Le Mans 24-Hours – Zytek Race review

Fifth place in the LMP2 class of this year’s Le Mans 24-hours was the best result for the three Zytek ZG348-engined contenders. Two of them ran as high as third in the early stages.

However, the trio suffered a troubled race with only the Barazi-Epsilon Zytek 07S making it to the finish. The Trading Performance 07S, which last year was the class of the LMP2 category eventually finishing second, crashed out early in the event.

The Zytek-engined Embassy WF01 had an accident much later in the race, which also brought an end to what had been a promising start.

5th in LMP2 (304 Laps)

The Barazi-Epsilon Zytek 07S which qualified third in the LMP2 class was holding that position at the end of the second hour. However, the car fell back, initially with a clutch issue. Then, in the eighth hour, a fuel pressure problem halted it at the Corvette Curves. By the time driver Michael Vergers had brought the car back to the pits it had dropped out of contention.

In the early hours of the morning the car suffered rear suspension damage. Thankfully this happened as the car was exiting the Porsche Curves and Michael, who was again at the wheel, was easily able to bring the car back into the pits. The car fell further back as the suspension was replaced.

When the rain started Stuart Moseley was on a triple stint. "The car went pretty well in the wet," he reported. During this period he was able to make up a lot of ground on the competition, although unable to gain any places.

The team’s woes continued in the closing hours with a puncture on the Mulsanne Straight when Stuart was again at the wheel. Juan Barazi then took over. However, a coming together with the leading Audi at the Dunlop Curves with less than three hours to go meant more bodywork replacement.

Retired (22 laps)

After just 22 laps, the Trading Performance Zytek 07S, driven at the time by Claude-Yves Gosselin, came into contact with an LMP1 Lola at the Ford Chicane. He was forced off the road and out of the race.

Retired (213 laps)

The Zytek-engined Embassy WF01 was well up in the LMP2 class during the early hours of the race, running as high as third at the end of the first hour. However, a number of issues had dropped it down to sixth in class. These included a starter motor problem and damage to the right hand side of the car and radiator caused by debris following a Peugeot accident.

The Embassy WF01 moved up a place in class after midnight despite various electrical gremlins. At around 6.00pm Joey Foster brushed the Armco and the car had to be brought in to for nose damage to be repaired. The opportunity was taken to change the battery and alternator and fix the clutch.

However, around 45 minutes later, with Joey still at the wheel, the car was pitched into the barriers at the second chicane on the Mulsanne. In the never say die spirit of Le Mans he manfully brought the badly damaged car back to the pits but no avail as it had to be retired.

- Ian Wagstaff -

photos will be on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS - 24h Races