American Le Mans Series, round 7 in Elkhart Lake, USA, Qualifying
RS Spyder, Penske Racing: Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas
At the qualifying for the seventh round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in Elkhart Lake, Romain Dumas (France) set the third fastest time in the LMP2 class. In an exciting qualifying the 2007 winner, who shares the cockpit of the Porsche RS Spyder with team mate Timo Bernhard (Germany), narrowly missed out on pole position. In the final corner, Dumas left the track slightly and consequently lost three to four-tenths of a second during his best lap.
“I knew before qualifying that our set-up was not perfect for an ultra quick lap, as we had worked on a good set-up for the race. So I gave 110 percent and was a bit too fast in the last corner,” admitted Romain Dumas. “But I’m not dissatisfied. I still managed to set the third quickest time in class, despite my slight deviation.”
In the second Penske Racing RS Spyder with starting number 6, Patrick Long (USA) turned the sixth fastest time in his class. Marino Franchitti (GB) and Guy Smith (GB) in the RS Spyder run by the Porsche-supported US privateer team, Dyson Racing, take up the race from seventh on the grid.
“We saw again today just how close the competition is in the ALMS. I’m confident that we have a good car for the four-hour race tomorrow,” said Patrick Long. “And those who know Sascha and me know that we are fighters.”
In the GT2 class for slightly modified standard sports cars Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) turned the third fastest time at the wheel of a Flying Lizard Motorsports 911 GT3 RSR. Position four is occupied by Dirk Werner (Germany) in the GT3 RSR run by Farnbacher Loles Racing, followed by Patrick Pilet in the sister Flying Lizard Porsche. “After a modification our car was not yet optimal for the qualifying,” said Joerg Bergmeister, who currently leads the championship with Wolf Henzler (Germany). “But things will look different in the race. I’m confident that we are good for a win.”
The race in Elkhart Lake takes off on Saturday at 16.00 hours local time (23.00 hrs CEST) and runs over four hours.
Qualifying result
1. Lucas Luhr (D), Audi R10 (LMP1), 1:47.492 minutes
2. Franck Montagny (F), Acura ARX-01B (LMP2), 0.410 seconds behind
3. Emanuele Pirro (I), Audi R10 (LMP1), 0.644
4. Adrian Fernandez (MEX), Acura ARX.01B (LMP2), 0.704
5. Romain Dumas (F), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 0.801
6. David Brabham (AUS), Acura ARX-01B (LMP2), 0.839
7. Gil de Ferran (BRA), Acura ARX-01B (LMP2), 1.225
8. John Field (USA), Lola B06 (LMP1), 1.436
9. Patrick Long (USA), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 1,557
10. Marino Franchitti (GB), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 1.651
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