"Team Modena claimed second place in the LM GT1 class at the third round of the 2007 Le Man Series at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany today. The result in the 1000km race moves Team Modena's Antonio Garcia to fourth in the driver's championship for the class just four points off the lead after sharing the team's Aston Martin DBR9 today with Christian Fittipaldi and taking 18th overall in the 50-car field.

It was a strong weekend for the rapid Aston Martin, the car qualifying second in class in Saturday's qualifying session after being a front-runner in the preceding Free Practice Sessions.

Garcia took the start in the largely dry six-hour event and immediately found a problem with the traction control system, which he switched off after just half an hour. The two drivers adapted their driving style to suit the conditions, and were even able to take the lead of the class during the race, but after 180 laps the driver pairing finished 46 second behind the leader, with the third placed car less than 20 seconds further back highlighting the pace and competitiveness of the LM GT1 runners.

"It was quite strange because we didn't know exactly what would happen, and I had some problems with the brakes at the end of the race too!"

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Speed is life

RML MG Lola wins LMP2 at Nurburgring 1000 kms

The RML driver pairing of Mike Newton and Thomas Erdos secured a memorable LMP2 victory in the Nurburgring 1000 kilometres today for Round 3 of the 2007 Le Mans Series.

In a race where few cars encountered the usual problems, it was an especially sweet win for the Wellingborough-based team. The knowledge that they had beaten tough opposition on pace alone came as rich reward after the disappointment of missing out on a hat-trick of class wins in the Le Mans 24 Hours just a fortnight ago. That sensation also came as some recompense for the many occasions over the past two seasons when near-certain victory has been snatched away at the last moment by a bizarre failure or unforeseen mishap. This time, against one of the toughest grids yet amassed for the Le Mans Series, the RML AD Group MG EX264 swept through from start to finish in a supreme demonstration of pitlane efficiency and unbeatable pace.

Following on from claiming pole on Saturday, Thomas Erdos drove a faultless first double-stint. The red, white and blue MG lead the LMP2 class all the way, save for a three-lap break created by an early pitstop for fuel, and he handed over at the end of two hours with a lead of over a minute from the second-placed Quifel ASM Lola.

Mike Newton, who had already demonstrated a considerable improvement in speed during free practice, maintained that level of pace for the next third of the race. Lapping consistently and without drama, he was able to hand back the MG for the final two hours with the advantage comfortably intact. It then rested with Thomas Erdos to steer the car home; a feat he achieved with considerable finesse, not only extending the lead, but setting a new race lap record along the way of 1:49.031.
That was absolutely brilliant!"

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Speed is life