le mans 24hrs 2006 - pre qualifying.

After I agreed to drive the Radical SR9 in the Le Man Series with Tim Greaves during 2006, I expected to get in some testing and round 2 of the Le Mans series at Spa, not turn up at the Le Mans 24hrs with no testing! Neither did I expect to be driving the Roll Centre Radical SR9. However thats what happened and who am I to argue the details!...

Pre Qualifying was my first run in the Radical SR9 and my main goal was to complete 10 laps to ensure I was able to race in the 24hrs, a rule stated by the ACO. Little more than 1 lap with Martin Short doing a systems check, I was in! The first lap was an amazing feeling to realise a boyhood dream "Prototype - Le Mans 24hrs!" Driving out of the pits for the first time was nothing compared to the buzz as I ran through tertre onto the mulsanne straight. I have driven at a lot of international circuits but as all drivers will tell you "There is nothing like Le Mans", so much history, its amazing to experience it!

I had 2 runs to get my qualifying done and then Joao Barbosa and Martin would run some laps. I was due back in the SR9 later in the afternoon to settle into the circuit. Unfortunately for me Martin came into the pits shortly before my run with rising water temperature. The problem was a leak in one of the aluminium water system connections, with the heat in the engine bay it wasn't an easy fix in the time left that afternoon. A situation I feared had arrived, minimum laps in the car and Le Mans Qualifying next up!...

Regards