PK Sport at Le Mans - Thursday - Qualifying

The day started early for the mechanics and engineers at PK Sport. Their “to-do” list was especially long, with the racecar earmarked for a near-total rebuild ahead of the second day’s qualifying.

One of the first tasks was to remove the ‘old’ engine – itself only recently built – pending the arrival of the all-new unit fresh from the Porsche factory. As well as fitting the new flat six, which would demand several hours of meticulous spannerwork, the suspension and steering was also totally refurbished.

New front hubs and uprights, suspension arms and trackrods were bolted on, together with a brand new steering rack. The previous unit had been installed new only a few days ago, but after the knock taken in the second period on Wednesday it was decided that it would be an appropriate safeguard to replace it. With the suspension in place a full set of new braking components was added – gleaming disks and callipers all-round. “I’ve spent a fortune . . . again!” said Mike Pickup, although the emphasis in his voice suggested that this was something he’d have done anyway. Time and again he stresses the importance of preparation, while the old adage of “to finish first, first you must finish” is nowhere truer than here at Le Mans.

The engine itself, gleaming brightly in the afternoon sunshine, is a significant development for the team. “I’ve been a Porsche customer for many years,” explains Mike. “Porsche want to see their customers doing well and being successful. Hopefully we’re going to see the benefits of their assistance with this new engine, perhaps not so much tonight, but certainly in the race.” The emphasis on all the drivers as they prepared themselves for the second session was the need to treat the engine with respect. “We have a number of considerations for tonight,” explained Mike. “We want to bed everything in ahead of the race, and that includes the brakes and suspension components as well as the engine, but we also need to establish the fuel consumption characteristics for the different engine.” The team will need to work through their fuel and driver strategies for the race, and any data that comes out of these final qualifying sessions could prove vital.

One concern that had been concentrating the team’s thoughts, and especially those of David Warnock, was the need for each driver to complete three laps in both daylight and nighttime driving. After the incident with the Bentley on Wednesday there was some doubt as to how many of David’s laps would count towards this requirement, since several had been truncated into straight in-out tours. Thankfully, with official notification posted ahead of Thursday qualifying, it was clear that all three PK drivers had already satisfied the ACO. That was one weight lifted from collective minds.

The plan had been for Robin to set out first to complete a series of tyre evaluation runs, followed by further opportunities for David and Piers to improve their personal times. “We’ll see how things go, but we might try Robin on another qualifying run,” suggested Mike. As it transpired things didn’t pan out exactly according to plan.

Robin had not been out more than a few minutes when he radioed back to advise the team that there was a problem with the gearbox. Although he could still select second gear occasionally, it required him to double-declutch. It was still driveable, but as the session progressed the change worsened to the point that second became unobtainable.

Then, with just half an hour gone, Robin Liddell became the talk of Radio Le Mans, but not necessarily for all the right reasons. Ian Khan in the Perspective Porsche was exiting Tetre Rouge when the engine in the #75 car let go in a big way. The back end erupted in a cloud of dust and fumes, scattering a trail of fluid and debris all across the track – right on the racing line towards into first Mulsanne Chicane. Following closely behind was the #84 T2M Porsche with Roland Berville at the wheel. He promptly spun on the oil and careered headlong into the barriers.

Third onto the scene was our own Robin Liddell. “Although there were plenty of yellows before the incident I didn’t see any oil flags at all,” insisted the Scotsman. “The T2M car had hit the wall two hundred metres short of the corner, so I was already slowing. I was going half pace to avoid all the debris.” When the PK Porsche suddenly snatched into a spin it caught him totally by surprise. “It was silly speed,” he said. “Really slow.” Even so, when the car came to rest it was trapped in the gravel. “Then the Seikel car nearly came into me,” he added. The Nasamax prototype, powered by its strange-smelling Bio ethanol fuel, had an equally hairy moment. “I don’t know how that one missed me!” said an obviously relieved Liddell.

Within moments the red flags were out all around the circuit. The marshals were able to push Robin back onto the track, where he could restart the engine and return to the garage, but the track was closed for another fifteen minutes or more. This gave the team plenty of time to clear out all the gravel from the undertray and fit new wheels and tyres.

Next out was David Warnock, who wasn’t actually aware of the gearbox issue when he set out to complete his three flying laps. “I only discovered the problem when I arrived at the Mulsanne Corner,” he explained. “I tried to find second, but it wasn’t there!” Such is the nature of the circuit that all the previous corners can be taken in third. “Hopefully we’re having all our gremlins now!” he added with a wry grin.

Piers Masarati was third into the car. “I did my best ever time, and without second gear!” he said, with understandable delight. “I was another second or more up on my next lap, and would certainly have gone quicker, when Mike called me in.” For the first time Piers had ducked under four-twenty.

Then first of the evening’s two sessions ended at nine, but the PK crew were already hard at work. They had leaped onto the car the moment it stopped and frantic activity broke out all around. A total of six mechanics in black and yellow overalls, looking for all the world like a family of wasps swarming over a ripe apple, removed the faulty gearbox and replaced it with one of the spares.

A brand new gearbox would be fitted ahead of Saturday’s race, but this one would be enough for David and Robin to do another half a dozen flying laps during the second session and complete the tyre evaluation runs.

The guilty gearbox was subsequently dismantled and examined. A thrust washer situated between first and second gear had steadily disintegrated and prevented the drivers from selecting second gear. “It was all brand new,” said Mike Pickup. “The gearbox has now been taken apart completely, and will be rebuilt, but we won’t use it for the race.” With only one day to complete the task Mike was not keen to risk re-using this particular gearbox in a twenty-four hour race, even if every other component was new. It would only take one small piece of errant swarf to jeopardise the box, and it wasn’t a chance he would be prepared to take.

Back on track the drivers quickly completed their tyre work, and with that done the car was parked up for the night. While others were left to pound round the circuit until the chequered flag fell at midnight, the PK Sport drivers and the rest of the team retired to the paddock and an early night.