Monza LMES, 9th May 2004

Race

LMES victory in Italy is just the job!

Audi UK Press, 9th May 2004: Johnny Herbert swept his Audi R8 sportscar to a magnificent victory in the opening round of the Le Mans Endurance Series at Monza near Milan today (9 May).

The 39-year-old Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx ace secured pole-position on the 39-car grid. It marked the British Audi team’s maiden “pole” in only their second race and Herbert’s own since the infamous Brands Hatch F3000 race accident when he suffered serious injuries to his ankles and feet.

Sharing his 200mph Audi with Yeovil’s Jamie Davies (30) in the 1,000km (620-mile) race which lasted 305-minutes and was staged initially in bright warm sunshine but later rain weather conditions, team-mate Allan McNish snatched the lead from Herbert’s starting co-driver, Jamie Davies, on the opening lap.

With two hours on the clock (lap 70) Herbert, having taken over from Davies, was nose-to-tail with McNish but one lap after mid-distance (lap 87), McNish re-took the lead. McNish pitted from the lead after a 180min driving stint, his German co-driver Pierre Kaffer resuming 1.6secs ahead of Herbert who had pitted moments earlier.

Eight laps later the Briton, who won the 1995 Italian F1 Grand Prix at Monza, dramatically snatched the lead after a daring manoeuvre which saw Herbert drive over 50yds on the grass verge, pull alongside Kaffer, and dive through under braking for the Parabolica corner.

McNish took over from Kaffer with 25-laps to the finish, resuming 68secs behind leader Herbert. Rain five-laps later made the track treacherously slippery forcing both Herbert and McNish to pit for full wet tyres. With seven laps to run, Herbert held a slender 11.775secs advantage over McNish but the Scotsman, despite a straight-on at the first chicane and contact with another car the following lap, had closed in to within just 0.663secs at the chequered flag in the incredible 173-lap, 305min race. The winning Veloqx Audi R8 of Davies/Herbert averaged 122.16mph.

Johnny commented: “The Audi never missed a beat - it was perfect all day. Going on to the grass to overtake Pierre was worth the risk and the close finish ultimately proved that I needed to push and build up a small cushion. Victory today was very important for our championship title hopes. The team have done a lot of hard work in testing at Paul Ricard and at Le Mans and it’s paying off with Veloqx scoring a 1-2 finish at Monza. Team moral will be high heading to Le Mans which is vital.”

The four-race Le Mans Endurance Series continues at the Nurburgring on 4 July although Herbert and the Northamptonshire-based Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx squad will be focussed on the Le Mans 24 hours next month (12-13 June) before the German race.

Qualifying

Herbert earns British Audi team maiden pole in only second race

Audi UK Press, 8th May 2004: The Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx R8s line-up first and third on the 39-car grid for the opening round of the Le Mans Endurance Series at Monza in Italy on Sunday.

Allan McNish qualified #8 in third position after setting a time of 1min 39.546secs in the first of two 45-minute qualifying sessions on Saturday. Jamie Davies, driving #88, stopped the clock at 1:39.704 around the 3.6-mile track near Milan during a red flag interrupted morning session.

Benefiting from warmer conditions in the late afternoon time trial, Davies’ co-driver Johnny Herbert claimed the Veloqx Audi team’s first pole-position - in only their second race - with a scintillating 1:38.461. McNish’s best afternoon time of 1:38.672 netted him a second row start.

The British Audi team starts the 1,000km Monza race, the first round of the new 4-race LMES, having finished first and third on their début in the Sebring 12 Hours (20 Mar) and first and second fastest in Le Mans 24 Hours Pre-Tests (25 Apr).

Johnny Herbert (GB). Age 39. Born: Brentwood, England. Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco:

“This is my first pole-position since 1988 - I’d forgotten what it was like to be fastest - and I’ m delighted. I wasn’t too happy in the morning session but we sorted some things in between the two sessions and the changes worked very well. For me, the Audi is the best its been this year and that showed in my times.”

Jamie Davies (GB). Age 30. Born / Lives: Yeovil, England:

“The track conditions were a little tricky this morning and we failed to get the best out of our tyres. But we made changes to the R8 during the lunch break which really helped. I drove for the final few minutes after Johnny had set the pole time and the balance felt really good. I feel comfortable in the Audi and I’m very excited about our prospects.”

Sam Li, Team Principal:

“The entire team did a superb job today in what was a very exciting final qualifying session. Johnny gave a fantastic performance to grab pole while it was a little frustrating for car #8 which was running a different tyre strategy. Both cars showed competitive qualifying pace but our race pace also looks very impressive.” Johnny H

Herbert commented: “We need to score well and hopefully very well at Monza. I scored one of my three Grands Prix victories at Monza, back in 1995, so the Italian track will always hold special memories for me.

“My Monza début was in 1988 - I finished third, and set a new Formula 3000 lap record. The circuit was especially challenging in those days although the present layout is still interesting and the fans are always passionate about motor racing.

“We showed at the Le Mans Test that we should be on the pace but the competition is tough.”

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