LeMans1989

This is the fourth times at Le Mans for TWR and Jaguar. The team has had a disastrous time elsewhere this year, but
don't let that fool you into underestimating it at Le Mans, which is very much a law unto itself. Most importantly, Tom
Walkinshaw now knows how to win, and everything learnt last year will make this year's programme even better. TWR
people admit that they've been a little stretched this year running the IMSA and WS-PC programmes,developing the
still-secret new car and getting the seperate Le Mans effort up and running, but you can be surethat the cars will be
just right for Wednesday evening's first practice. The four Tony Southgate-designed XJR-9 LMs will be much the same
as last year's succesful spec. The #1 and #2 cars, the regular World Championship chassis converted to LM trim,
have very strong line-ups. Many people will be rooting for Lammers and the very popular Tambay, back at Le Mans for
the first time since his Renault days in the seventies, while Nielsen will be anxious to mkae up for last year's
disappointment. Only drawback is that six of the driver squad are new to Jaguar, and several are Le Mans rookies.
Don't forget to pack your Union Jack underpants....!

#1 - Jan Lammers was running a regular sprint chassis converted into LM spec, immediately happy with the perfor-
mance on the straight. Only minor changes to 'out of the box' set-up. 4th on 3m22secs after first session, a late run
on qualifying tyres found 4 secs and a 3rd place for Jan Lammers lat on Thursday. First lap puncture dropped the car
to tail of the field, but quick lappery from all three drivers had it in top four by 18:00. Exhaust breakage then costs 5
minutes at 19:04, followed by a spin for Andrew Gilbert-Scott at the Dunlop chicane, but the car recovered to take
the lead at 01:35, when Joest 962 faltered. Extended the lead until 06:17, when a 50 minutes pitstop was required to
change transmission after an oil leak. Thereafter charged to 4th place, held up briefly by lose extinguisher in the
cockpit mid-morning. Sounded rough at the end with another broken exhaust.

#2 - A regular no. 2 sprint chassis, no dramas through practice. John Nielsen excellent second on the first day, set-
ting time before the rain came. Dropped to 8th on second day, John Nielsen admitting not to make the best of quali-
fiers. John Nielsen quickly came up to 2nd place in the race, but hit Bailey at Mulsanne Corner on lap 5, causing a stop
for body and exhaust repairs. Climbed up order through early evening, losing further time when Price Cobb had pro-
blems with belts popping open. Took 4th place when Porsche #9 delayed at 01:20, held same place when John Nielsen
stopped with valve gear problem at 05:20 after couple of hours of bad noises.

#3 - Struggling on first day, only Jaguar to pursue majoer set-up changes. Qualifying tyres brought Davy Jones
excellent 4th overall on Thursday. Jeff Kline was unable to match the pace on Le Mans in his Jaguar debut, was
named as a reserve for the race, and ultimately not required. Davy Jones grabbed the lead by lap 2, consolidated by
Derek Daly. Had 60 secs lead when gear selector breakage stopped Derek Daly on Mulsanne at 19:00. Worked hard to
get the car back to the pit, and total delay after repair was 50 minutes. Had risen to 30th by time of retirement with
dropped vlave at 22:25.

#4 - Jaguar newcomers getting dialled in. Alain Ferté had not sat in a Jaguar before, but soon impressed the team
with pace as good as any on whole squad. Alain Ferté earned 12th place in darkness/fog of first session, and 6th
place on final grid. Second lap stop with suspect puncture proved unnecessary, thereafter fighting to gain ground.
Made it to 4th place, but delayed further by exhaust breakages at 20:11 and 23:00. Borken third gear caused 70
minutes transmission replacement in 13th hour. Lapped as quick as any car on track, but delayed by further exhuast
problem, spin for Eliseo Salazar, and collision with Porsche #8 for Michel Ferté. Eventually classified 8th place.