24 Hours of Le Mans

Pat Long ready, Ortelli convalescing

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat

Patrick LONG (IMSA Performance-Matmut Porsche): « Le Mans is a kind of home for me! »

Patrick Long, Raymond Narac and Richard Lietz’s co-driver in the no.76 IMSA Performance-Matmut Porsche GT2, is American; but in his heart, a few French seeds have been planted.

© Planetlemans - Gabriel Portos

Why? Well, because in 1999 Le Mans was where he took one of the first steps in his fledgling career as a racing driver. He talks about his Formula Campus period with a touch of nostalgia in his voice, and the test day on Sunday 3rd June will see him back in familiar surroundings.

- Could you tell us your thoughts about the 24 hours race, and your upcoming experience with the IMSA Performance-Matmut Team ?

"- I’m extremely excited to be back for my 4th drive at the 24 hours of Le Mans with IMSA Performance-Matmut. I think it will be great to drive the first time with a "home team" after always
competing with teams from my country previously. I have a lot of emotions whenever I return to La Sarthe, and something tells me that this year will be special. I especially enjoy all of the preparation and lead up during the month of June that begins for me with the Pre Test. Night Qualifying, Scrutineering, and the Driver’s Parade are all special events that bridge the gap between the high tension and competition of the Pre Test and the 24 hours race. The race will be a test of strength and endurance for the car, drivers and team, therefore a lot of time not quite seemingly as glamorous and relaxed as other elements of the month, but in the end it that fight that you put up that makes it all that much sweeter when reach the finish!

- Do you already know Richard Lietz and Raymond Narac?

- I will be introduced to the whole IMSA Performance-Matmut Team at the Test Day. I know Richard Lietz now for a short time only, but the little time I’ve spent with him, and watching him on the course, makes me feel very comfortable having him as a teammate for this year’s 24 hours. He seems to possess a very focused and calculated manner, but at the same time carrying a nice mixture of friendliness to the overall picture.

- As you were involved in the Formula Campus in 1999, do you have any memories of the
city of Le Mans ?

- Le Mans does, and will always be special to me. I first travelled there in 1998 for the 1999’ "La Filiere" driver selection. Living at the University for a year, and travelling to the Technoparc each day means that I know my way around town! That makes things more relaxed when I return these days!! The first time I attended the 24 hours of Le Mans (99’) I know from there that would be one of my biggest goals to race and complete the race. I travelled back two more times as a spectator before getting my first chance to compete in the race in 2004. I ’ve been back every year since as a driver and hope to make it back for the next 10+ years! The city of Le Mans during race week obviously carries a much different vibe to the days of a regular work week. Both scenarios are special to me, and I feel luck to know both well. I have many memories of my Campus years terrorizing the local roads in a pack of 2-8 other young drivers from my Campus year on board our Scooters! We had loud, high tech 50cc scooters and we thought we were MotoGP stars… I’m sure there are people today that know just who the international groups of drivers from the Campus days were, probably based on our aggressive riding nature, bright helmet paint jobs, and our group sizes. It was some great times, the college years for sure of my racing career…"

Patrick LONG at the Le Mans 24 Hours :

2006 : 4th LM GT2. Flying Lizard Porsche RSR, with Johannes van Overbeek and Seth Neiman (18th overall).

2005 : 2nd LM GT2. White Lightning Porsche RSR, with Timo Bernhard and Jorg Bergmesiter (11th overall).

2004 : Le Mans debut. LM GT2 winner. White Lightning Porsche RSR, with Sascha Maasen and Jorg Bergmeister (10th overall).

Stéphane Ortelli convalescing

Stéphane Ortelli will not drive the no.55 Saleen at Le Mans on Sunday. He has not yet fully recovered from his accident on 19th May in practice for the Bucharest GT race, so with the agreement with his doctors and the Saleen ORECA-Matmut team, he has decided to have a few extra days’ convalescence to be 100% fit for the race.
"On the one hand I have to admit that we’re a bit worried," declared Pierre Dieudonné, the ORECA team manager, "because like all the other drivers Stéphane plays an essential role in the team, but his health is more important than anything else. On the other, we’re reassured. Jean Duby, the FIA doctor, gave him an IRM check in Marseille, which showed that there was no injury or lesion. As on Sunday it’s a free practice session his absence won’t have too many serious consequences, and a few more days’ rest will help him to get fighting fit again."

"In Bucharest I hit a wall head-on at around 150 km/h," said Stéphane. "I got out all right thanks to the HANS system* and the car’s level of safety. But I suffered a small brain oedema and I was suffering from vertigo when I was up and about the following week. Today, things are a lot better but I prefer to rest a bit more to be 100% for the race. I know that I’ll be as fit as a fiddle in a week and I have to be patient. It’s annoying as it’s our first time out on the big circuit in the Saleen. But Soheil (Ayari) and I understand each other so well that I trust him to do the set-up work on the car on Sunday. It’ll also help Nicolas (Lapierre), who’s making his Le Mans debut, to do twice as much running and fill me in on the details afterwards. So I’m taking it all in a laid-back fashion. But I’ll be there on 16th/17th June. You can count on that!"

For the Le Mans 24-Hours test day on Sunday the no.55 Saleen will be driven by Soheil Ayari and Nicolas Lapierre.

* HANS = Head and Neck Safety System.

Credit: Matmut IMSA-Oreca