Le Mans Test Day- Afternoon Session - First Step Done For Petersen/ White Lightning In Pursuit of Third Le Mans GT2 Title

First Step Done For Petersen/ White Lightning In Pursuit of Third Le Mans
GT2 Title

 

LE MANS, France, June 5, 2005 – The first of three distinct steps to
becoming the first American, privateer team to win three consecutive 24
Heures Du Mans in GT2 class is now complete. With the checkered flag waving
over the Automobile Club De L’Ouest-sanctioned 24 Heures Du Mans Test Day,
Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing now looks forward to the two
remaining, more challenging tasks; qualifications and the race. Step-one was
checked-off as a success as the No. 90 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/
Michelin Porsche 911 GT3 RSR set the fastest time of the day for the class.
The quick time set in the morning session by Timo Bernhard (Dittweiler,
Germany) at four minutes 4.915 seconds, set the unofficial track record for
GT2 (formerly GT) class. The previous best of 4:05.975 was set at the 2004
Test Day by Jörg Bergmeister (Langenfeld, Germany) in this same Michael
Petersen-owned Porsche 911 riding on Michelin tires. Bernhard’s lap bettered
the official pole speed (set in 2003 in the Petersen/ White Lightning
Porsche that combined the team with Alex Job Racing) of 4:06.984. Patrick
Long (Las Vegas) did the bulk of the testing today putting in a full race
stint while Michael Petersen ran twice, once in the morning and once in the
afternoon, to assist. Bernhard drove only in the first session. The quickest
time set by the No. 90 in the afternoon session was set by Long at 4:06.6.

 

The five hour afternoon/ evening schedule was used primarily as a race test
by the team. Team manager Dale White (Las Vegas) and crew chief Stefan
Pfeiffer (Croatia) called for extended, race simulating stints for the
drivers. Long began the session and was immediately up to speed running laps
in the four minute, six second range. The 23 year-old American ran
consistently in that range throughout his stint. White called an end to the
day after 64 total laps with approximately an hour and a half remaining
available for testing as rain began to fall on the track in the southwest of
France. Several other cars continued to run and, as the track began to dry
several neared the time set by the Las Vegas-based team. However, none was
able to eclipse it. 

 

The team will now return to the 8.6-mile, 11-turn Circuit Des 24 Heures on
June 15th to prepare for their third race at the track. Joining the team
will be Bergmeister, a regular, like Long, at Petersen/ White Lightning in
the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). Bergmeister, Bernhard and Long will then
challenge for the GT2 class honors at the world’s greatest sports car race
on June 18-19th. 

 

More on Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing can be found at
www.PetersenMotorsports.com <http://www.petersenmotorsports.com/> . Learn
more about Porsche at www.Porsche.com <http://www.porsche.com/> . 




 

quotes…

Michael Petersen, team owner/ driver: “I think the whole team would agree
that we have a fairly decent car leading up to the race. The weather was
nice and cool, partly cloudy at the beginning and then the clouds came over
and a little bit of drizzle fell on the track. That probably kept some of
the other teams from showing all of their hand but Timo’s fantastic time
from this morning held-up all day. It’s nice to have the fastest time but we
all know it really means very little in the overall schedule of things in a
24 hour race. So now the crew can begin to diligently prep and prepare the
number 90 entry for the 24 Hours. The guys did a fantastic job driving and
the crew guys did in the pits. Dale called a great strategy for day and
everything is going to plan to this point.”

 

Dale White, team manager: “We accomplished everything that we wanted to
today. We set the quick time in the morning a little earlier than we thought
we would and that actually put us ahead on our strategy. When the rain came
with about an hour and a half to go we were just about to call Mike in
anyway so the rain didn’t hurt us at all. We accomplished what we planned
and a little more. The day went very well and it is always great to be at
the top of the time charts. However, even more importantly, we have a good
feel for where we are at with the race car for the 24 Hour. Being fast is
nice but in an endurance race like Le Mans, it doesn’t mean very much. Where
we are at 4 pm on June 19th is what counts to us.”

 

Timo Bernhard, driver: “It was a very good lap and I was happy with the
time. We have a very good car for the race, I think. We accomplished all
that we wanted to today and that gives us a very good feeling going into the
race.”

 

Patrick Long, driver: “It was great to be back. The second lap of the day
felt like where I left off last year. So I was really able to improve my
consistency. Our speed is there but the consistency was the really
encouraging thing today. We did what we planned which was to stay relaxed
and just get our work done. We didn’t have to spend all of our time on the
track and that is really encouraging. They have repaved the circuit so the
back half of the track is really grippy. I think there might have been even
more speed in the car but today was about the race setup. There could be
some even faster laps laid down in qualifying for the race.”