the qualifying at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve didn’t run as smoothly as expected: Competing for the Felbermayr team, works drivers Richard Lietz (Austria) and Marc Lieb (Germany) take up today’s 1,000 kilometre race at 17.00 hours (CEST 18.00 hours) from just sixth. Porsche Junior Marco Holzer (Germany) qualified the 911 from the Belgian ProSpeed Competition squad on the ninth spot.
“Sixth in qualifying is not exactly thrilling,” stated Marc Lieb. “But Richard made the most of our not so perfect set-up. We haven’t got a lot of time left to do something about it because the race starts this afternoon.” Richard Lietz added: “There is no reason to stress about it. Up to now we’ve always profited from our consistency and the reliability of the 911. We’re staying cool. Our goal is to stay at the top of the points and we’re confident we’ll achieve this.”
“In my fastest lap I made a slight error in the first corner but I’m still satisfied with fourth,” summarised the former Porsche Junior Martin Ragginger. “It’s another step forward for our driver trio and puts us in a good starting position for the race. I have to admit, the top time today was simply not within our reach.”
The Austrian shares driving duties in the cockpit of the Felbermayr 911 with Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) and team owner Christian Ried (Germany).
The
French team is also feeling optimistic. Patrick Pilet and his
compatriot Raymond Narac are not only full of confidence after their
win at the fifth round of the GT Open a week ago. “Right from the first
practice, the handling of our 911 GT3 RSR in racing set-up was very
good,” says Pilet. “For this reason we feel very well prepared for the
1,000 kilometre race. With it starting this afternoon we’re feeling
rather excited.”Porsche Junior Marco Holzer is somewhat disappointed over his ninth in qualifying, particularly after clocking up the fastest time in the GT2 class during the second practice. “We had no wind today and it’s hotter than yesterday.
That changed the track conditions, and we didn’t have the right tyre pressure for that.” His teammate Richard Westbrook (Great Britain), reigning FIA GT champion, added: “We’re feeling optimistic for the race because we’ve found a great set-up. The start into the new series was not easy for the team but we’ve already reached a good level.”
Qualifying GT2 class
1. Gianmaria Bruni (I), Ferrari F430 GT, 1.43.310 minutes
2. Toni Vilander (FIN), Ferrari F430 GT, + 0.202 seconds
3. Tim Mullen (GB), Ferrari F430 GT, + 0.699
4. Martin Ragginger (A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.995
5. Patrick Pilet (FRA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 1.057
6. Richard Lietz (A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 1.214
7. Matias Russo (ARG), Ferrari F430 GT, + 1.464
Facts
and FiguresThis is the Le Mans Series
Contested for the first time in 2004, the Le Mans Series (LMS) is open for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations are based on the rules of the Le Mans 24 hour race. Five championship rounds are contested this season on circuits throughout Europe. The races run over a distance of 1,000 kilometres, with the eight hour race in Le Castellet as the only exception.
The starting field consists of two different sports vehicle categories: Sports prototypes and standard sports cars. They are divided into four classes:
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 750 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms (petrol vehicles) or 930 kg (diesel vehicles). Power to weight ratio: approx. 1.2 kg/hp.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with around 440 hp and an 825 kilogram minimum weight. Power to weight ratio: approx 1.8 kg/hp.
GT1 class: Considerably modified standard sports cars with up to 600 hp and a minimum weight of 1,200 – 1,250 kilograms.
GT2 class: Slightly modified standard sports cars with up to 460 hp and a minimum weight of 1,145 kilograms. The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR competes in this class.
All race cars start together but are classified separately according to the class. Points are only allocated for placings in each class. Championship titles are awarded for drivers, manufacturers and teams in all four classes. Porsche works drivers Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz won the GT2 driver’s title in 2009. In 2008, Porsche won the LMP2 title for drivers, manufacturers and teams.
