2011  International & Single Seater News News of young WRDA members who are competing in the International & Single Seater arena.

Aston engine woes ends Andy's Le Mans without a single racing lap to his name

Fernandez  gets ready to start (photo Rob Allender)

Before the start of the 20l1 Le Mans 24 hour race Andy Meyrick and the Gulf Aston Martin team certainly knew that scoring any sort of result would be a tough task with such a new car, with its radically different straight six turbo engine. However in practice clearly all the drivers were trying their hardest, with everyone fighting to get the most from the cars, with spins as evidence, and although the cars were amongst the fastest in the corners, the 007 car would start in 18th place with the Meyrick, Fernandez & Primat 009 car in 24^th place. Andy confirmed. "24^th place on the grid is obviously not where we want to be, we are loosing so much in the straights. Still when I get in, I will drive it like I stole it"

The team plan was to try and get one, if not both cars, to the end of the 24hrs race, but there was drama in the first laps of the race, when Adrian Fernandez, the lead driver of Andy Meyrick’s car, had to bring the car into the pits, where he confirmed that the engine was the problem. After a lengthy pit-stop, both Aston Martin AMR-1 cars were out, with over 23 hours still to go! The 007 car having the same problem as it’s sister 009 car, at the same time. Although the team made a major attempt to get 007 back out, is was all in vain.

Fernandez confirmed "It is very frustrating, The chassis is quite good and although the team made changes to the engine to try to make it run for 24hrs not just 10 hrs, but that unfortunately failed. The team is good but the engine is bad. It wasn’t revving and started making all this noise. Both cars went out with the same problem at the same time "  Hear Adrians interview Le Mans Audio File 1

Andy too was understandably disappointed at not even getting to do one single racing lap and said, "It was a really hard blow, so hard to take, but it was a mega mega effort by the team. I am so proud of my mechanics. Obviously there is huge disappointment within the team but believe me we will fight back ! Aston Martin Racing are a tough team"  The team may only have a little time to address the situation, if they are to make progress on their 3 year plan to win the event.

Meanwhile the race itself was punctuated by several long safety car periods to repair the crash barriers after a series of serious accidents involving, amongst others, the Audis of Scots driver Alan McNish, and another more serious one to the 2^nd Audi which left the driver Mike Rockenfeller with multiple fractures. However the race was won by the remaining Audi R18 diesel car of Marcel Fassler, Andre' Lotterer and Benoit Treluye with Lotterer on board for the final stint with a Peugeot diesel 2^nd only 15 seconds behind after 24 hours of racing

Hear Le Mans cars in action Le Mans Audio File 2 

Report by Rob Allender

Other links - Andy talks you round a lap of Le Mans   Le Man Official Site - http://www.lemans.org/en/