Spa –Francorchamps 1000 kms – 2010 FLM Cup 2nd round
The Formula Le Mans back at Spa in the thick of the Peugeot-Audi duel
Formula Le Mans at Spa among the official Peugeot and Audi sportscars
On Sunday 9th May, more than fifty cars will tackle the Eau Rouge Raidillon on the magnificent Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the second round of the 2010 Le Mans Series Championship. The field is made up of Audi R15 Pluses, Peugeot 908s, Ferraris, Porsches, Ford GTs, Corvettes and BMWs. Seven Oreca-FLM prototypes will battle for victory on the roller-coaster in the Belgian Ardennes. The return of Formula Le Mans to the La Source hairpin is a symbolic one. Just a year ago, it was the first braking spot for a Formula Le Mans race, and this weekend’s event will show how much the Oreca-FLM prototypes have come on in a year.
French team DAMS’s game plan was spoilt by a retirement in the first round in the Le Castellet race, and it is determined to take its revenge with its two cars on a circuit it knows like the back of its hand. In May 2009, a car entered by the Sarthe-based squad won the first monotype FLM race. This year, the FLMs have been integrated into the Le Mans Series races, and the Belgian round, the first confrontation between the works Peugeot Sport and Audi Sport cars, has all the ingredients of a thrilling race.
It will not be an easy job for Loïc David’s men. The Applewood Seven squad, the 2010 FLM Cup leader, thanks to their victory in the Le Castellet 8 Hours, will fight tooth and nail on a circuit that Australian rookie, Ross Zampatti, David Zollinger’s and Damien Toulemonde’s team-mate, is already familiar with.
The Boutsen Energy Racing team, victim of a collision at Paul Ricard, will also be out for revenge, and the two Hope PoleVision Racing cars can be counted on to fight at the front in a race, which should finish before the 6-hour mark. JMB Racing will do everything to see the flag after losing a wheel in extremis at Le Castellet which put an end to a consistent performance. Rain will be a factor in the outcome of the forthcoming battle as the weather forecasters predict rain on Friday during free practice, and at the end of the race on Sunday. At Spa, anything can happen in the rain!
Weekend timetable
Free practice
Friday 7th May: 12h05 – 13h05 and 16h25-17h25
Saturday 8th May: 09h45-10h45
Qualifying
Saturday 8th May: 14h20-14h40
Race
Sunday 9th May: 11h30-17h30 (143 laps)
The classification of the 2010 FLM Cup after the Le Castellet 8 Hours (double points awarded because of the distance covered by the winning no. 7 Audi R15 Plus, over 1500 kms) is as follows:
1er Applewood Seven #49 Toulemonde-Zampatti-Zollinger 30 points
2e Hope PoleVision Racing #48 Beche-Capillaire-Pillon 26 points
3e DAMS #43 Barlesi-Chalandon- Cicognani 22 points
4e Hope PoleVision Racing #47 Kaufmann-Moro-Zacchia 18 points
5e** DAMS #44 Piscopo-Stirling-Hines 1 point
* Boutsen Energy Racing #45 de Crem-Delhez-Kraihamer
* JMB Racing #46 Basso-Hartshorne-Kutemann
* Unclassified after the Le Castellet 8 Hours either because the distance covered was inferior to 70% of that covered by the winners, or because the car did not cross the finishing line when the chequered flag was shown.
** Car did not cross the finishing line at the Le Castellet 8 Hours, but the driver line-up was awarded one point for setting the fastest time in qualifying.
