The Judd-powered Ascari KZR1 of Team Ascari retired from the 24 Hours of Le Mans after the British car suffered left rear suspension failure on lap 17. With Silverstone-based South African, Werner Lupberger at the wheel, the car left the track as a result of the failure at the Indianapolis corner whilst running in a strong 15th position. Due to the damage suffered by the car Race Director Ian Dawson took the decision to retire the no. 21 car two hours into the race.
 photo copyright © Rick Wilson / Maison Blanche Ian Dawson, Race Director, Team Ascari: "This is a bitter disappointment for all concerned; our company, sponsors and supporters. Watching on the monitor we were relieved that Werner was not hurt in this high speed impact. The Ascari KZR1 has performed superbly all weekend and there were no signs of any problems. We had worked out our race strategy and could manage 13 laps on the fuel load, which is two more than last year. We are also able to maximise our Dunlop tyre testing by running them for 3 stints, over the course of the race this would have enabled us to move up the field, we were already starting to pick up laps as expected after a planned early stop for fuel. Unfortunately the car suffered a rear suspension failure on the approach to Indianapolis resulting in damage to the car which, had it been able to return to the pits could have been repaired but unfortunately with the tools the driver is allowed to carry Werner was unable to make any repairs to the Ascari. I was encouraged with the speed and strategy produced this weekend alongside improvements which have been made to the car over the past few months. We had a good showing and were confident that all the revisions to the rear of the KZR1 would prove reliable over this demanding event. We will now review the components in the time available after competing in the Daytona 24 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours, all in 5 months. The races in September in Miami and Road Atlanta are next on the schedule." Werner Lupberger, Driver, Team Ascari: "I was just arriving into Indianapolis when the rear end just sat down. There was nothing I could do, even when I stood on the brakes. Luckily I missed the inside wall and aimed for the outside one, it was a fairly big impact. You are not allowed to pick up spares any more and I couldn’t drive back to the pits as I would have damaged the gear box and transmission on the Tarmac."  photo copyright © Rick Wilson / Maison Blanche The Ascari KZR1 qualified 14th on the grid with South African Lupberger improving the qualifying time from Wednesday by more than a second during Thursday's two two-hour sessions, setting a best of 3m37.825s before leaving Bell to learn the car and the track, and Collins to work on race set-up in preparation for Saturday's race. A fresh Judd V10 engine had been fitted overnight between qulaifying days and the team fitted another, and a new gearbox, in preparation for the race. Thursday's sessions were spent concentrating on setting up the car, and was delayed only by a clutch problem. Werner Lupberger, Driver, Team Ascari: "The car was good for a 3m36s or a low 3m37s, but there was a Ferrari that crashed in the Porsche Curves, and there was gravel all over the place. That lost the first good lap of the tyres, they were a qualifying set. I tried a second lap, but they are not really good enough for two laps, so that is why we only did a 3m37.8s. We are happy to have out-qualified some of the factory competition, and be the highest placed LMP900 on non-Michelin tyres. The new transmission assembly we have been running has been working very well but has needed set-up work as we have never run it at Le Mans before. We had a strong overall performance, with TJ and Ben also posting good times." Bell continued to learn the circuit with laps during the night sessions. The American first joined the team at the Daytona 24 hours in January, but this is the first time that he has been to Le Mans. Ben Collins, Driver, Team Ascari: "I am happy with the balance of the car after initial work on Wednesday, and feel we have a very good race package. Werner didn't get two clear laps on qualifying tyres but it is always difficult at Le Mans. TJ has also done a very good job, especially considering his only laps around here have been in the dark!" Ian Dawson, Race Director, Team Ascari: "I was very pleased with the teams performance, bearing in mind we had to do more work with our three drivers on optimising the new chassis components. The performance level of the car has increased and Werner was able to use the Dunlop softer qualifying tyre of the first time here at Le Mans with good effect but, like so many situations, getting a clear lap here is most important. Werner, Ben and TJ have completed a good balance in lap times between them and I feel the car, in race set-up, is capable of achieving a strong top six finish." |
