Two former Formula
One pilots return to Quebec this weekend when the American Le Mans
Series for sportscars roar through the streets of Trois-Rivières.
Monaco-based
pair Johnny Herbert and JJ Lehto, veterans of over 200 F1 Grands Prix
- including 16 in Canada - drive the Team ADT Champion Racing Audi R8
around the tight and narrow 1.521-mile, 11-turn street course.
Herbert, of
England, and Finland’s Lehto will average around 90mph a lap in their
Audi R8, a 3.6-liter, twin-turbo-charged sportscar that has dominated
endurance sportscar racing for the past three years.
Trois Rivières
is hosting a race in the nine-event ALMS program for a second
consecutive year - Audi having bagged the top-three places overall in
the corresponding 3 hour, two-driver race exactly 12 months ago (3
Aug).
Herbert and
Stefan Johansson finished third at Trois Rivières last year after
Johnny had qualified on the front row.
Herbert’s best
result in the Canadian GP were two fifths (1997/99) while Lehto scored
a sixth place in 1994.
Johnny Herbert:
“I raced at
Trois Rivieres last year and finished third and thoroughly enjoyed the
experience – the venue offers a lovely atmosphere. The street circuit
is good, not hugely demanding or particularly narrow but enjoyable.
I’ve never won a ‘street’ race – third is my best placing in the
Monaco Formula One Grand Prix – although I’ve raced at a number
including Miami [ALMS], Phoenix [F1] and Macau [F3].”
JJ Lehto:
“I missed last
year’s race so the circuit will be totally new to me but normally I
learn a track quickly and it’s short anyway. I’ve good and bad
experiences on street tracks – I finished second at Miami in the ALMS
last September. An Audi R8 filled the top-three positions in last
year’s Trois Rivieres race so the car is a known factor and has showed
it to be well suited to the Canadian circuit. It’s absolutely vital
we score big points.”
Brad Kettler
,
Champion Racing Technical Director:
“Last year at
Trois Rivières we found a good setup. The track is fairly smooth and
has decent grip. Braking is very important especially in the downhill
section coming up to the archway. I feel we should be very
competitive there right away.”
Timetable - ALMS
Friday: 1205-1305 / 1305-1335
(both Test sessions)
Saturday: 0950-1050 / 1520-1610
(both Practice sessions). 1640-1700 Qualifying.
Sunday: 0915-0945 Warm-up.
1445-1745 Race