LMS: Charouz Racing System again best petrol car - (13.09.2008)

Fifth position just behind the turbodiesels enjoying power advantage is the result of the Charouz Racing System team in the qualifying for the last race of the Le Mans Series 2008 in Silverstone. Stefan Mucke, who shares the the Aston Martin powered LMP1 prototype with Jan Charouz, set the time. The German driver said back in the pits that he could have been quicker if he had not lost one second in traffic. The whole team is still happy as the car is again best placed petrol engine.

The Charouz Racing System is determined to keep the position of the best petrol car like it was the case during the majority of the season. The team solved all technical problems in time for qualifying, so the team is well prepared for the race.

Jan Charouz: „I have no done a lot of running so far here. Bad weather and technical issues played their part and Stefan did the qualifying. The important thing is that we managed to solve all problems in time and that we are the fastest petrol car again i am looking forward to the race itslelf where we will try to at least keep fifth position in the championship.“
www.jan-charouz.cz

Stefan Mucke: „Of course, it is nice that we are again the fastest petrol car but we could have done better. I lost some time in my best lap due traffic, I would say it cost one second. We could have been fourth. Anyway, the race will be long as always and we will fight.“
www.stefan-muecke.jgsm.de

Antonín Charouz, Team Principal: „We had technical problems in practices with traction control. Our drivers therefore did few laps. We managed to repair it just before the end of the last practice. Stefan could have been a bit quicker in the qualifying but we are happy anyway - we confirmed that we are the fastest petrol car.“
www.racing.charouz.cz

Race History/Highlights
The first six-hour race at Silverstone (www.silverstone.co.uk) was held in 1976 and was won by John Fitzpatrick and Tom Walkinshaw in a BMW 3.5 CSL.1980 saw the race win by a female driver, when South African, Desiré Wilson took victory with Briton, Alain de Cadenet in the De Cadenet Lola-Ford. The six-hour race format was changed to a 1000 km race in 1983, to mark the beginning of what many regard as a golden era of Group C car racing (1983-1988). In subsequent years , sports cars raced for 480 km, 430 km or 500 km.
The current system of a 1000 km race with a six-hour limit returned with the Le Mans Series in 2004. The series has been racing at Silverstone every year since then, with the sole exception of 2006.

Results from Silverstone HERE

Standings LMS
Drivers HERE
Teams HERE
Manufacturer HERE

The schedule of Autosport 1000 km of Silverstone in local time
Friday, 12 September
11:15 – 12:15 Free Practice 1
15:45 – 16:45 Free Practice 2
Saturday, 13 September
09:00 – 10:00 Free Practice 3
13:15 – 13:35 Qualifying (GT cars)
13:40 – 14:00 Qualifying (prototypes)
Sunday, 14 September
11:20 – 17:20 Race (195 laps)

Livetiming: www.lemans-series.com
Track: www.silverstone.co.uk