WEC
Honda Perforamnce Development Spa Race Report
Spa-Francorchamps circuit
Edited: Jun 1, 2018, 12:58 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Podium Finish for Strakka at Spa
HPD Team Scores LMP2 Pole and Third-Place Finish, Le Mans Next
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (May 10, 2011) – Strakka Racing led the Honda Performance Development prototype effort last weekend at the classic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, qualifying on the LMP2 class pole and finishing third in the final Intercontinental Le Mans Cup event prior to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Strakka trio of drivers Jonny Kane, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts kept its HPD ARX-01d in the hunt throughout the 1,000-kilometer event, but was unfortunate to be caught in pit lane when a full-course caution came out during their second scheduled stop.
The resulting 40-second delay cost Strakka a possible second-place finish, as the HPD team finished just 10 seconds behind the runner-up Boutsen Energy Racing entry. A scare during the final laps also hindered the Strakka effort, as debris lodged in the left-front fender of the HPD prototype, leading to tire damage and a vibration, with the left-front tire fully deflating just after the checkered flag.
#42 Strakka Racing HPD ARX-01: Nick Leventis, Danny Watts, Jonny Kane
Photo by: Lucien Harmegnies
Two other HPD prototype teams also took part in the Spa event, but the British-based RML squad was forced to withdraw its entry following a crash in practice, when a Peugeot LMP1 car driven by Pedro Lamy clipped Mike Newton’s HPD while attempting a pass, sending both cars hard into the barriers. Newton was taken to a local hospital for a precautionary examination and released, but damage to the ARX-01d was too extensive to be repaired before the race.
The American Level 5 team dropped out of the race when a yet-to-be-determined mechanical failure at the right rear of its HPD-powered Lola coupe led to contact with the guardrail and retirement after 59 laps.
Strakka also finished third at Paul Ricard in April, the opening round of the European-based Le Mans Series championship, giving the team the LMP2 championship lead after two of five events.
“It’s fantastic that we’re leading the [LMS] championship,” said Strakka driver Jonny Kane. “The car was working really well in the fast and flowing middle sector. The whole team has done a very good job and we’ve come away with a good haul of points by finishing third again. It shows the team spirit we have at Strakka Racing.”
“Our LMP2 program continues to make progress, and Strakka once again ran a near-perfect race,” said Steve Eriksen, HPD vice president. “It’s a shame that both RML and Level 5 encountered problems not of their own making, but we expect both to be back at full strength in time for Le Mans next month. To again be powering teams that are leading the LMP2 championships on both sides of the Atlantic following such significant changes in the class regulations is a real testament to the challenging spirit of our partners and HPD associates. We’re also looking forward to our return to the Circuit de la Sarthe for the 24 Hours, to defend our LMP2 class victory with our new, production-based, HR28TT V-6 engine. It’s a huge challenge, but we are leaving no stone unturned in our preparations.”
Based on Honda’s production-based global V-6, the new HPD HR28TT engine utilizes HPD’s exclusive engine-control system, and is the product of a joint effort between HPD and Honda R&D Americas, Inc. (HRA).
-source: hpd
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
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Next article Toyota Le Mans prototype has support from ORECA for 2012
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Pedro Lamy
Top 10: Ranking the best F3000 non-champions
General
General
Top 10: Ranking the best F3000 non-champions
Hankey regrets not taking Lamy chance at Spa
WEC
WEC
Spa-Francorchamps (2018)
Hankey regrets not taking Lamy chance at Spa
Audi stars named for Bathurst
Endurance
Endurance
Audi stars named for Bathurst
More from
Strakka Racing
Paffett, Nielsen to complete IGTC season with Strakka
GT
GT
Paffett, Nielsen to complete IGTC season with Strakka
Rowland to drive Strakka Mercedes in Suzuka 10 Hours
Endurance
Endurance
Suzuka 10 Hours
Rowland to drive Strakka Mercedes in Suzuka 10 Hours
Barrichello to contest Spa 24 Hours in a Mercedes
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
24 Hours of Spa
Barrichello to contest Spa 24 Hours in a Mercedes
Latest news
WEC Barcelona: Toyota scores dominant 1-2 to seal manufacturers’ title
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
2 h
WEC Barcelona: Toyota scores dominant 1-2 to seal manufacturers’ title
Hailie Deegan eying NASCAR Truck return but future plans remain uncertain
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Phoenix
2 h
Hailie Deegan eying NASCAR Truck return but future plans remain uncertain
When Can-Am made its controversial comeback
General
When Can-Am made its controversial comeback
Yamaha boss on MotoGP changes under Liberty: 'We must be careful not to lose our fans'
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Japanese GP
5 h
Yamaha boss on MotoGP changes under Liberty: 'We must be careful not to lose our fans'
Feature
Discover prime content
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
Subscribe