Thursday 13th November 2003

Xero Disappointment

Wrong paperwork scuppers Le Mans weekend

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Xero Competition at Le Mans on Tuesday afternoon with their Corvette C5 and were set up and raring to go for the 9am session on Wednesday.

Paula Cook took the Chevrolet Corvette C5 out for its first run with Ricky Cole finishing the session. They were both extremely happy with the car and things looked promising for the weekend ahead.

Peter Le Bas took the car out for the first time on Thursday and also had a very good run. The team were looking forward to the race as the car was competitive and was looking like it could have been a top 6 finisher, especially when taking into account that all three drivers spent most their time in the car learning the Bugatti Circuit.

Friday’s scrutineering however, is where the problem began for the team. The Xero Competition Chevrolet Corvette C5 was bought from the US and therefore although the team were led to believe it had the correct papers to race in France, it did not. Xero and other teams were therefore unable to take part in the race on Sunday for this reason. Team Principal Dave Beecroft commented: “This was an incredible blow to the team who had worked so hard in preparation for this weekend .”

Despite this initial set back, the team are now preparing the car and extremely keen to take part in the rest of the Le Mans Endurance Series. They are now looking forward to the next round at Monza, Italy, in April 2004.

[DustyC]

Thats terrible. Surely the paperwork for racing at this level should be checked well in advance to the actual race meeting.

[Guy Humpage]

It was reported elsewhere that the car didn't meet the ACO regs when it raced in the 24hrs (or ALMS?) a couple of years back (by the previous owners), but was allowed to race on the understanding the defects were to be fixed before it raced at LM again. The car was sold to the current owners with, alledgedly, this fact omitted from the sales patter.

[GrahamG]

It was in the ELMS Guy when the same car was raced by Atomic Kitten racing

[thump3r]

incidently the 'ELMS guy' was in the garage next door with banana joes!

[GrahamG]

Was he now!!