Krohn Racing 18 Hour review 17.06.2012: 24 Hours of Le Mans The No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 continues to soldier on in the 80th annual 24 Hours of Le Mans race at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

24 Hours of Le Mans




The No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 continues to soldier on in the 80th annual 24 Hours of Le Mans race at the Circuit de la Sarthe.


Team owner/driver Tracy W. Krohn and co-drivers Nic Jönsson and Michele Rugolo have maintained the third position in class at the 18-hour mark, and 27th overall.



QUOTES:


NIC JONSSON, No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 GTE-Am:
After halfway point of the race, shortly after 3:00 a.m.:

“It started off pretty good.  The tires, especially the front, started to go off by the end of the first stint, but we wanted to try to double stint the tires to see how much wear we could get on them. Halfway through the second stint the fronts had nothing left as far as grip goes.


We just had to hang on and cruise and bring the car back in for Michele. I think the car works perfectly fine mechanically. It looks like we’re running race pace right now with the leaders.


We just have to hang in there, keep plugging away and hope for some luck that we can make those two laps back that we’re behind right now and be there at the end tomorrow afternoon.”



After morning double stint until 8:00 a.m.:

“We decided to go on a soft tire for the stint and it seemed like that didn’t work that great because I had absolutely no grip from the very first lap, not even on new tires. The car was very difficult to drive. It was loose into the corners and huge push in the long sweepers like Porsche Curves, going through Tertre Rouge.


There was just basically a survival mode to get through this stint. Everything else mechanically worked perfect with the car. We just have to settle in and try to be safe out there and hopefully bring this home on the podium.”



TRACY W. KROHN, Krohn Racing Team Owner/Driver, No. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari F458 GTE-Am:

Following his single stint, just before the 18 hour mark:

“The track was very damp early this morning but it’s dried out a little bit now. It’s different every single lap now. I overcooked the tires one time going into the Mulsanne. I’ve had a lot of problems with that turn. I know where the braking point is supposed to be, it’s just not where it normally is. It’s really backed up and narrowed a lot.


There’s a lot of gravel, rubber and parts out on the circuit. I was hit twice by the No. 67 Porsche. It seldom happens and that guy is not part of the regular WEC series. I won’t forget that. What goes around comes around. I knocked the plug out of my radio spinning because of all the debris I got on my tires when I first went out.


 I wondered why it was so quiet and then I finally figured it out but I didn’t have radio communications about the last few laps. I saw the fuel light come on so I came on in.”




Barbara J. Burns -  photo Romain Scholer automobilsport.com