Budapest : Precious points…
After their victory in the Portimao 1000 kms, the Team ORECA-Matmut’s aim in the Hungaroring 1000 kms was a double one: a second victory in the race, and the lead in the drivers’ and teams’ championships before the final round of the Le Mans Series on the Silverstone circuit. Olivier Panis, Nicolas Lapierre and Stéphane Sarrazin led the race for a long time, and they saw the cheqsuered flag in fourth place in LM P1 after suffering transmission problems. Works driver, Sarrazin, now leads the drivers’ championship and the French squad is lying first in the teams’ ratings. The outcome will be decided at Silverstone where the Team ORECA-Matmut and the Peugeot-Total team will battle for the two titles, as well as the manufacturers’ crown.
The race…
Sarrazin, who was fourth on the grid, made a great start. He drew level with the two Lola-Rebellions, and managed to split them by going round the outside in the first corner. The Frenchman finished his stint in second place, a few seconds behind the leader. Thanks to good pit work the Team ORECA-Matmut Peugeot rejoined in first place, and Sarrazin opened up a gap.
Lapierre took over. He was the quickest man on the track, and after various problems hit the other teams his nearest rival was over three laps behind at half distance. Then after 120 laps, no. 4 had to come in due to a transmission problem. It rejoined after a stop that cost it forty minutes and saw the flag in fourth place in the LM P1 category..
