We are at the top of the world!
(from 17 June 2010 to 18 June 2010)
Le Mans, June 14th 2010. At the end of his
18th attempt in the 24 Heures of LeMans, team
Larbre Competition has signed a victory quite
simply history. First private team to win GT1
category GT1, Larbre Competition puts thus fine
at one domination era of factory teams like
Corvette Racing, Aston Martin Racing or
Chyrsler. Team Larbre Competition also
succeeded in the exploit to give to Saleen S7]R
its very first victory in La Sarthe, nine years after
its first appearance in Le Mans! The exploit will
remain forever historical since it acted of the
last year of presence of GT1 category in Le Mans
and by consequent of this car. Sixteen years
after its very first victory in Le Mans, Larbre
Competition makes it possible a French team to
go up on more the high step of the podium at
the end of a particularly animated edition of
these 24 Hours and at the end which the record
of the distance covered going back to 1971 was finally beaten.
Jack LECONTE: "It is very a great day because it is a splendid
professional realization on behalf of all the team. We worked hard
to get the homologation of the car, to convince the ACO, the FIA,
to approach Saleen to do what it was necessary on the car. The
Americans gave me freehand to do what it was necessary on the
car. We had the good ingredients. This car had the reputation not
to be highly reliable when it arrived in Le Mans. ORECA made
a very important step ahead when they worked on it, but there
remained still some small things to be brought so that Saleen is a
good endurance car. With the team, since January, we had fixed a
line from which we never moved away. The car showed an
incredible reliability and posted the sufficient performance level
to play gains it. Since the practice sessions, we made the
opposite of what us usually made while not seeking absolutely not
the pole position.
We did not even pass the least new tire besides. Our target, it was
to be on the podium Sunday afternoon. When the complexity of
this race is known, it was really like that it was necessary to
approach the race. It is thus a very great satisfaction. In 1994, it
was a very different win. With a manufacturer like Porsche who
knows perfectly this race, it was not at all the same context as this
year, where we had all to set up ourselves to go to seek the victory.
It is besides what is very interesting in this victory. We had to even
look after us all the details and when it is known how this race can
sometimes turn to the nightmare because of a small grain of
sandc That was a complicated program to set up for different
reasons. Patrick Bornhauser was to be ours and its troubles of
health have some finally moved away, but let us associate we him
well readily with this victory because it is with him that we started
the Saleen program in Larbre Competition last year. I was also
pressed on a circle of people in whom I have full confidence to
carry out this victory. In the tradition of Larbre, we associated there a young talented driver with Julien Canal.
Ortelli, Collard had been able to drive with us at their beginnings. I am thus very happy and proud that Julien,
but also Roland and Gabriele of course, took down this success with us. It is a beautiful result and a true
reward for all our team."
Gabriele Gardel: "It's fabulous. When I began in
karting, I dreamed to win this race. It's done!
Moreover, it is the last time that there were GT1
at the start. I am really happy personally, but also for all the team and in particular for Julien who gains here
as of his first attempt, which more is at his place! The team did a fantastic work, Jack
established one perfect strategy while purposely making spare us at the time of the qualifications. The team
has looked after all the details for two months and we did not know the least problem. It is sure that them
the last turns were nervously difficult because one looks at all, one listens to the least noise. Moreover, in
the last lap, everyone started to go on the track. It was madness! Thank you to all the team for this incredible
victory. It is a different feeling from that when I clinched the title in FIA GT Championship. These is really a
dream which is carried out. I do not know if we will be able to give this title concerned but what is sure, it is
that one will not be able to do it in GT1."
For the team Larbre Competition, the endurance season is far from being finished ; the team will go to
Portugal (Algarve) for the next round of Le Mans Series, July 16th and 17th.
Larbre Competition Press Office
