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Jarama ELMS

Repsol

20/04/2001

ELMS

Preview

Audi were quickest in LMP900 at the Le Mans Test Day, and they’re at Jarama. Konrad were quickest in GTS at Le Mans and they’re here. One of the Barbour Reynards was quickest in LMP675 and they’re here. It's a travesty that teams go and do Le Mans but do not race again during the rest of the year....

It’s still early days for the ELMS, but this series does provide hope that more of the best quality teams will do more of the races. Whatever the total number on the grid at Jarama, many of them are the best Prototypes and GT cars available.

And there will be a big crowd here. Races in the UK and in Belgium last weekend indicated that crowds do not and will not attend FIA sportscar or GT races in numbers. 12 000 of them went to Donington Park, despite the bitterly cold weather. Over 30 000 are likely to go to Jarama. The Spanish and British GT meetings get far larger crowds than the FIA races, for heavens sake.

Guy Smith was a star at Donington, and although neither he nor Stefan Johansson have driven at Jarama before, it’s not the sort of circuit that takes a lot of learning. “This is an important race for us - not only are we looking to build points in the ELMS, we also want to ensure that the car
is in good shape for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June," explains Mike Earle. There’s nothig like racing to improve your performance (Bentley).
The Westward / Lanesra Panoz may be a non-arrival, and with Panoz fighting to get their cars Le Mans ready, Smith and Johansson are certain to be the main rivals for the silver Audis. Capello and Kristensen must start as favourites.

The Dick Barbour Reynards take on the adapted Roock-KnightHawk Lola in LMP675. One Pilbeam may join them, after the battle damage that was inflicted on the other (the Roy Baker entry) at Spa last weekend. Too many sportscar races?

There’s a third car in GTS (a Konrad Porsche), where Lambert and McKellar are, like the Gulf team, looking ahead to a strong performance at Le Mans. Konrad and Gavin (the latter also listed to drive at Watkins Glen this weekend!) were quicker at Donington, and may still have the advantage, although the Easter Saturday race was more like a shakedown (win) for the RML Saleen.

The GT class should again see the best racing. Alex Job against BMW. Pobst / Collard, Luhr / Maassen against Lehto / Muller and Ekblom / Muller. The Spanish event will mark the racing debut of another chassis - #04, for Lehto / Muller. Ekblom / Muller were already using their (planned regular) 2001 chassis at Donington (#03). "We've now reached the stage one would ideally want to be at for the start of the season," explained Charly Lamm. His cars have been extensively tested on Michelin’s track in France recently. "Jarama ought to be right up our street," believes Jorg Muller.

Four Porsches from the UK will be in Spain, and there is likely to be some fierce rivalry between Harlow Motorsport and PK Sport / Ricardo, the latter coming home an excellent third at Donington. The Callaway provides much needed variety, while the Paco Orti, del Bello, Seikel and Sebah Porsches add much needed numbers.