Honda prototypes returned from Le Mans with ambitions for the resumption of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Silverstone (UK) on the 26th August. On the other side of the Atlantic they lead the standings of the American Le Mans Series 2012, which continues with its fourth round on the 7th of July at Lime Rock.

Winner of the LM P2 class (seventh overall) with the HPD ARX-03b, the Starworks Motorsport Team established itself as the real surprise guest of the World Championship . For thier debut in endurance racing, she already has two wins (which is most at Sebring and Le Mans!), And now here with a solid lead of nineteen points over ADR-Delta in the overall ranking in their class. After retirement at the Le Mans 24 Hours, Level 5 Motor sports will return to the American Le Mans Series as leader of the LM P2. A position held by Muscle Milk Motorsports LM P1. Absent from Le Mans, the Honda HPD ARX-03a of Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr won the two previous rounds of ALMS at Long Beach and Laguna Seca.

At Le Mans, the HPD ARX-03a LMP1 was entered in by two British teams, JRM and Strakka. They had mixed fortunes but confirmed their level of performance. JRM finished in sixth place overall after a solid performance. Strakka Racing and its drivers Jonny Kane, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts were delayed even before the start and immediately forced into a long climb-back to their qualifying position (7th). But five hours from the chequered flag, a water pressure problem caused relegated the Honda to its pit box, from where it emerged to cross the finish line. "We detected an oil leak on the grid, and lost more than twenty minutes. We went from 56th and last up to seventh place ... A fairy tale,” said Piers Phillips, Team Principal of the British team. “Each pit stop was perfect, the technical glitches were resolved and I am very proud of the team. It's just a pity that we could not get the result it deserved. However, we passed the chequered flag. " Second and third respectively in the provisional classification of private teams in the FIA World Endurance Championship JRM and Strakka are separated by seven points (63-57) and are now in pursuit of Rebellion Racing who lead with 87 points, thaks to the fourth place of the Lola Toyota of Neel Jani-Nicolas Prost-Nick Heidfeld. There are five rounds still to run and the Honda prototypes have all to play for and will undoubtedly be strong contenders.

Jean-Philippe Doret
(Quote from Strakka Racing press release)

Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, RACE, 16th JUNE 2012. More than twenty minutes delayed at the start, the Honda of Strakka embarked on a spectacular comeback.