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Donington Park ELMS

14/04/2001

ELMS

Preview

The third of the three European sportscar (a loose term) series makes its entrance at Donington Park this weekend. In some ways it is a valid argument that the ELMS doesn’t compete directly with the FIA SCC or the FIA GTs. The SCC is by definition for open prototypes only, the GT Championship is obviously for GTs, but the ELMS caters for both. So take your pick.

The FIA GT Championship is on an upward curve, the opening round at Monza attracting a good crowd and producing some top class racing. The FIA SCC would like to be at the same level, but Barcelona saw one of the poorest races you’re ever likely to see, and didn’t attract Spanish race fans – despite a few exciting new cars.

If you were at Silverstone last May for the ALMS race, you’ll know that you daren’t miss Donington this Easter Saturday. If you missed Silverstone last May and don’t know what you missed, you must go to Donington this Saturday.

Silverstone last year was more than a little bit special, not least because Audi came with their ’99 cars and fought on equal terms with the rest. Donington could be rather different, if past Audi form is anything to go by (ten consecutive wins), but the sheer spectacle of the best sports prototypes racing in Britain ought to be enough to attract large numbers of fans. If you genuinely believe that Ferrari 333s have the same appeal, think back to Donington’s SRWC crowd last August as you wait for Saturday’s midday start.

This will be a chance for British fans to see the whole range of Le Mans cars in the UK for the only time this year. No Bentley or MG of course, but more than enough to whet the appetite for June’s festivities. The weather might be less pleasant than Monza or Barcelona, but standard of the cars will be outstanding....the only minus is that we ought to be able to pick the winning marque with more than a degree of confidence. At least there are three other classes to be decided (two if we accept that Saleen must win GTS).

Audi have been on a roll since the debut of the R8 last year. The weather at the Nurburgring upset plans there, but otherwise the 2000 model was well nigh unbeatable, and the revised version for this year is even better. “We´ve conducted rain tyre tests with our partner Michelin and are well prepared for all weather conditions,” says Head of Audi Sport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. You can’t imagine Audi being beaten by the weather twice, can you?

Audi drivers occupy the first 11 positions in the ALMS points table, but they’re not all at Donington. At least the rest start all square in the ELMS. Wallace and Schroeder aren’t coming across with the Champion car, so the rest of the LMP900s ‘only’ have three Audis to contend with. Stefan Johansson first raced at Donington around 23 years ago, so he knows it well enough: “I led most of my maiden Formula 3 race there but eventually finished second to Derek Warwick - although I beat Nelson Piquet in to third.” Guy Smith knows the place as well as anyone, so perhaps the Gulf car – the gloriously-liveried Gulf car - will be right with the Joest R8s. Only Capello is a newcomer to the Midlands track from Joest’s foursome, Pirro, Biela and Kristensen all having raced Touring Cars round the swoops and dives.

All the prototypes should be a sight to behold, especially diving down the Craner Curves. Brabham and Magnussen will be as committed as anyone in the Panoz LMP07, Graf too. Smooth Donington should be much more Panoz-friendly than bumpy Sebring, so there is the prospect of real Audi competition from the LMP07s, as at Texas. "We are not sure yet how the new car will be, but are much more confident of repeating how things went at Texas rather than Sebring," explains Jan Magnussen. Don’t assume this has to be an Audi benefit.

Add in two Ascaris, the new Chrysler LMP (its debut), the Westward Racing 2000 Panoz (the team's proper debut, after help from the factory at Texas - and they're running on Avons now) and the Pescarolo Sport Courage and there’s a real Le Mans feel to this line-up. There are top class driver line-ups almost throughout too.

The 675s are few in number, but this will be a first chance to see the Dick Barbour Reynards. It is asking too much for them to fight with the 900s first time out, but longer term, that is the target. de Radigues and van de Poele are as quick as any pair, and if any kind of reliability can be found straight away, their progress should be worth watching. The two Pilbeams are worthwhile additions to the class, the Rowan example a winner first time out in the FIA SCC.

GTS is a two car class, because the Vipers and Corvettes aren’t coming. Franz Konrad was a surprise winner at Sebring, and he should be faced with the debut of the RML entry. No drivers have been announced yet for the British entry.

The GT class could see the best racing of all. The Alex Job Porsches are missing out Le Mans, but they are down for Donington. So are the BMW Motorsport M3 GTRs. Lehto and Muller had a great Sebring debut, but two of the BMWs taking on the Porsches could see the flat sixes beaten – but it will take a perfect run from one of them. It’s looking tough for the rest of the class, but PK Sport / Ricardo have long distance experience, as do Seikel – lots of it. PK Sport / Ricardo are entering the whole ELMS, and this race will be an excellent shakedown prior to their first Le Mans. Alex Job and BMW are not entering Le Mans.

The Paco Orti and Kyser Porsches complete the overseas GT entries, as the del Bello Porsche is not expected to be present. Sebah Racing are new to Porsches and long distance events.

Enough here to capture the imagination? Undoubtedly. Testing takes place on Thursday afternoon, with Practice and Qualifying on Friday. See the Schedule for details.