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Magny Cours

29/07/2001

Race

Preview

Credit where it's due, John Mangoletsi has assembled a field of 25 Prototypes for the fifth round of the FIA Sportscar Championship, and that is vastly more Prototypes than can be found in any other series - although there isn't another international Prototype series, of course.

The significant 'returner' in SR1 is the Pescarolo Courage, Henri having thrown his toys out of the ELMS pram after Estoril, and apparently committed to stay away from the Panoz-managed series. Will he enter all of the remaining races in this series? The pace of his car at Estoril would suggest that another good run here could see a Courage victory - for the first time, anywhere? 'Pesca' has had some bad luck in 2001, but it could / should all come right on home ground. The likes of BMS, Kremer, R&M, Racing For Holland, Den Bla Avis, Brums and Ascari will be out to prevent a turbocharged victory - and BMS have the additional complication of a slight reduction in restrictor size.

The GMS is back for the first time this year, Soheil Ayari looking to make a name for himself as he aims for F1.

The philosophy in this series has always been to maintain the competitiveness of older cars; the alternative is to accept that newer cars should have a slight advantage, because teams investing in new cars should be rewarded for their outlay - and newer should be better. Different series, different concepts. But Brno did see the top cars coming together at the end, but with the Nielsen Dome always out front. Perhaps that's the way it should be, with Pescarolo and Lammers joining in (as long as it stays dry for the Dutch Dome). Gounon / Hancock sounds like an explosive combination for this one - while Collins / Lupberger are way overdue for a win. Perhaps the BMS 333 will still be right at the front, or is the Lavaggi / Vann pairing due some better luck?

SR2 has 13 runners, Fillippo Francioni / Raffaele Raimondi apparently having 'done a Pescarolo' after Brno - they were disqualified for an infringement on the 'step' between the rear wheels (they didn't have one), and have chosen not to come and play in France. Thed Bjork was a star in the Czech Republic, and this man deserves more recognition than he's getting for showing the way in the smaller class. The Rapier 6 is listed to return for this one, while Rowan Racing have apparently been arranging for engines to be assembled by a different builder from now on, so they'll be out to uphold Pilbeam honours. Phil Andrews in the Swara Tampolli? He and Michael Mallock should make that one fly. The Italians make up the bulk of the SR2s, for what promises to be the best race of the season so far.