Le Mans Weekend Part Two - Hours 8 to 12
8 Hours
Being stationary in the garage was to cost the PK Porsche dear once again. By half past eleven the #78 car had slipped back onto screen three and was being logged in 36th place overall - the #75 Perrier car having recovered the position above. Ten minutes later and the #84 T2M Porsche swept by up the main straight, and still there was frantic activity around the #78 car. Two minutes later and the #92 TVR went burbling through, only to be reported as having lost drive at ten to twelve. Rain was spotting the track at Arnage, but not enough yet to send cars in search of grooved tyres.
Then, just as Saturday slipped imperceptibly into Sunday, some good news came through at last. Piers Masarati blipped the throttle and powered out along the pitlane. The race was on once again.
His first scalp was the stranded TVR, which he passed on his out-lap. PK was up to 36th overall, ninth in GT, with Piers quickly up to speed and typically lapping in the low four-twenties. He was also closing on another place, but looming distantly in his rearview mirror was the Racers Group Porsche. Although a whole seven laps down, Jorg Bergmeister was lapping in the low four-tens and, relatively speaking, was closing fast.
9 Hours
Piers did well to maintain his consistent pace all the way through to one o'clock. Out at the sharp end, the two Bentleys were still competing for the lead, followed by two out of the original three Audis, and Jan Lammers' Dome in fifth place. The one Audi retirement came very early in the race and under unusual circumstances. The #10 Audi UK entry ran out of fuel - no more, no less -after 28 laps. Other retirements have been the Pagani (10 laps), the #91 TVR (11 laps), the Pilbeam 675 (27 laps), the Norma Ford (82 laps), the Konrad Saleen (91 laps) and the Intersport Lola MG (107 laps).
A few minutes after the hour Piers came into the pitlane for his scheduled hand-over to David Warnock. It all went smoothly, with new tyres fitted as well as a fresh driver. For forty minutes everything continued in a similar vein, but half way around the circuit on the car's 115th lap the former British GT Champion experienced something every driver dreads. Flat out at over 170 miles an hour the front right tyre simply exploded in an fan of flailing rubber.
He did a remarkable job of getting the Porsche back under control, but then had to face the daunting prospect of driving the hobbled car all the way back to the pits. It took him nearly five minutes, and all this time the rubber was steadily slapping viciously at body panels, light fittings and the front-right radiator.
At 01:42 the PK Porsche slithered gracelessly up to the pit apron. Such is the crew's discipline that the refueller was immediately to work, irrespective of the obvious damage to the front right hand quarter of the car. Unfortunately, it was clear that the car wouldn't be leaving again without a considerable amount of work. Hauling on the rear wing the engineers dragged the car backwards into the garage and, without need for instruction or guidance, set to work on removing the remnants of the front wing and valence, replacing all the tyres, and fitting a new radiator. It was another impressive example of coordination and self-awareness as individuals moved swiftly to fulfil the roles that have become second nature to them after years of working as a team.
The first task to be completed after removal of the damaged panels was the replacement of the radiator. With that in place it was then possible for the system to be refilled and checked for leaks and airlocks. Three out of four new wheels and tyres were then fitted, but work on the front wing was being delayed by the need to remove the original lighting units from the damaged panel. It was painstaking work.
10 Hours
Two o'clock in the morning and the PK Porsche remained static in the garage. It was starting to feel like one step forwards and two steps back, especially when the Racers Group #81 Porsche sailed by a few minutes later, having made up a deficit of seven laps. The end was in sight for David Warnock, however. He'd been sitting patiently in the car while others took it in turns to waft the driver's door back and forth in an effort to keep him cool. While lengths of tank tape were being used to secure the headlight covers the rest of the car was being given a quick polish and windows cleaned.
At ten past two the #78 Porsche, looking almost as good as new, was eased back out onto the apron. The engine fired first time, and after a few quick checks, David accelerated away and back into the race. A small cheer rose from some of those braving the night in the grandstands opposite, while a flurry or mutual backslapping broke out in the PK garage. "170 miles an hour!" exclaimed Mike Pickup. "He did well to hold on to it." It is almost certain that David was simply unfortunate to drive over a scrap of debris on the track. "He says it's really filthy out there," confirmed Mike.
David Warnock completed the rest of his stint without further incident. At two forty, with lap times hovering around four twenty-six, the PK Porsche moved back into 35th place overall by passing the DBA 675 prototype. At ten to three he reclaimed another position by moving ahead of Fabio Babini in the ailing #70 JMB Ferrari 360 Modena. At last, things for PK seemed to be going in the right direction once again.
11 Hours
David Warnock celebrated 11 hours of racing (setting aside the fact that the PK Porsche had been stranded in its garage for a total of an hour and forty-eight minutes) by overtaking another Ferrari, this one the XL Racing 550 Maranello. He hadn't finished yet though. At twenty past three he passed another of the walking wounded; the #25 WR Peugeot LMP675 and finally, just before completing his stint, acquired 32nd place overall and that coveted second screen. "David's driven a brilliant stint," said Mike Pickup, pleased to see him take what must have been an alarming blow-out in his stride.
So when Piers Masarati took over once again at around twenty to four he had more reasons to be cheerful. Inspired, perhaps, but the prospect of further progress, Piers was up to speed almost straight away, clocking a succession of sub-twenty laps. What had seemed a challenge just two days ago had become a matter of routine, and improving his personal best in the dead of night was a reflection of his growing confidence and understanding. For reward, on his second lap out, he passed the #83 Seikel Porsche, destined to retire minutes later having completed a creditable 134 laps. This raised the PK's standing to 31st overall, seventh in class.
12 Hours
So, with half the race completed eleven cars had retired and the Bentley steam-roller continued unhindered at the front, car #7 just heading its sister by a single lap.
Meanwhile, back in the PK garage, spirits had lifted slightly. One of the service engineers even thought he had time to slip away and snatch some shut-eye by sneaking under the teams' trailer unit. Sadly for him, his hideaway was discovered and he received a shock awakening when airhorns and hoses blasted at him from all sides. Startled awake, he leaped upwards and found his vertical ascent challenged by the "fifth wheel". When he came down again he was covered in oily black grease and much in need of a shower. No doubt it's one of those tales that will improve with the telling in years to come!
