Now we must win it says Scuderia boss

Published on Friday 15 June 2007 11:53

WINCHBURGH-BASED Ferrari team Scuderia Ecosse will start tomorrow's 75th running of the Le Mans 24-Hours from pole position in the highly competitive GT2 class after torrential rain ensured that yesterday's lap times were slower than Wednesday's qualifying session.

As the rain fell, leaving the 8.47-mile circuit made up mainly of closed-off French country roads awash with surface water, St Andrews driver Andrew Kirkaldy could reflect on his best lap of 4mins 04.185secs set in the dry on Wednesday.

"We knew what the forecast was, so we made sure we were top of the time-sheets at the end of Wednesday's session," the Fifer, who was 0.437secs faster than the Porsche GT3 of Richard Lietz, explained. "We knew that would be crucial, and that's the way it's proved."

And team boss Stewart Roden acknowledged a bit of dancing during the day may have had an influence on the night's weather.

"It looks like the rain dances we did paid off," Roden, who also has Tim Mullen and Chris Niarchos in the car, laughed. "Pole position's a terrific achievement for a wee team like us. Now we have to improve on our podium finish from last year and win."

Fellow Scot Allan McNish meanwhile, driving the diesel-powered Audi R10TDI, was denied a final chance at deposing the Peugeot 908HDi of Stephane Sarrazin from overall pole.

"As soon as that first rainstorm swept over the circuit, we knew nobody would beat Wednesday's times," McNish, whose fastest time remained 3mins 26.916secs, 0.572secs slower than the Peugeot, admitted. "Everyone was around a minute off the pace and all we could do was do some extra work on wet set-up because it looks like the rain will be here for the weekend too."

Aston Martin, now back in British hands after a buy out from Ford, have six cars entered.