American Le Mans Series

Planetlemans analyzes the ALMS Mosport Grand Prix

© American Le Mans Series

It all started with a qualifying session that ended with 10 cars beating the previous year’s track record and within 1.4 seconds. A really promising perspective for the race that was confirmed and even surpassed on Sunday. Audi had to work really hard to get another 1-2 and there was heartbreak at the very last lap when two of the front runners ran out of fuel.

The race started with the Audis clearly in front, Marco Werner ahead after outwitting Dindo Capello in a tough traffic situation in the opening laps and the LMP2s right behind: Penske #7 and a trio of Acuras (AGR, Fernández, Highcroft). The race was therefore close but dominated by the LMP1 diesels in the prototype department.

Down in GT2-country the battle commenced with the sole Risi car this weekend in front of a 3-way battle between the Tafel 71 car and the Farnbacher Loles and Flying Lizard 45 Porsches. The red Ferrari had a slight edge on the other 3 but clearly this was minimal and all 4 were evenly matched as they would be practically the whole race.

About 40 minutes into the race, a first full course yellow caused by a wheel from the VICI Porsche taking off after turn 2 (and missing an Audi barely) had most of the teams pitting in and would be a first hint on strategies. To begin with, Penske got both cars into the pits right behind the 2 Audis. A quick stop from the Spyders and an error from Werner slightly hitting the wall while exiting pitlane meant that the number 7 car took over the overall lead from the number 2 Audi.

Something similar happened in GT2, where the Lizards did a fantastic job and got the 45 car into the class lead. Both leader changes would be short lived as the Audis would soon overtake Dumas and Salo would take advantage of a traffic situation to regain the GT2 lead for Risi. One important detail at this point was de fact that the De Ferran Acura which had been lapped by the leaders unlapped itself by pitting late after the wave-by, this would play a very important role later in the race. The battle was still intense both in LMP2 and GT2 and traffic was also playing a role as race midpoint approached quickly.

Right after 16:30 and when the race seemed to stabilize in an Audi-Audi-Porsche order with the Acura battle behind, disaster stroke for the second Intersport Lola as John Faulkner hit the wall hard after biting on the kerbstones and a second full course yellow was on. This was the turning point in the race in fact, as some decided not to pit (Andretti Green which took the overall lead) and others got on late and long, betting on not making any further stops with just over an hour to go. Among this was De Ferran and also Fernández and Pirro who actually came in twice to ensure the fuel was enough to last till the very end.

In GT2 the 46 Lizard was not able to rejoin after its pit stop while the other Porsches did a fantastic job and both Farnbacher Loles and the 45 Lizard rejoined ahead of the Risi car where Melo took over from Salo, the Tafel 71 in 4th at this point..

Both Audis were clearly on different strategies now, the number 1 would go to the end while number 2 with a very quick Lucas Luhr on board would have to stop once more and was trying to build a gap to the rest after overtaking Montagny on the AGR Acura for the lead. Waiting for the right moment and with a perfect pit stop strategy, the Highcroft Acura was now battling the Penske cars while the strategic moves of De Ferran had gotten him right behind Luhr and leading LMP2.

Right behind the Brazilian Adrián Fernández was also putting on a great fight with Pirro on the Audi 1 following both of them closely. In GT2 Farnbacher Loles was still leading but Melo was on fire after overtaking the 45 Lizard and would eventually get back on the lead leaving Bergmeister and Mueller (on the 71 Tafel ferrari) to battle it for 3rd while the 87 Porsche settled for second.

As Luhr went into the pits for his final stop De Ferran took the lead with Pirro now on his heels but not really challenging as he was short on fuel. Fernandez was 3rd but quickly he would be challenged by Brabham and Dumas in what would become one of the most intense battles of the race. Luhr would overtake everyone but De Ferran and as he was getting close the Brazilian slowed down and dramatically ended his race out of fuel in the last lap in a gamble that did not pay off.

And it did not pay off for Dumas either, but this one was more painful as the Porsche did come in for a splash and dash but was not able to get the last lap completed either. A drama for Penske that was a complete disaster as championship rivals Patrón Highcroft got the class win after overtaking Fernández with 4 minutes to go.

In GT2 it was old fashioned wheel banging that got the Tafel car on third ahead of the 45 Lizard but a later decision by the stewards would see the order inverted again as a 30 second penalty was given to Dirk Mueller for dangerous driving. A polemic decision that we personally did not share. Risi crossed the line first with another great second by Farnbacher Loles, a team that has been the sensation of this season together with Tafel.

Some brief conclusions of the race:
-Audi is certainly the ALMS powerhouse after applying the ACO LMP2 rules but the LMP2s are really not that far away.
-The Acuras are at least at par with the Porsche Spyders and do win races consistently
-There is a gap between the 7 and the 6 Penske cars
-GT1 is still a non-race
-GT2 is simply great to watch, it is much closer than anywhere else and the level is really high

Next weekend the next round at Detroit…don’t miss it if you want close, real racing!