Latest from Le Mans Testing
(Posted on 07/06/2005
by Ralph Dodds)
"Peninsula’s first testing session went well with the drivers learning
the huge circuit and the rest of the team trying out various settings ready for
qualifying," writes Peninsula's Richard Mayoh
"The car ran well except for a rear suspension
problem during the morning testing when John was driving.
Richard and Piers had very similar times in their test
sessions.
"The times were poorer than expected due to gearing
and diff ratio issues which will be changed for qualifying.
"On the straight the best speed was 175mph
and it seemed to stay similar whatever rear splitter
or trim of the wing was used until we put on a gurney
strip which cost 4 mph with no particular settling
in the corners. Gradually the car was adjusted to
be better for bumps and undulations on the road".
Team Manager Dennis Leech said, "We are trying
something with the differential and that caused a
small oil leak. There is no rush today so we did
a ‘spanner check’ on the whole car. We
are concentrating on handling today. Due to the high
speed nature of the track it calls for different
aerodynamics than we would use anywhere else and
at the moment we are a couple of miles an hour down
on our top speed."
Richard added, "The team did not use qualifying
tyres or try any one off aerodynamic tweaks to get
a time". They finished the session 14th in class
with a time of 4:25.304.
Last year’s TVR entry,
Chamberlain Synergy Motorsport headed by Gareth
Evans and Bob Berridge, are this year entered into
the faster LM2 class with a Lola AER and finished
the test session 17th overall (6th in class) with
a time of 3:47.586 while former TVR racers Martin
Short and Bobby Verdon-Roe finished testing in
6th and 18th places respectively with their LM1
Rollcentre Racing Dallaras. back
Clean Bill of Health for Racesports
Peninsula TVR
(Posted on 04/06/2005 by Ralph Dodds)
Friday and Saturday 4/5th June saw the teams preparing
for the test sessions due to take place on Sunday;
last-minute adjustments to the cars, seat-fittings
for some drivers, and fitting out the pit garages.
The teams also had to submit to the rigours of technical
inspections – for both cars and drivers
very car is checked with scrupulous efficiency, to
ensure that it is safe to take to the track and that
it complies with the regulations. No teams are exempt – not
even those who went through the process less than two
months ago, competing in the Le Mans Endurance Series
race at Spa-Francorchamps. So many had already undergone
scrutineering, involving many of the officials examining
them today.
“We got a clean bill of health at Spa, and it
was the same here today,” explained Dennis Leech,
team manager of Racesport Peninsula, whose TVR Tuscan
400R had just been checked. “We get on well with
the scrutineers – they are very helpful. They
measure just about every dimension, and they are very
strict – the length is checked to the nearest
millimetre. They also measure the front and rear overhangs,
the wheelbase, the width, the rear wing size – everything.”
Passing such a meticulous examination
isn’t
the end of it for the teams – the officials
will have their weigh scales and measures out again
in ten days’ time, rechecking the cars with
even greater thoroughness prior to the actual race.
The drivers also have to go through
a technical inspection, the administrators using
part of the media centre for the purpose. “They are very
thorough – more so than for any other series,” said
Darren Turner, who will be racing one of the two
Aston Martin DBR9 entries tomorrow. “We have
to fill out a few forms and produce our racing licence,
which the officials take a copy of. They check our
helmets, and even that our racing overalls have the
right FIA serial numbers.”
As with the cars, the drivers
will go through it all again prior to the race – but again, it
will be taken to the next level. “For practice,
they just check a single helmet for each driver;
before the race, where a driver uses more than one
then each one will be looked at,” explained
Turner. “They will check everything – even
our boots and gloves.”
Scrutineering for the race takes place on Monday
and Tuesday 13/14th June, when the organisers take
over the town centre of Le Mans. For years the Place
des Jacobins has become the centre of activity, and
members of the public flock to take advantage of
the chance to get close to the teams and drivers.
We wish the team all the very best for testing tomorrow.
With thanks to the ACO for this report
Le Mans Practice This Weekend
(Posted on 03/06/2005 by Ralph Dodds)
Just two weeks to get your Team Racesport Peninsula
TVR regalia!
The team are now at Le Mans in anticipation of this
weekend's official practice and we hope to bring
you details of how they get on here. If you haven't
ordered your supporter's regalia it's not too late
to do so for the big weekend itself in just two weeks
time and it can be ordered directly from Peninsula
TVR by viewing their website. Five separate items
are available - a t-shirt, polo shirt, fleece, jacket
and baseball cap.
Join In The Lime Light.....
(Posted on 27/05/2005 by teampeninsula)
Do you want to be a part of the continual build-up
for Le Mans in the South West? The ITV cameras will
be at the Aylesbeare Dealership on the afternoon
of 31st May. They will be there to meet and interview
the team and of course see the TVR race car. The
team will then be departing from the Dealership to
head straight for Le Mans. If you would like to be
a part of the “send off” and maybe even
contribute to the ITV coverage then do come down
to Peninsula. It is a great opportunity to get as
many TVRs down to Sidmouth Road as possible. If you
need any more information feel free to call Peninsula
on 01395 232241
Be Part Of The Team!
(Posted on 25/05/2005 by teampeninsula)
The Peninsula TVR online shop has now been finished
allowing all TVR Le Mans fans to equip themselves with
the latest "Team
Gear". The high quality Team shirts, fleeces,
jackets and caps will be delivered in time for the
great event. Any questions feel free to call Fiona
on 01395 232241 All support is appreciated and the
Team look forward to seeing as many supporters as possible
in Le Mans...do come and say hi!! www.peninsula-cars.co.uk
Final
touches are being carried on
the Peninsula T400R race car
as the team ready themselves
for this years Le Mans race.
(Posted on 17/05/2005 by Paul Calland)
The car has continued to undergo
a variety of modifications
and tests to maximise the team’s
chances of a successful result
in France. Meanwhile the drivers
have not been left out as they continue their rigorous training sessions to
increase their fitness for
the race. On the 31st May the
team will leave the Aylesbeare
dealership for the trip to Le Mans to prepare for testing and the race. There
is an open invite to those who wish to come along to Peninsula and give them
a TVR send off!
For all those TVRCC fans that are
attending the Le Mans event the team would appreciate any support you
can give them as they are the only TVR in the race
this year. A yell as they pass in the “parade
de pilote” or simply wearing black and/or yellow
as you watch the race would be much appreciated.
If you would like any 2005 Peninsula Le Mans polo
shirts, caps and fleeces you can order from www.peninsula-cars.co.uk
(from this weekend 21st!) or call 01395 232241 in time
for the big race!
Peninsula hope to see as many TVR fans in France as
possible so do make yourself known to the team. (They
hope to be celebrating with you all on Sunday night!)
Le Mans – the Final Countdown
(Posted on 14/06/2005
posted by Ralph Dodds)
More news will appear here as
soon as we receive it. Best wishes to drivers John Hartshorne,
Richard Stanton and Piers Johnson plus all of the support
team and back room boys for a fantastic result this weekend.
We’re all rooting for you.
Don’t forget, if you are driving down to La Sarthe
for this weekend’s race and it is your first Le
Mans, there is a very good guide for Le Mans virgins
Charity Cyclists On Their Way
(Posted on 14/06/2005
posted by Ralph Dodds)
The Club's 17 cyclists with their four back up staff
have left UK and are on their way to Le Mans, raising
money for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
Le Mans - First Qualifying
(Posted on 16/06/2005
posted by Ralph Dodds)
The Racesports Peninsula TVR T400R acquiited itslef well
last night during first qualifying sessions. At the end
of day qualifying it was lying 41st overall and 12th
in class with a time of 5:20.267. During the night time
session it posted a best time of 4:48.379 leaving the
team 44th overall and 11th in class
Le Mans - Final Qualifying
(Posted on 17/06/2005
posted by Ralph Dodds)
Well we now know the grid positions for tomorrow's
race. The Racesports Peninsula TVR T400R shaved nearly
30 seconds of its previous best time in practice and
qualifying to post a time of 4:22.310 for the 13km circuit.
Unfortunately, everyone else improved during this final
session as well so no real improvement on grid position
- the teams starts in 12th place in class - 46th overall.
But, as Henri Pescarolo, team owner for the all-French
Pescarolo Judds that occupy P1 and P2 on the grid in
their LM1 cars said last night, “It’s the race that counts”.
First Report from Le Mans live
from the pits
(Posted on 17/06/2005
posted by Paul Calland)
We have now got a link up to the TVRCC and Penninsula
website from the pit garage at Le Mans and will update
both sites as frequently as we can as the race progresses.
The team are all busy preparing the car for the race
tomorrow and we are all looking forward to the Parade
De Pilotes this evening in Le Mans town centre.
Second Report from the pits
(Posted on 18/06/2005
posted by Paul Calland)
The second report from the Peninsula pits. It is very
very warm! Temperatures are 30+ and it can only be imagined
how hot it must be inside the T400. All the drivers have
now had a stint in the car and Piers is currently back
out for his second drive now. The car is running well
and everyone is enthusiastic (but very hot). After his
first stint Piers was seen sat with his feet in a bucket
of cold water!
Technical update
(Posted on 18/06/2005
posted by Paul Calland)
So far there have been two delays; So far there
have been two delays;
The first was 20 minutes sorting out a broken clutch
pedal. Apparently clutch pedal travel is now what you
would call minimal as it is now something nearer to and
on/off switch. The drivers are having to be really careful
especially when leaving the pits!
The second was an hours
delay caused by a problem wheel nut and thread. John
sat waiting in the car in the extreme temperatures we
are experiencing here for a good while but ended up having
to get out and wait.
Unfortunate maybe but it is a 24 hour
race and there are still many many hours to go and
the car is out there working hard. The team are all
in good spirits and there are some interesting photos
being taken inside the pits that are not ideal for
the website but may end up being printed out and
passed around!
11 Hours Have Past And So Far
So Good
(Posted on 19/06/2005
posted by Paul Calland)
With 11 hours now past the Peninsula T400R is
still lapping the Le Mans street circuit. At present
Piers is out on track and lapping at 4.24.349 The team
are relaxed as they continue to fuel and service the
Tuscan R through the night. Although it is just gone
3am the team are relaxed and readying themselves for
the next pit stop. At present there are no serious issues
with the car and the team are happy with the current
situation. The main problrm for all the drivers is the
heat they have to contend with in the cabin.
Night time at Le Mans
(Posted on 19/06/2005
posted by Paul Calland)
It got down as 'cool' as 20 degrees apparently?!!
12 Noon report
(Posted on 19/06/2005 posted by Paul Calland)
The TVR is still out and running. Temperatures are set
to top 33-35 degrees so it is even hotter than yesterday.
Currently it is standing at 14th in class and lapping
at 4.32.247. Richard is at the wheel, Piers having handed
over a while ago.
Le Mans is over...for 2005
(Posted on 20/06/2005)
For the second consecutive year, as the famous Le Mans
Rolex clock passed 4.00pm on Sunday afternoon, the TVR
supporters had something to cheer about. For again, the
TVR entry had proved that despite what the doubters might
say, reliability is proven by finishing the world’s
most gruelling endurance race. For that is exactly what
the Racesports Peninsula TVR T400R had done.
Following the excellent result in
2004 when both Synergy Chamberlain Motorsport T400s crossed
the line in formation, this year the sole TVR entry,
piloted through this final session by Richard Stanton,
crossed the finishing line after completing 256 laps
of the 13.650 km (8.476 miles) circuit. That’s
2170 miles in 24 hours at an average speed of 90.4mph.
Of 49 starters, including 14 in the GT2 class, the T400R
finished in 26th position overall and 8th in class.
Other TVRCC favourites also entered in the race included
former Tuscan drivers Jamie Campbell-Walter (finished
15th overall, 8th in LM1 class) and Martin Short (17th
overall, 9th in LM1 class). The other former Tuscan pilot
Bobby Verdon-Roe, driving a Dallara Nissan in LM1, retired
after 18 hours while last year’s TVR entrants,
Gareth Evans and Bob Berridge of Synergy Chamberlain
Motorsport, retired after just five hours following gearbox
failure in their LM2 Lola. The race was won again by
an Audi. For full results see the Le Mans website or
for more photographs see the PlanetLeMans website.
Well
done to John Hartshorne, Richard Stanton and Piers Johnson,
together with team manager Dennis Leech and all at Racesports
Peninsula TVR. We wish them continued success in
this year’s LMES
and hope to see them back at La Sarthe in 2006.
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