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| PORSCHE WINS LMP2, DISAPPOINTS IN GT2 AT LE MANS 24 HOUR |
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ATLANTA - June 13 -- While the Porsche RS Spyder is just a memory in North America, it was certainly alive earlier today at the checkered flag for the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the iconic LMP2 sports prototype captured its second Le Mans class win in two tries thanks to the
Danish customer team of Casper Elgaard, Kristian Poulsen, and Porsche factory driver Emmanuel Collard.
The Team Essex, which came in second in LMP2 a year ago, beat its Lola Judd rival by more than 14 laps, as well as capturing the energy efficiency classification "Michelin Green X Challenge" as the car with the best overall efficiency, calculated by the ratio between lap
times and fuel consumption. Porsche lost its chance for a one-two LMP2 RS Spyder finish only an hour before the end of the race, as the RS Spyder entry of NAVI Team GOH spun off the track while running comfortably in second place. Under braking for the first chicane on the Hunaudières straight on an oil spill of a competitor, Japanese driver Seiji Ara hit the
barriers and the car was forced to retire.
"We're proud that in customer hands the RS Spyder not only confirmed its high speed and
reliability again but also won the environmental classification. It's such a great pity that the second RS Spyder retired. NAVI Team GOH put in an immaculate performance and really would have deserved to secure second," said Porsche Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen.
In 2008, the RS Spyder won the energy efficiency challenge at all races and championships -
in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the American Le Mans Series and the European Le Mans Series.
With this, the RS Spyder impressively underlined its status as the world's most efficient
sports prototype.
"After claiming second last year we are absolutely over the moon with our victory today," said Essex driver Casper Elgaard (Denmark). "This is a huge success for our Danish team, which only began competing in long distance racing last year."
Porsche works driver Emmanuel Collard (France) added: "The key to success was the RS Spyder. We didn't have the slightest technical problem and turned fast and steady laps."
Only once in the night was there an unscheduled stop. Before the first Hunaudières chicane,
the two close-running RS Spyder hit a patch of oil and began to slide. Keisuki Kunimoto (NAVI Team GOH) nudged the Essex car, resulting in both vehicles having body parts replaced.
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