PR-Le Mans-4

Subj:  PR - LE MANS -4			Section: F-1/Internat'l News
  To:  ALL				Saturday, June 15, 1996 3:10:11 PM
From:  RIS/EUR-Jacquie Groom, 100045,3717#819638

24 Heures du Mans - 15/16 June 1996

Communique No. 4

Saturday 15th June 1996 - 15h0/17h00

Joest and Porsche battle for the lead

The No. 15 WR driven by David-Enjolras-Trevisiol took the place left vacant by the Debora which 
blew its second (and last) engine in the Warm-up.  The No. 77 Porsche of Kuster-Jurasz-Suzuki 
started from the pit land as it was unable to take up its grid position (repairs completed just in 
time after Thursday's practice accident).

The start was given at 15h00 by the actor Alain Delon and the 2 works GT 1 Porsches of Dalmas 
and Wollek went into the lead.  The Racing for Belgium 333 SP Ferrari was briefly third but was 
quickly passed bythe TWR Joest Porsches, and then began to fall back.  The team-manager, 
Pascal Wittmeur, thought that it was  a tyre problem but did not seem over-worried.  The other 
Ferrari 333 SP driven by Andy Evans went off at Mulsanne. The American managed to get back to 
his pit but the flat bottom and radiatiors had to be changed, losing 15 minutes, before the car 
could rejoin the race.  Also held up was the No. 3 Courage, driven by Alliot-Pollicand-Cottaz which 
had to have the Motronic box changed losing several laps.  The 911 GT2 Evo of 
Jarier-Pareja-Chappell was also stopped for over 15 minutes as the drive shaft had to be replaced.

Up front, the two Joest Porsches held on to the first 2 places chased by the works entries.  To 
further demonstrate Porsche supremacy the No, 1 Kremer in the hands of Bouchut and the No 4 
Courage driven by Andretti filled the next 2 places.  The gaps between the leading cars were 
extremely small.  First in to refuel were the little WR's which have 62 litre fuel tanks. Up front there 
were no changes even if the McLarens (No 33 the Gulf car driven by Bellm-Lehto-Weaver and the 
2 Bigazzi entries Nos 38 and 39) began to move up in the classification.

The 2 WR's ran into trouble in the second hour as no 15 was stopped by the black flag due to 
loose bodywork and No 14 was crawling along out on the cirucit.  Courage was betting on 
steadiness especially in the Filiere camp.  At the end of the second hour the race was led by the 
two TWR Joest Porsches and in the GT1 category the works Porsches dominated.  In the GT 2 
Category the only Marcos present was first, and in the LMP2 category the Kudzu-Mazda was well 
in front.

Transcribed by Jacquie Groom, RIS/EUR