Lola LMP2 sportscars once again dominated the results at the latest Le Mans Series race in Germany over
the weekend. Finishing in first, second and fourth places, the Huntingdon built chassis showed speed and
reliability at the world famous Nürburgring circuit in the Eiffel mountains.
Team ASM, whose Iberian trio of Miguel Amaral, Angel Burgueno and Miguel Angel De Castro took a
debut win at Spa in May, once again tasted the champagne from the top step after a superb drive that also
netted them a brilliant 5th overall. Completing the Lola success was Binnie Motorsports in 2nd place, with
double Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 champions, RML, taking fourth.
CHAMBERLAIN SYNERGY 4TH OVERALL IN LMP1
Lola success wasn't just confined to the LMP2 category however, as Chamberlain Synergy equalled their
best ever result with 4th place overall in their Lola B06/10 LMP1 sportscar.
Despite the superb result, it wasn't an easy start for the Oxfordshire based team, as Bob Berridge was left
stationary on the formation laps before the start!
"When I was passed my helmet (preparing for thee start, on the grid) somehow the isolator for the paddle
shift got tripped so I couldn't select a gear," said Berridge. "After that the usual conservative game plan, to
bring the car home, was out of the window, I had to go for it!"
And he certainly did, storming through the 44 car field with ruthless efficiency to place an incredible 10th
place overall at the end of the first hour of racing. After making some further progress, Bob handed over
to team mates Gareth Evans and Peter Owen, who both completed faultless stints at the wheel.
With Berridge back in the cockpit for the last portion of the race, the yellow AER twin turbo powered Lola
was again despatching with its opposition, passing the LMP2 winning Lola of Burgueno to seal a magnificent
4th place overall.
Berridge and Evans now jump in to joint 2nd place in the drivers points standings as they head to Donington
Park next month.
TEAM ASM DO THE DOUBLE
The Portuguese, ASM team, won their second consecutive LMP2 race at Nürburgring, meaning that since
they have moved in to the LMS series they remain unbeaten after being victorious in their first event at Spa
in May.
Spaniards, Angel Burgueno and Miguel Angel De Castro showed great pace during their stints at the wheel
to put the Lola-AER in contention for the last hour of the race. After RML's misfortune due to a brake
problem, Burgueno was doggedly holding off the advancing Radical LMP2 car of (ironically) the Portuguese
racer, Joao Barbosa. With just a handful of laps left to run in the six hour race, the two collided, with the
unfortunate Barbosa being left beached in the gravel trap. Luckily, Burgueno was able to continue and despite
a late precautionary pit stop, was able to take the flag, to the delight of the team, who are run by ex British F3
racer Antonio Simoes.
Burgueno and De Castro now lead the LMP2 drivers points standings with a maximum score of 20 points.
BINNIES BURN FROM THE STERN GRABS SECOND
Binnie Motorsports continued their impressive run of results to take their third consecutive podium after previous
successes at Spa and the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Like Chamberlain Synergy though, Bill Binnie, Sam Hancock and Allen Timpany earned their visit to the podium
after qualifying problems meant they had to start the Zytek powered Lola from the back of the grid.
Sam Hancock made an immediate impression on the GT cars as he scythed through the field to place the Lola in
a brilliant 7th overall and 2nd in LMP2 at the hour mark. The 2004 LMP2 drivers champion was revelling in the
well balanced Lola and re-confirmed his status as one of the stars of the LMP2 category.
From there, Binnie and Timpany enjoyed trouble free stints at the wheel and the trio were delighted to have sealed
another visit to the podium, this time in 2nd place as opposed to the 3rd at Spa. The trio now jump to 3rd place in
the LMP2 standings.
POOR LUCK DOGS RML ONCE AGAIN
The Lola-MG of the RML Group suffered terrible luck once again in Germany, as a brake problem accounted
for what was certain to be a second LMP2 class victory in three weeks.
After that memorable Le Mans 24 Hours performance last month, Tommy Erdos and Mike Newton entered the
German race in a confident frame of mind and after Erdos showed some fierce pace in the Free Practice and
Qualifying sessions it seemed that the slick RML team would be able to avenge the bad luck that it has endured
so far in the LMS this season.
Erdos qualified the red, white and blue AER powered car in a clear class pole position, some 1.6 seconds ahead
of its nearest rival. Earlier in the weekend, Erdos had created a sensation in the practice sessions by being 4th
overall, ahead of several LMP1 entries.
After an early delay in the pits the car was soon in contention for the lead with Mike Newton again producing a
superb stint to hand back over to Erdos.
Just as the race was going in to the final hour, Erdos had taken over the lead and had a cushion of some 20 seconds
over the Team ASM Lola. Disaster struck however when the brake problem caused Erdos to tour slowly round to
the pits.
Despite a certain win having been snatched cruelly from them, the efficient RML team had the car back out on to the
track, after replacing the braking system to the front left corner of the car to claim 4th place in LMP2 and to stay in touch with the points leaders.
The next round of the Le Mans Series sees many of the teams home event at Donington in Leicestershire on August 27.
Click here for full Results in PDF format.
