Team NASAMAX – Le Mans 2004
Tuesday: The Big Welcome

After an early breakfast for all the team, the local lowloader appeared at 9:30 to pick up the DM139, to deliver it to the city centre for scrutineering. The sun was already shining very strongly, and the temperature was in the mid twenties.

The 2004 LMP1 Nasamax DM139 was scheduled for scrutineering at midday. The rest of the team, that is the mechanics, PR staff, team director John McNeil and all three drivers – Werner Lupberger, Robbie Stirling & Kevin McGarrity – met up with the car in town.

The table set up to give out Nasamax posters, pens and small flags, was literally raided by the spectators, who couldn’t wait to get hold of any kind of official team memorabilia. The car was proudly aligned with the rest of the field waiting to go through scrutineering. It really couldn’t be missed, with its black and fluorescent green chequered body.

Shortly after midday, the car began its thorough inspection by the ACO officials. Administrative verifications were first on the list. The drivers’ licences, medical certificates, etc were checked.

The car was then ready for its own medical exam., being weighed, measured, and having all its vital organs checked against the regulations. With the car being the only 2004 compliant LMP1, the inspection wasn’t quite the same as for the rest of the field, but the car was declared fit by the ACO ‘doctors’, and it could then move on to the final stage, which is one of pleasure and relief - the official photograph.

The team was joined by André Langevin, Mayor of Arnage, and by Jean-Rodolphe Colliaux, a local enthusiast who helped organise the partnership between Team Nasamax and the town of Arnage. A few seconds of camera shutter sounds later, and the car could be rolled back onto the truck, and the drivers could continue signing autographs. The crowd was very enthusiastic about the car and drivers, and the signing went on for almost twenty minutes.

The next move for the drivers was to be interviewed by official ACO commentator Bruno Vandestick. They were asked about the great progress achieved since last year, the new Judd engine, the green fuel, etc. All three drivers were very happy with the car, and looking forward to running it in qualifying and the race.

That was the first part of a long day for Team NASAMAX. The team then made its way to the circuit, by which time the temperature had risen to the mid thirties, and the fridge in the NASAMAX Hospitality suffered a massive attack by a gang of strange people wearing green shirts…

The next item on the agenda was a display of the car in Arnage, at 4pm. A few minutes past the 4 o’clock mark, the DM139 arrived on its truck, preceded by a local car waving the team’s flags. The race car was then lowered to the ground, and wheeled to a patch of green carpet especially laid for the occasion by the local council workers. Within a few minutes of the car arriving, a crowd of local children started gathering around it. More and more people then gathered to gaze in awe, as the team was officially welcomed by the Mayor of Arnage, André Langevin, and his deputies.

Then, the local schoolchildren lined up behind the car, and played “God Save the Queen” on their flutes. They were congratulated by the crowd and all the team members, and the headmaster then gave Team Director John McNeil a present on behalf of all the children: a “collage” depicting the NASAMAX race car, and decorated with leaves and corn seeds. The next gift was from John McNeil to the Mayor: a framed poster of the car, signed by all three drivers.

The Mayor declared: “It’s an honour for Arnage to have a partnership with Team NASAMAX”, and John McNeil’s answer was: “No, it’s an honour for us all to have been chosen by your town as your partner”. It was present time again when the Mayor offered John McNeil a book about the history of the circuit.

The team members then went on giving out pens, flags, postcards and posters, which the drivers happily signed. The team and population were also offered local drinks by the Mayor: white wine and cider. The locals were very curious about the car and the fuel, and many of them went round asking questions of the team members.

The Mayor was really playing Santa Claus today, as he presented the drivers and PR staff with a book published for the 150th anniversary of the town of Arnage, illustrating the evolution of the town through time in the form of postcards. The team was then photographed in front of the Town Hall, aligned behind the car.

The car and team left Arnage around 6pm, and went through the main street which had NASAMAX decorations all over it: a green and black arch, NASAMAX banners, NASAMAX posters in shop windows, etc. All the team members were really surprised and overwhelmed by the interest shown by the locals for the car and the team.

Well, what an exciting day for everyone. The first official steps towards the race, the chance for dozens of children to see and touch a racing car and its drivers, and a very enthusiastic welcome for everyone at Team NASAMAX.

A day of human warmth, in a very warm atmosphere. The next stage will be qualifying, at 19.00 on Wednesday.

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