GRANDIOSE // SHAWN MANNY REPORTS ON PETIT LE MANS

It may not be as grandiose as the event held in France every year, but the Petit Le Mans is no local club race either. Starting the week that saw the state of Georgia hit with “Hundred Year Rains” that left houses flooded to their second stories, the Wednesday of the event was cool, clear and dry. Had we seen all the rain we were to get? As the day burned on we finally got inside the track grounds around 9am, us and the hundreds of other campers and spectators that had been left waiting across the street in the Lanier Raceway parking lot. We’d been bounced back and forth across the street since 4:30 am since no one really knew what was going on. Once inside we hurriedly dashed for our camp spot and luckily got the one we wanted.

Our crew set up as the morning practice sessions tore around the track starting at 8am that day. The staccato note of exhausts penetrating the still, cool morning air punctuated by the occasional squee of race tires pushed just a little to far to soon. Series after series sought their comfort zone to learn the car, the track and in some cases (ahem Audi) crash their cars to practice quick pitlane repairs. Seeing a prototype bounding airborne and shedding parts like so many carbon fiber feathers was a great way to get my companions into the spirit for their first ALMS race... [read more]

As the days went on the weather got clearer and hotter, which was great except all of us had packed for cool and rain. As the weather warmed up so did the on track action. Lap times dropped as did patience levels which the Speed Touring Cars so aptly emphasized with a brutal (and rather boneheaded) crash entering turns 4 and 5. The Mazda 6 of Espenlaub clipped and destroyed the Acura of Peterson in epic fashion.

Night practice, now this alone is worth the drive from where ever you are. During the day you can tell the ALMS cars are moving right quick. At night however the darting, weaving lights of the prototypes slicing through the GT2 traffic is breathtaking. Glowing rotors, fire belching exhausts and HID lamps mix with the few track lights and the wondrous sounds of high power machines to leave a lasting impression on all who see it.

Great racing fills all of the days that the event runs, from Barber Mazda’s to VW TDI Jetta cup cars and IMSA lites to the big dog ALMS cars. There really never is a dull moment on track and the off track life is every bit as exciting and fun. The “Turn 9 Crew” really parties hard with live bands and a “come one come all” mentality. The night is full of cheers, whistles and the bustle of people and golf carts. The people you meet are just great and southern hospitality is still very much alive and kicking. We were greeted by our campsite neighbor the first evening with a steaming pot of home made spaghetti and the offer to “eat it or he’s pitching it into the woods”. You don’t need to tell 3 guys this more then once. This only started the flow of amazing generosity from them which led to home made beef stew, breakfast, and home made Jambalaya, if you’re reading this Russ and Cara thank you!

The TDI Cup lent yet another neat twist to the racing that coincides with the “Green Challenge” held with the ALMS cars that saw the debut of 2 new Mazda powered ethanol racers. The super fuel efficient Jetta’s race an entire season on just TWO tanks of gas and are identical from car to car. Theses aren’t the slow ponderous diesels of yore, these are lean, clean and mean race cars with some amazing talent behind the wheel.

Saturday morning we awoke after a fun night with the “locals” at the track to wet tents, wet shoes and collapsed awnings. The rain had returned and come back with a vengeance leaving rivers cascading down the track, and trying its best to wash away poorly placed tents on the hills and campsites. Wet tracks lead to excitement as the TDI cup hit the track and each other in non stop action. I overheard another spectator comment as we stood on the red Georgia clay by turn 5 “I thought this was road racin’ not driftin’” as the front wheel drive Jettas slid by in glorious oversteer up and over the crest into the downhill that feeds turns 6 and 7.

Oversteer goes awry sometimes as a driver found herself off course and into the wall, only to watch from the Corner Workers stand (Thank you workers!) as a fellow racer went off track and destroyed both her car and his in a glass shattering chassis twisting impact that left both cars down for the count. A testament to modern race cars was that of all the carnage that happened this weekend, every driver got out and walked away unscathed, a bit sore and facing some repairs but unscathed none the less.

The rain had subsided long enough for ALMS to get a combined race/practice session in before the race started. We took this time to stock up on supplies from our campsite and settle in for the start of the 10 hour Petit Le Mans (or Pety Lemah as was overheard on the PA with British accents around the track). With a “dryline” starting to form the race erupted with Audi jumping out to a quick lead but closely followed by the Peugeot team.

Lap after lap we watched as the Prototypes fought tooth and nail for a hold on dry pavement as they dodged the GT2 cars which were embroiled in their own battle for the lead. Panoz, Ferrari, Porsches, Corvettes, Audi’s, Peugeot’s, Mazda’s, Lions and tigers and bears (ohmy!) all roared past and around the course. We had moved over to Turn 12 to watch the action into the tight 90 degree bend when the weather started to turn, the winds grew and the PA spoke of weather rolling in.

A brilliant bit of strategy saw the Ferrari of Team Rissi come in for full rains and a spoiler change before the drops started falling. Playing the odds paid off as they were one of the few teams out on the proper rubber when the heavens erupted into large, splashy drops that fell more like hail then rain. Audis spun on caution laps, Corvettes slid straight off track under braking as the field tiptoed around the course. The lone exception being the Ferrari 360 of Team Rissi running away from the field with its V8 screaming the Italian battle cry.

Four hours into the event, lightning pierced the dark sky and thunder fought the sounds of race machines. Soon after, due to safety concerns for Corner Workers and spectators alike, the race was red flagged leaving Official clock that times the event as the only thing running on track. Once started it cannot be stopped. The PA erupted with stories and interviews to fill the time as people sought shelter or their cars. As time passed we read between the lines of what we were hearing and packed up camp, in the deluge, and headed back on our 9+ hour drive home. The race never restarted, but we got home to hot showers and our own beds a day early.

Overall the race was a success in my book. Four days of racing, camping and partying at a gorgeous track with some of the most exciting racing this side of Rally. We met a lot of wonderful, generous people and made memories that will only be eclipsed by those formed next year, same bat time, same bat channel.

For a look at more photos from this years Petit Le Mans, click here

Photo/Editorial: Shawn Manny