Silverstone: Team ORECA-Matmut qualifying report

Silverstone: second row for the Team ORECA-Matmut...

The no.4 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP set the fourth-fastest time in qualifying after being held up by traffic and debris on the track.

Nicolas Lapierre, Stephane Sarrazin and the team still have a single aim - victory in the final race of the Le Mans Series, the first round of the ILMC.

The Team ORECA-Matmut will start the Silverstone 1000 kms from fourth place on the grid alongside the works Team Peugeot-Total 908 HDi FAP. While the Var-based squad was hoping for a better result it knows that qualifying and the race are two very different ballgames. Lapierre and Sarrazin fine-tuned the car's race setup during the three free practice sessions. These took place in very changeable weather conditions with intermittent showers. This enabled the team to collect information in all kinds of situations, and the drivers were very quick in the different sessions. Lapierre and Sarrazin set the second-quickest times on two occasions, and they are very happy with the handling of the no.4 Peugeot.

"Whether on a wet track or in the dry, our car's well balanced," said Lapierre who was given the job of qualifying the Peugeot. "We had to cope with different conditions; we found out how the track changed according to the weather, and it was the same thing for the tyres. It'll be very useful if the weather is as unpredictable in the race. We've still got a little work to do to find the ideal setup. Qualifying was a bit frustrating. I didn't manage to get a clear lap and there was also debris on the track. But all that's boosted our motivation: we're determined to win!"

Although the two Audi R15 Pluses locked out the front row of the grid, Hugues de Chaunac still has high hopes for the final of the 2010 Le Mans Series, which marks the start of the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. "It's true that we're a bit disappointed, but that's part of qualifying. You have to try and avoid being held up. Nicolas was slowed by several cars, and he also had to cope with the debris on the track. It's a pity as we could have been on the front row. But it's only practice not the race, which looks like it's going to be run at a searing pace. The battle will be very intense. We share the same aims as the Team Peugeot-Total victory! Audi is out to confirm its Le Mans success. That's going to lead to a ding-dong scrap and we're ready to take the fight to our rivals."

The start of the Silverstone 1000 kms is at 11h55 (12h55 in France). Lapierre will take the opening stint, and then he will be relayed by Sarrazin.

-source: oreca