24H OF LE MANS: KENNOL IS EVERYWHERE!
Exactly 20 years after its 1st victory with Christophe BOUCHUT at Le Mans, KENNOL sends several world-class teams to the mythical french Endurance race, especially in LMP2, the most spectacular category ! Of course Level 5 Motorsports is here (usual american team for KENNOL in ALMS), as well as the renowned Lotus team (partners in WEC), and in the end Romain DUMAS clinches the title in GT and flies directly to Pikes Peak with KENNOL again!
Only 10 drivers in the history of Le Mans have taken part in the race more often than me.
Christophe BOUCHUT, pilote
▌ A PROTOTYPE FOR THE FUTURE
For its 20th participation, and to enlight the 20th anniversary of his victory here with KENNOL and Peugeot in 1993, Christophe BOUCHUT comes back with a mythical team, Lotus ! And for its great come back at the highest level of Endurance, the team counts on a new program for a brand new LMP2 prototype LMP2, still in developing stages, but with loads of potential…
The Frenchman is very proud of this achievement and is looking forward to his anniversary. It will be Kevin Weeda’s first participation at Le Mans and the American did the minimum of ten laps at the test day to be eligible for the race. Dominik Kraihamer, who had an accident at the Le Mans test, is fully recovered and eager to race.
Christophe Bouchut was the start driver for car #31 and made up some position in the first laps. Thomas Holzer was at the wheel of #32 for the start and was on a good pace. After about two hours into the race, Kevin Weeda in car #31 spun and had to stop the car at the track. During the night, Dominik Kraihamer (#32) did very good laps and set good and constant lap times after an Audi made contact with him. A failure on the bellhousing consequently caused damages on the fitted auxiliaries and forced the team to retire. Lotus Praga LMP2 showed a good performance at its only second start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and with the new Lotus Praga T128 LMP2. The team showed a great effort and was working hard during the whole week.
Christophe Bouchut, Race Driver #31:
“It’s a shame that we had to retire. I would have preferred to finish my 20th race at Le Mans, but that’s racing. We had a good pace during the week and the car has got a lot of potential. I would like to thank the team for their great job.”
Thomas Holzer, Race Driver #32:
“We had to retire this morning. Nevertheless, we had a good car and we were on a good pace. It’s a shame we didn’t cross the finish line. But we will keep on working hard and fight back at the next races.”
▌ FAILURES AND SUCCESS FOR AMERICAN AND FRENCHIES
For their part, the LMP2 Level 5 Motorsports, the American team KENNOL engaged in ALMS knew various fortunes, with some technical problems, following the stormy qualifications. The team rallies the finish, but has been stopped at the pits far too long to be able to claim a place of honor, despite overtaking.
It will finally be the Romanian DUMAS, on Porsche, in the GT class, who will leave this week-end with the laurels, climbing on the highest step of the podium, after his victory in 2010 with Audi! The Frenchman does not hide his joy, and stores capital-trust welcome, before flying directly to Colorado in the USA, where he drives proto Norma KENNOL in the mythical race Pikes Peak, facing Peugeot and Sebastien LOEB!
