24h Le Mans
The second part of our look back at Lamborghini's presence at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the first appearance of which dates back to the 2010 edition.
In 2008, the Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT presented at the 24 Hours of Le Mans had changed ownership, to the benefit of the Russians. Entered by German Gorbuntsov's Interprogressbank Spartak Racing team for Roman Rusinov, Mike Hezemans and Peter Kox, the white R-GT was overseen by Hans Reiter. At an average of 3.52 a lap, the performances were encouraging and the No. 55 driver line-up positioned itself behind favourites Corvette Racing, Aston Martin Racing and Larbre Compétition.
After second place in the class at the 1,000km of Spa-Francorchamps, optimism reigned when the start was given. The reality of the race however was altogether stark. As if copying the first attempt lead by JLOC in 2006, the Murciélago R-GT's race was riddled with so many mechanical failures the drivers were unable to get the car on the final timesheet. The distance was, yet again, insufficient to satisfy the 70% rule based on the winning Audi R10 TDI's distance.
The Japan Lamborghini Owners Club made its return to La Sarthe in 2009 with a car assembled in Japan. For the 77th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ietoshi Kaneko solidified the team managed by Isao Noritake who had to complete certain technical modifications to attain approval of the car in Le Mans. More or less ready and without replacement parts, the Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT of Yutaka Yamagishi, Marco Apicella and Atsushi Yogou began the practice with difficulty.
In his first track lap, Atsushi Yogo stopped the car after the driveshaft broke. Without a replacement part in the pit, Ietoshi Kaneko sought out the coveted part and finally ended by calling upon Hans Reiter's workshops in Germany. The two gimbals were mounted on the car in haste at Thursday's practice which confirmed the state of the No. 68 R-GT, stricken with significant oil leaks. In a tense and disparate situation, Marco Apicella threw in the towel and declared forfeit. In an agreement between the team managers and the sponsors, the decision was made to have the car take only a symbolic lap and the task went to Yutaka Yamagishi on Saturday. The Japanese driver returned to his pit at the end of the first lap, the retirement official.
Undaunted, Isao Noritake pursued Le Mans in 2010 by entering a Murciélago, at the time called LP670 R-SV. For this last year of the LM GT1 class' existence, there was no question of performance when the goals were set and the team's drivers, managers and mechanics were only looking to make it to the checkered flag. Qualified in 4:05:’’170, the driver line-up Atsushi Yogou, Kouji Yamanishi and Hiroyuki Iiri would once again have repeated mechanical issues. While a problematic radiator ruined the mood at the start of the race, the clutch breaking during the 18th race hour definitively sealed the Japanease Club Lamborghini's fate...
Pierre-Yves Riom / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
