one of Johnny Herbert's most brilliant and memorable American Le Mans Series drives,
the ADT/Champion Audi team was only able to take third place in the three-hour
Le Grand Prix du Trois-Rivieres in Canada, making for an all-Audi podium. The
race was won from twentieth starting position by Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello
in the #2 Joest Audi. Coming second were Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela in the
pole-sitting #1 Joest entry.
While Johnny Herbert had put the ADT and Michelin-sponsored Champion Racing R8
in the second starting spot for the debut ALMS race at this Canadian circuit,
that advantage didn't last beyond Turn One in the race. Herbert went wide as the
field approached the first turn, and the third-starting Panoz of Bryan Herta was
tucked up so close to pole-sitter Pirro that he was forced to lock up his brakes,
but despite that the two made contact just prior to the turn-in, causing a cloud
of tire smoke from the Panoz.
Herbert dove in behind Herta as the leaders rounded the turn, but was struck from
behind by the KnightHawk MG, which had been qualified by Chad Block and started
by car owner Steve Knight. Knight's MG ran up under Herbert's right-rear, lifting
the car momentarily off the ground and causing it to spin, while simultaneously
damaging the MG's left-front suspension beyond continuing. Herbert was able to
get restarted, and pitted for new rear bodywork.
Once Herbert was finally underway again, he made rapid progress back up through
the field, despite the tight confines of the Trois-Rivieres street course, and
he even led a lap just prior to the first of the team's two pit stops. At the
first stop, Herbert stayed in but took fuel and four new Michelin tires. In what
Champion Racing owner, Dave Maraj, described as "one of the best stints I
have ever seen", Herbert then proceeded to tear right back to the front during
his second stint. "Johnny was just brilliant today" said Maraj.
However, much of Herbert's effort was negated when, in a late-race caution period,
there was miscommunication between IMSA Race Control, the Champion pit crew and
Herbert himself. This resulted in Herbert (and several other cars) bypassing the
pits just after it had opened, causing a late pit stop and loss of track position
for the ADT/Champion Audi. Herbert turned over to Stefan Johansson, who rejoined
in third place with fresh tires and a full load of fuel.
Due to further miscommunication with the team, Johansson then jumped the restart,
incurring a twenty-second penalty for passing under yellow, and putting the Champion
R8 two laps down to the leading Joest Audi. With just forty-five minutes remaining
in the race and laps down to the leaders, Champion's bid for victory in Quebec
was over for the day, and Johansson persevered for third place, making for yet
another Audi sweep of the LMP-900 podium.
Champion's third-place finish also earned the team the IMSA Cup for Privateers,
as highest finishing entrant in the LMP-900 class.
The ALMS circus moves next to its second Canadian round, at Mosport Park, in two
weeks time.
Results from the ALMS Grand Prix du
Trois-Rivieres:
1 - Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello; Audi R8 (LMP 900), 166 laps
2 - Emanuele Pirro, Frank Biela; Audi R8 (LMP 900), 166
3 - Johnny Herbert, Stefan Johansson; Audi R8 (LMP 900), 165
LMP-900 Drivers Points after Trois-Rivieres:
1 Tom Kristensen, 139
2 Rinaldo Capello, 137
3 Frank Biela, 123
4 Emanuele Pirro, 122
5 Johnny Herbert, 120
LMP-900 Teams Points after Trois-Rivieres:
1 Audi Sport North America, 138
2 Panoz Motor Sports, 117
3 Champion Racing, 112
4 Dyson Racing Team, 81
5 Intersport, 70
1 - Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello; Audi R8 (LMP 900), 166 laps
2 - Emanuele Pirro, Frank Biela; Audi R8 (LMP 900), 166
3 - Johnny Herbert, Stefan Johansson; Audi R8 (LMP 900), 165
LMP-900 Drivers Points after Trois-Rivieres:
1 Tom Kristensen, 139
2 Rinaldo Capello, 137
3 Frank Biela, 123
4 Emanuele Pirro, 122
5 Johnny Herbert, 120
LMP-900 Teams Points after Trois-Rivieres:
1 Audi Sport North America, 138
2 Panoz Motor Sports, 117
3 Champion Racing, 112
4 Dyson Racing Team, 81
5 Intersport, 70
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Stefan Johansson under the Arch during morning warmup