Four Top Five Finishes From Five Le Mans Series Races In 2011
2011 saw Team RLR enter its first full season in the Le Mans Series, having contested the final two rounds of the 2010 championship. Armed with a new Judd engine and having clocked up thousands of kilometres in testing, Team RLR was aiming to prove a real thorn in the side of the more established competitors in the field.
Team RLR competed at all five rounds of the Le Mans Series - Le Castellet (France), Spa Francorchamps (Belgium), Imola (Italy), Silverstone (Great Britain) and Estoril (Portugal). The British LMP2 squad achieved four top-five class finishes from five Le Mans Series races.
Barry Gates, Rob Garofall and Simon Phillips took the wheel of the MG Lola EX265 for the first three events. In August Warren Hughes, one of MG’s most successful factory drivers, joined the team for the last two races of the season.
In late July, during the mid season break, British car manufacturer MG Motor UK confirmed it would return to motorsport as a partner of the ambitious Le Mans Series contenders.
Le Castellet, France, April 1-3
Despite concern about straight line speed, Team RLR collected its best Le Mans Series result to date after a superb run over 174 laps to steer the Judd-powered MG Lola EX265 to fifth place in the LMP2 class and ninth overall from 34 starters.
Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, May 5-7
Team RLR had to be content with a fine fourth place class finish and fourteenth overall.
Imola, Italy, July 1-3
After an excellent start at Imola a steering problem in lap two meant that a new steering rack had to be fitted. This cost the team more than an hour of time in the pit box. With an insurmountable deficit to make up and a gearbox problem late in the race the tough decision was taken to retire.
Silverstone, Great Britain, September 9-11
Team RLR battled against the odds to a sensational fifth place finish in the LMP2 class and fourteenth overall. Thanks to Team Principal Nick Reynolds’ professional crew who were forced to change the engine three times over the course of practice and qualifying, before the race had even started, together with some fantastic driving Team RLR were able to secure an outstanding comeback after 171 hard fought laps.
Estoril, Portugal, September 23-25
After the heroic performance at Silverstone Team RLR wrapped up its first full season in the Le Mans Series with another fifth place LMP2 class finish and 17th overall after an eventful race at the 6 Hours and 201 laps at Estoril.
