PR-Le Mans-11

Subj:  PR- LE MANS - 11			Section: F-1/Internat'l News
  To:  ALL				Sunday, June 16, 1996 5:58:19 AM
From:  RIS/EUR-Jacquie Groom, 100045,3717#819938

24 HEURES DU MANS 15th - 16th June 1996 Communique No. 11 - Sunday 16th June 1996 - 10h 00

Le Mans 23 Hours

Up front the TWR -Joest Porsche and the works GT1 car mainlained a hot pace and began to draw away from their rivals, in particular the McLarens. The no. 33 Gulf entry came slowly into it's pit just after 11h00 and the mechanics began the task of changing the gearbox. This allowed the no. 8 TWR Joest up into third place as it's engine cut-outs seemed to be a thing of the past. Later the no. 30 West Racing McLaren and the no. 34 Gulf McLaren had a coming-togher while under the threat of the no. 26 Porsche. The Nielsen-Bscher-Kox car was delayed in the gravel trap and had to stop in its pit to clean out the pebbles. This allowed the Dalmas-Wendlinger-Goodyear GT1 Porsche up into fourth place tightening the Porsche stranglehold on the race.

Le Mans 23 Hours

Other McLaren's hit transmission problems as the Harrod's no. 29 had no sixth gear and the no. 39 Bigazzi had to change it's gearbox.

Le Mans 23 Hours

Courage's misfortunes continued as Mario Andretti's C36 went off at Indianapolis and the marshalls had a lot of problems digging it out. This time lost dropped it down from eighth to fifteenth position.

Le Mans 23 Hours

The Canaska Viper took advantage of others' misfortunes to take over 11th position. The Kudzu Mazda was out on the circuit again after much lost time but was leading the LMP2 Category of which it was the only survivor ! Franck Freon also went off at Indianapolis but lost much less time than the Courage . In GT2 the no. 79 Porsche driven by Martinolle-Kelleners-Eichmann continued on its winning ways 6 laps ahead of the no. 71 Porsche. Now third was the Honda profiting from the turbo and exhaust problems of Parr Racing Porsche. Transcribed by Jacquie Groom, RIS/EUR