Le Mans race summary

Goddard has title in his sights.   Le Mans, France, Saturday 26th October 2002: South African Earl Goddard won the seventh and penultimate race of the NDS EuroBOSS Series, an exciting encounter in which the lead changed hands three times and the winning margin over Team Ascari driver Phil Andrews was just two seconds. 22 year old Goddard, driving a Benetton Ford HB V8, had started the race from second place on the grid, behind Klaas Zwart, the win moves him ahead of the Dutchman and on course to win the Series title.    In fine weather seventeen cars lined up for the start, including local driver and Le Mans legend Francois Migault, driving a Lola Cosworth V8 in the EuroBOSS 3000 class. From the green light EuroBOSS lived up to its reputation for excitement as Harri Toivenen, driving an Ascari Judd V10, starting in fourth place, nosed himself into second place with a daring manoeuvre that underlined the talent of this famous Finn. With three cars side by side into the first corner Andrews and Toivonen touched, the contact resulting in Toivonen's retirement at the end of the lap with a broken front wishbone.   As the race developed and the front pack closed on the back markers Andrews, driving a V10 Ascari Judd and lying in third place, pulled off an amazing zig-zag manoeuvre, first passing Goddard then leader Zwart.  Andrews pushed hard to extend his advantage as Zwart retired after striking a wall, but shaking off Goddard, the winner of the last four races, is not easy and eventually Goddard successfully made his move.   Whilst Goddard and Andrews fought it out at front of the field the battle for the remaining podium place was hotting up with Max Wakefield, who started at the back after stalling, Karl-Heinz Becker and the Tyrrell of Mathew Mortlock all eyeing up the third spot. The eventual victor of the battle, Mathew Mortlock, managed to survive a spin to hold on to his well deserved third spot.   In the EuroBOSS 3000 class Roger Kilty was supreme, driving a Reynard Cosworth V8, to a class win and sixth place overall. Francois Migault's knowledge of his local circuit paid off as he moved up through the field to finish in eighth place overall, in his first EuroBOSS outing, leaving fellow 3000 competitor Kamiel de Brue in his wake. The hard fought battle puts de Brue into the top spot in the 3000 title chase, after a string of solid performances, just 1 point ahead of 17 year old Scott Mansell who retired his Reynard Mugen on lap 2.   Colin Stone took the EuroBOSS Masters win, putting him in an unassailable lead going into tomorrow's final race of the season.   One of the success stories of single seater racing, the 2002 NDS EuroBOSS Series, will come to a close tomorrow (Sunday) at the Circuit Bugatti, Le Mans, with the eighth and final round. Another enthralling race is anticipated with three drivers, Goddard (77points), Zwart (71 points) and Andrews (66 points) all in with a chance of winning the prestigious title. Part two of this Le Mans double header starts at 14:00 local time.   Earl Goddard, Driver, Kockney Koi Yamitsu:
"That's five wins in a row and tomorrow I hope to make it six. Robin Hooker has prepared a fantastic car and the Series title is within our grasp. I'm glad to have moved ahead of Klaas [Zwart] having played catch-up all season, now he will have to race to win."   Phil Andrews, Driver, Team Ascari:
"I had a really good start and pulled out to overtake Klaas [Zwart] but Harri [Toivonen] must have had an amazing start because he appeared from nowhere and unfortunately we touched tyres which slowed me down. It was very tight into the first corner but we all made it round. On the second lap I saw Klaas had slowed behind a backmarker and took my chance, passing both Klaas [Zwart] and Earl [Goddard]. I had a great battle with Earl [Goddard], we were pretty tight most of the way and I thought I had the better of him when I opened the gap to about 5 seconds. I am very pleased with my result, this is my second best race this year, after Donington at the start of the season where I won after starting from the back. It is still possible for me to take the Series title so tomorrow I am going for the win."   Max Wakefield, Driver, Zig Zag Mansell Motorsport:
"After stalling at the start it could only get better, the car handled beautifully as I set about moving up the field. It was sometimes difficult to pass the backmarkers but I seemed able to close on most of the leading cars. At the end I had Mathew [Mortlock] in my sights and may have secured a podium place if the race had been a few laps longer. Tomorrow I will be looking to redress the balance!"   Roger Kilty, Driver, Hanline Associates:
"It's great to finish so well after a poor qualifying session, I went passed Colin [Stone] at the start, and when Martin Kendrick spun off it allowed me to make ground. I had a particularly good race against Scott [Mansell] and was pleased to have finished sixth after started from twelfth. The only down side was one of my earplugs fell out and now I can't hear on one side!"   Colin Stone, Driver, CA Stone Autoelectronics:
"The race went to plan and I am really pleased with the car, next year we'll have more controllable power but for now I am concentrating on tomorrow's final race and hope to finish strongly."     NDS EuroBOSS Series -- Race Result, Round Seven
 Le Mans, France, Saturday 26th October 2002:   Position -- No. -- Driver -- Car
1 - 11 -- Goddard -- Benetton Ford HB V8
2- 4 -- Andrews -- Ascari Judd V10
3- 9 - Mortlock -- Footwork Judd V10
4 - 7 -- Wakefield -- Benetton Judd V10 
5 - 10 - Becker -- Minardi Cosworth V8
6 - 34 -- Kilty -- Reynard Cosworth V8 (EuroBOSS 3000)
7 - 17 -- Kendrick -- Reynard Judd V8 
8 - 33 -- Migault - Lola Cosworth V8 (EuroBOSS 3000)
9 - 32 -- de Brue -- Ralt Judd V8 (EuroBOSS 3000)
10 - 27 -- Stone -- Ram Hart 1.5T (EuroBOSS Masters)
11 - 5 -- Langridge -- Footwork Judd V8   DNF
2 -- Zwart -- Ascari Judd V10
15 - McLurg -- Arrows Hart V8
37 -- Mansell -- Reynard Mugen V8
3 -- Toivonen -- Ascari Judd V10   -ebf1-