With a little over week to go Anglo-American outfit Drayson Racing still have some work to do if they are to make it to the inaugural Asian Le Mans Series.
The team, co-owned by Paul, Lord Drayson and his wife Elspeth are slated to race their P1 class Lola-Judd coupe at the two three races at Japan's Okayama circuit on October 31 and November 1. However, following a massive crash in the opening laps of the final American Le Mans Series race at Laguna Seca, CA the team has had to work hard to repair the car.
A task still not complete.
The crash, which the team measured at a horrific 18.5G, forced the car's retirement from the four hour in Monterey, but fortunately Paul Drayson was unhurt.
However, the car was severely damaged.
The full list of parts required to be replaced or repaired to make the car race ready was, the team reports, enough to span two full ledge pages, with the parts covering the entire car, from a full nose assembly to a replacement rear diffuser and wing to the mechanic workings of the car with many steering parts needed, a full right exhaust system and the entire driveshaft.
It took the team two days work in California to make the car ready for its journey to Japan, though Graham Moore, the squad's Head of Engineering reveals the truth. “The car left the pack-up in Laguna Seca looking ‘normal’,” he said. “But under the panels there is a fair amount of suspension, steering and transmission parts to go on in Japan
Once the car, team and the remaining parts, the last of which left the UK on October 21, have arrived in Japan it is expected to take another day's work to complete the mammoth repair.
“We are confident that we will have the car fully ready for the free practice. It has taken the effort of everyone involved within the team and with all of our partners,” says Moore. The team explicitly mentions the work of Lola Cars and Engine Development (who own Judd) along with the Japanese Kayaba firm, who make the car's steering motor for their help, describing them as “indispensible”.
The first on track activity of the Asian Le Mans Series are scheduled for October 30, when the teams will take part in the first free practice session.
