24h Le Mans
Photo : Nicolas COUSSEAU - ACO/Nikon
13/24 - Monday, 13th December - Hungaroring, the LM P2 festival.
At 1000 km Hungaroring, the fourth round Le Mans Series in 2010, the favourites were beaten soundly by the LM P2 prototypes: six cars in the first six places!
The HPD ARX-01c of Strakka Racing had already created a huge surprise when Danny Watts snatched pole position in the final minutes of the qualifying session from the Lola-Rebellion of Jean-Christophe Boullion and Andrea Belicchi. Then the next day, Watts and his team-mates Jonny Kane and Nick Leventis then dominated the race. A victory that was not just lucky it seems.
Favorites from the LM P1 class (the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP of Team Oreca Matmut the Rebellion Racing Lola and Aston Martin of Signature Plus) were certainly not spared problems, but the very peculiar nature of the Hungaroring, track narrow, offering little opportunity for overtaking, favored the agility of the LM P2. Under the chequered flag, the of HPD Strakka Racing led the Zytek of Quifel-ASM, a Pescarolo of OAK Racing, the RML Lola coupe, the other Zytek of Team Bruichladdich and another Lola coupe of Racing Box. Leo and Greg Mansell, driving the first LM P1 prototype were in seventh place.
This triumph of LM P2 is also indicative of dramatic changes in the class. In 2010 it became ultra-competitive. Since the advent of the RS Spyder and the ARX-01c, respectively designed by Porsche and Acura, Honda's U.S. subsidiary, and the remarkable work of other teams like OAK, Quifel, RML or Bruichladdich, promised a bright future for this category, including 1000 km Hungaroring 2010 that will undoubtedly remain a key date.
Jean-Philippe Doret
Photo: Budapest (Hungary), 1000 KM Hungaroring, 22nd August 2010. After LM P2 victory at Le Mans, Strakka Racing dominated in Hungary.
