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Estoril ELMS

15/07/2001

Round 3

Preview

You can't win anticipating an event like this. Look on the gloomy side at the number and type of entries and some would say that you're writing it off before it's even started. Look too positively at the GT class, say, and some would suggest that you're not being fair to another series - one which does have 20 Prototypes.

A personal view would be that the 'Le Mans mix' is the right way to go. You only have to look at the excellent racing in the 1999 ALMS to see that it can work - but for the first time since that year, we've got an A/ELMS event with no Joest Audis (to frighten off the opposition), but we've got almost no Prototypes left. These three will be looking to make up for their Le Mans disappointment by running to a convincing win against the Pescarolo Courage and...who else?

GTS has three entries, and Brookspeed are to be admired for coming back from the ISC fiasco to pull an entry together for this one with their ex-Oreca Viper. The two Saleens might just have a very serious opponent here. Chris Goodwin joins the RML driver strength, and this one looks to have the upper hand against Konrad / Brun / Seiler. Like Johansson, they had a very frustrating Le Mans.

The offer of a guaranteed Le Mans entry for 2002 has at least caught the imagination of the GT entrants. 13 are listed on the provisional entry, but some adjustments might happen before the field assembles on Friday morning. With no Job or Schnitzer cars to hare off into the distance, this group will be involved in a fierce scrap over the 1000 Km. It should be the making of the race, and one team will end up with big smiles on their faces as they anticipate next June.

PK Sport / Ricardo (above) were delighted with their finish at Le Mans, and Harlow Motorsport (right) are looking to join in the 24 Hour event next year. Rumours of two cars for Estoril from the Essex-based team have become just one, for Adam Simmons / Terry Rymer / Gavin Pickering. PK Sport / Ricardo have two, and the lead car is a GT3-RS, for Mike Youles / Robin Liddell / Piers Masarati.

The Seikel entry is expected to be driven by former Blue Coral partners Geoff Lister / Magnus Wallinder. The Swede will be itching to get out and race after his Swedish Touring Car plans came to nought, while Lister had some fun in a Marcos last weekend and will be equally keen to resume racing internationally. Johnny Mowlem drove this entry at Donington Park, but he moves across (back) to the Skea team as they resume racing, amid speculation of a full season of something next year.

Racing Engineering had a short Le Mans, but they've got Luca Riccitelli in their Estoril car, while another Le Mans entry resuming racing here is the Noel del Bello Porsche (right).

The Sebah (#64) and Paco Orti (#65) Porsches are regulars in the ELMS, so the final GT class runner is the Atomic Kitten Corvette for Roger Walters / Tom Bellamy / TBA.

How many will take the start? The Audi and the Courage look like ideal 1000 KM cars, but there's still the prospect of an unlikely overall winner if these two meet trouble.