PK Sport at Le Mans – Tuesday - Scrutineering

The yellow and black PK Sport Porsche 911 GT3-RS sailed through Tuesday’s late afternoon scrutineering session without a hitch.

“100%!” exclaimed Mike Pickup, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as the team pushed the #78 car clear of the scrutineers. “The officials actually joke now that it’s always perfect,” he added. It had been a very long day however, with proceedings interrupted several times by political demonstrators who not only held up traffic through the city centre, but also brought their parade through Place des Jacobins. There was a loud-speakered apology, in English, with assurances that the intention was not to spoil our “pleasure”, but the noise and disruption was not widely appreciated. “It slowed things down,” conceded Mike, “but the organisers did well to keep everything going as smoothly as they did despite all that nonsense going on.”

Fortunately the demonstration had been well publicised and many of the teams booked in for the morning period arrived early. By ten thirty, when Le Mans stalled to a standstill for the best part of an hour, everything was in place to ensure that the hold-up didn’t affect proceedings unduly. The minibus containing the PK personnel swept into the square a good hour before the car was due to begin the scrutineering process. News of its arrival spread rapidly through to those waiting beyond the crowds, thanks to the way the guys had the vehicle rocking and swaying its way through to the parking area. “Who on Earth’s in that?” was the typical exclamation. When a dozen black and yellow shirted men leaped out there was, reputedly, a collective “Ah, PK Sport!”. Now making their third appearance, the team has established a reputation for being able to mix professionalism with good humour.

By the time the PK Porsche was ready to pass beneath the archway into “scrutineering avenue” the demonstrators were back. It took several minutes for the yellow car to be pushed warily between the hundreds of chanting and banner-waving demonstrators, but they were still less than half an hour behind schedule. From then on everything went as smooth as silk for Mike and the guys, who could be seen chatting amicably with the officials as the car progressed through each stage.

The scrutineers start with the basics, simply checking the team’s paperwork. The car is then pushed towards the first of the inspection bays, where the Porsche is weighed and measured, with particular emphasis on overhangs, wing dimensions, wheelbase and so forth. The car is then eased onto a lift, so that the underside can be checked. There’s normally a wait before the team can move on to the next set of awnings. Here the removable body panels are taken off so that the scrutineers can inspect the engine installation and fuel system. A few yards beyond they pause again for a safety inspection, including a full lighting check.

Assuming everything so far has been met with approval, the final bay sees the team issued with a set of the official Le Mans vinyls and the all-important official signature. The stickers include one set to go over the number panels, and a second smaller pair that distinguishes the car’s class or category. It’s a significant moment in the day when these are handed over and everyone can breathe a collective sigh of relief before moving on to the group photo session in front of the world’s media.

As well as the cars being scrutineered the drivers also have to go through the signing-on process. The three PK drivers arrived together in David Warnock’s impressive BMW seven series – a marked change from the Renault Twingo hire car they used last year! Race suits must be worn and helmets have to be submitted for a once-over. The PK guys were being besieged by youngsters clamouring for autographs before they’d even had a chance to get 'fully clothed'. It’s early in the week and they all took it in good spirits.

“Signing-on” for the drivers is simply a case of presenting their race licences to ensure that each meets the necessary international requirements, although they all admit that this being Le Mans makes the occasion far more stressful than usual. Given the nod by the organisers, it’s then over to the corner of the portakabin to have their photographs taken. It’s an impressive example of the ACO’s efficiency that a book will be published within forty-eight hours that includes mugshots and full profiles of every driver, plus shots of each car.

After their race helmets and Nomex suits have passed muster they’re free to go. As with everything else this day, the signing-on process was problem-free for PK Sport. “Piece of cake!” said Mike Pickup, escorting his three drivers towards the waiting journalists. Piers Masarati has a few stories to tell following his UK Carrera Cup debut at Silverstone last weekend, where he was the guest driver in the works Porsche Cars GB entry – but more on that later. After his heavy commitment to the British GT Championship in recent years, David Warnock has not been doing quite so much this season, but wouldn’t miss out on this chance to make good his promise of last year. He left the circuit in 2002 claiming “unfinished business” after the car unexpectedly retired with its engine woes. “"Next year, next year," had been his parting assurance. Twelve months later he’s certainly fired up with renewed determination, and is also talking about further outings later this season, possibly with PK Sport.

If everything goes according to plan, a day’s scrutineering for a well-prepared team should be little more than a formality, and so Tuesday’s proved to be for PK Sport. One can only hope that the rest of the week goes as smoothly.