MRL Le Mans Legends Race 2011 (Support race to the Le Mans 24hr Race)
Race Car:- Aston Martin DB2 light weight Le Mans 1951 (non-team car)
Paddock Shots before qualifying
Qualifying Thursday 9th June 1hour.
Weather warm slight wind and over cast.
Total laps:- 10.
Best Lap time:- 6mins 16sec.
Grid position:- 55th
Grid sizes:-61 Plus reserves.
Car ran well with some vibration at above 100mph. Before the pit stop to tighten the new half shafts the DB2 would only rev to 4,500rpm and a top speed of 115mph.The points were re-set and the car ran better at higher speed down the Mulsanne and rev to 5,500 and about 132mph.
The brakes were very good just a few clunks from the new springs but after a few laps this stopped.
The Race Saturday 11th 2011
Total Race Time:- 51mins 49sec. Ave speed 126.2Kph
Total Laps:- 8
Best Lap time:- 6mins 4sec
Final Position:- 42nd
Class Position:- 6th.
Total starters:- 61
Top speed down Mulsanne:- 140mph at 5,800 rpm
Best Lap Ave speed:- 134.40Kph
Fastest lap:- 8th
Sector Times:- All on 8th lap sector 1 = 58.36, 2 = 2.17.59, 3 = 2.49.02
Photos during the race
Car ran very well although top end speed started to drop off over the last two laps. The top speed down the Mulsanne was about 140mph for a few seconds but I think the car with a tune up would rev a little higher to about 6,200 rpm which should be good for about 143 mph.
Not bad for a 2,580 cc engine when all the other cars in the class were 3L plus.
I think the car would be capable of a lap time of about 5mins 55sec. I was a bit slow through sector 3 as it was my first drive at Le mans and I wanted to make sure I got the car to the end of the race.
I have a good race against the HRG Le Mans Light weight of Chris Conoley/Allen Tice, I over took them several times down the Mulsanne straight and going into Indianapolis but each time was over taken again going through the Porsche curves. They were a head at the end but it at least made a race of it as in these big races you can often end up going round on your own.
The brakes were very good and the car handled well after all the work to the rear end after the half shaft breaking in the previous race.
Post Race:-
Its a tough job
Duncan with Sir Stirling Moss (last Race)
Awards post race
Jonanthan and Susan pit crew
Darren taking kit down to the pits.
A few short videos at The Dunlop Turn and Bridge
My Thanks to the following people
Duncan & Lindsey for organizing a great race meeting.
Darren from Wren Classic (mechanic & pit crew).
Jonathan & Susan as pit crew.
Liz for going at all.
