ALMS

Laguna Seca: Harold Primat race report

LAGUNA PODIUM IS A PERFECT WAY TO FINISH An action-packed four hours of racing, four full course caution periods, accidents and incidents, spins aplenty. The popular Creation team came through it all to take third place in the final round of the ...

Published: Oct 23, 2006, 5:20 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

LAGUNA PODIUM IS A PERFECT WAY TO FINISH

An action-packed four hours of racing, four full course caution periods, accidents and incidents, spins aplenty. The popular Creation team came through it all to take third place in the final round of the 2006 American Le Mans Series at Laguna Seca, just 29 seconds behind the Championship winning Audi Sport of North America cars. The team was as delighted with the result as if it had won, and it was a fitting way for the British privateer team to round off its 2006 season, even if that much desired victory has to now wait until 2007.

Nicolas Minassian took the start in the Creation CA06/H and had to be content (though frustrated) to sit behind the Zytek of Stefan Johansson until the end of the second caution period. Once into the lead, on lap 22, Minassian took command for the next 30 laps until pitting for the first time an hour and a quarter into the race. Swiss Harold Primat took the wheel and did a steady job to keep in touch with the leaders, overcoming a couple of spins on the very dusty Laguna track and contact by the #2 Audi coming out of the Corkscrew. Fortunately the car was not damaged and Primat did extremely well to recover the situation and continue with relatively little time lost.

The team took the opportunity to put the Frenchman back behind the wheel during the long third caution period, and once the field had returned to green flag racing Minassian set about the leading pack. A spin by the #7 Penske Porsche meant the "Blue Rocket" moved into second place with around 45 minutes of the race to run, but a necessary final pit stop for a splash of fuel 17 minutes before the chequered flag dropped it back to its eventual finishing position of third.

Creation's Californian co-founder, Michael Jankowski summed up an exciting race. "This is a fabulous result for us and it's great for everyone around here. We have great people -- every single person worked really well today. Nic and Harold did an outstanding job despite a lot of very strange things happening to us. It worked out in the end and to finish on the same lap as the two Audis, and not so far away, well, what more can I say?"

These sentiments were backed up by Team Principal Ian Bickerton who was very proud of his whole team today. "It's been a busy afternoon. Both drivers did a great job. Harold had a real torrid time, on his first visit ever here at Laguna. He got off line a few times and spun, and got totally accosted by Allan McNish, but got it all back together again and brought the car back home in one piece. Nicolas as always is mega man, and did a mega job. I can't wait to come back in 2007!"

The supremely talented Minassian, who has never failed to deliver for Creation in all his many races with the team, was full of smiles at the end of the race. "There's nothing better than a podium like this, you know. Victory was possible, I think, if it hadn't been for the few things which happened to us. I got a big knock from Johnny Mowlem, which was really unnecessary, and he tried to push me into the wall but, never mind, I am now in front and he has finished behind--

"The result is fantastic for everybody at Creation. This is for them. Without the team you can't finish on the podium, and without a very good car you can't finish at the front either. It's fantastic."

Geneva resident Harold Primat has settled in well with the team in his two races with them, enjoying the family atmosphere that prevails. "Well, the result is great. We came through the race safely today and now we've had a fourth and a third and I think we can't expect to do that much more. It's a brilliant job by the team and everyone has done a wonderful job again this weekend, especially Nic. It's been really good for me joining this team, and to have had a good couple of races in the States is brilliant."

-credit: hp

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Laguna Seca: Dyson Racing race report

Next article Laguna Seca: Sascha Maassen race report

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Kyle Larson wins 2026 NASCAR Cup championship with Stage 1 clinch at Homestead

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

1 min

Kyle Larson wins 2026 NASCAR Cup championship with Stage 1 clinch at Homestead

Kimi Antonelli: "Weird" spin and car instability cost F1 Brazilian GP win

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

28 min

Kimi Antonelli: "Weird" spin and car instability cost F1 Brazilian GP win

Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc summoned to stewards after F1 Brazilian GP

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

1 h

Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc summoned to stewards after F1 Brazilian GP

Jorge Martin will be "almost 100% fit" in Portugal as heroic Qatar display keeps title hopes alive

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Qatar GP

1 h

Jorge Martin will be "almost 100% fit" in Portugal as heroic Qatar display keeps title hopes alive

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts