Le Mans 2022 is underway for the DSC crew after forgoing the Platinum Jubilee in favour of a Portsmouth to Caen ferry, a beer in the sunshine on board and a splendid Fish and Chip dinner.
A midnight arrival with DSC’s amazing French Family, the 25th year that we have started with these lovely people – and we were ready to pile into proceedings with all the grace of a rhinoceros falling down the stairs.
A bright start to Thursday Morning utterly typically switched almost instantly on arrival in the Place de la Republique to dismal stair-rodding rain – Jason Statham is correct for another year!
That didn’t wipe the smiles from the faces of many of the drivers though with some of the enormous batch of Le Mans rookies doing the regular wide-eyed, neck on a spring routine of “What the hell is going on here?” as they arrive in the midst of (literally) screaming autograph hunter, heavily proscribed procedure and smiling but deadly medicine pack.
The timetable works like this at the City Centre scrutineering. The teams are given a time to begin the process of technical and administrative tests, the former done in full public glare, the latter with a staged process of license and equipment checks timed to the minute for maximum efficiency before some media time and an interview on the main stage in front of the public.
Traditionally that process falls completely to pieces within 10-15 minutes evaporating into either endless waiting around, or alternatively a frantic rush to get through. The old soak in me is delighted to report that 2022 has not disappointed in that regard, the schedule half an hour behind after around 20 minutes – impressive!
Early through the procedures were the Porsche crews from Project 1 and Proton Competition with Michael Fassbender in delightful form, happy to chat about the next step on his racing odyssey.
It’s been a long road to get here Michael?
“And in truth it would be nice if it was a little longer, you never fully prepared but yes, it’s been a lot of ups and downs and this is fantastically challenging.
You’re coming here on a bit of a high, it’s going well in the ELMS?
“I’ve done everything I can in the four years leading up to this. We’ve worked really hard and now it’s about staying super-focused but relaxed at the same time – That’s the tricky bit!”
And enjoying it?
“And that, I mustn’t forget to do that!!”
A late addition to the entry was the switch to the Absolute Racing crew from Harpoint’s Rob Ferriol and Katherine Legge, the trio for the #99 now confirmed as Andrew Haryanto, Alessio Picariello and Martin Rump, the car will still run as Hardpoint, but it is firmly a Proton- backed, Absolute-crewed effort.
“We only found out on Monday that it was confirmed,” said Andrew Haryanto, about to embark on his second Le Mans in the #Underducks-liveried Porsche 911 RSR, “We had to wait to find out from Chris (Ried) whether it was possible, but I’m delighted we are here again.”
Another of the rookie drivers, Thomas Merrill, a late addition for WeatherTech Racing was also an early arrival in a gleaming white WeatherTech race suit:
Merrill has much winning form in TA2 Trans-Am racing and also has an IMSA LMP2 class win on his cv but this is very different:
“I texted the older 911 RSR in the US but have not yet driven the current car. It’s already a massive step from the Trans-Am car, more dials and controls than I have ever seen, more like a fast jet! The car though is amazing, and this event, it’s on everyone’s bucket list, I was amazed to get the call.”
And is there more to come for you?
“A the moment this is it, but I want to show what I can do within a team at this level and then who knows where it could lead?”
