Motorsport: The little ones among the big ones
Audi, Porsche and Toyota take center stage at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But small teams like Race Performance, which is competing in the LMP2 class for the sixth time, are also doing great things. The team from [...], led by Urs Meier and Michel Frey, who drove the car himself until 2014, earned its place on the grid at Le Mans.
The Münsingen-based team led by Urs Meier and Michel Frey, who drove the car himself until 2014, earned its place on the grid at Le Mans by winning the title in the Asian Le Mans Series, which ended in January for the entire year. Of course, Race Performance still had to pay the high entry fee, because nothing is given for free at Le Mans in this respect either. With the open Oreca chassis with Judd V8 engine (based on a BMW block), the team is one of the underdogs in the 23-car LMP2 class, since most of its opponents use newer coupés. This is an investment that the Swiss will only be able to afford when the technical regulations change next year.
"We are noticing more and more clearly that we have a predecessor model. That was already the case in Asia," points out Niki Leutwiler, who secured the drivers' title with the help of Japanese pro Shinji Nakano. Two years ago, the now 56-year-old Zurich native fulfilled his dream of competing at Le Mans with the French, and now he gets to experience it all over again with his compatriots. Alongside Nakano, the Briton James Winslow is the third driver.
Move forward with zero-defect job
After the first qualifying session, the team practically rebuilt the sports car in night shifts so that, with a completely fresh powertrain and many new parts, it was technically well equipped for the big race. "If we're not among the fastest, then we'll just have to do a zero-fault job that allows us to make up places," says Leutwiler, outlining the rest of the strategy. The team has crossed the finish line in each of the five races it has taken part in so far; at the last start two years ago, it even fought for the class lead until midnight before a faulty fuel pump put an end to the realistic dream of a podium finish.
In view of the competition, which has become much stronger both financially and in terms of drivers, the LMP2 podium is practically out of reach this year - but you never know. "We simply have to still be there on Sunday lunchtime and not be too many laps behind," Michel Frey looks ahead. "Hoping that reliability and experience will wash us forward." We'll keep you updated on Race Performance and all the Swiss drivers this weekend in our live ticker.
www.race-performance.com
Photos: Wolfgang Koepp
