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With the night sadly now gone for another year, it
almost seemed that the race was virtually over by the time we got back to the
circuit, but there were still five hours to go when we sat back down again in
the grandstand. As usual at this stage of a Le Mans weekend, I was close
to 'photographed-out' and I just took occasional pictures when cars came into
the pits. If nothing else, it kept me awake!
In fact, I think there was a very substantial risk
at this time of a full 'group snore' if we sat down for too long so we left the
grandstand after about 45 minutes and took a wander down to the Ford Chicane.
That was just about as far as I was inclined to walk now as I was feeling pretty
tired and it was also getting surprisingly hot.
The view from the Ford Chicane has always been
good, if you can find the right spot. The break in the fencing there for
the marshals' post is useful for the camera, but with just one layer of fence in
places, you also have the option of pressing the lens up against the fencing and
it's possibly to get some half-decent pictures without the obtrusive fencing in
the way. Note to James and Tony - We must remember to go there earlier
in the week when we're not so tired!
The race had long been a battle - seemingly (and
thankfully) not limited by team orders, between the #1 and #2 Audis which the
'old boys' in the #2 car seemed to be gradually getting the upper hand in.
That was until, for the second year running, Allan McNish had a contretemps with
a red Ferrari.... And this happened at almost the same time as Marc Gené
dropped the #3 Audi, so we had the highly unusual sight of TWO damaged Audis
coming into the pits within a couple of minutes of each other.
For McNish, Kristensen and Capello, the latter
almost certainly competing in his last Le Mans race for Audi, that was pretty
well it. The win was going to go to the reigning champions, Lotterer,
Fässler and Treluyer in the #1 car.
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