Formule1: Sun team get thumped in the rump

 

 

 

THE Sun’s sportscar team Strakka Racing topped off a super season despite suffering two thumps in the rump.

Drivers Danny Watts and Nick Leventis were both smashed in the rear by other cars during the World Endurance Championship’s finale in Shanghai.
The incidents led to time-consuming pit stops that dropped Strakka’s Sun-stickered HPD-Honda to third place in the private teams’ class.
But it was still mission accomplished for the Silverstone-based squad as they achieved a clean sweep of eight podium finishes in eight WEC races.
They also consolidated their position as championship runners-up in the privateers’ category.
Thump No1 came when Watts was hit by the Audi e-tron driver by Marcel Fassler.
Watts said: “He waved apologetically as he went past. But the damage had been done and we had to replace the rear bodywork at the next pit stop.”
Thump No2 came later in the six-hour race as Leventis was punted off by a Ferrari GT car.
He said: “It was a fairly major impact so I did a lap to assess the damage before coming into the pits.
“By the time I got going again we’d lost almost three laps.”
Despite the setbacks Watts, Leventis and third driver Jonny Kane showed terrific pace and were able to claw back up the order, finishing sixth overall.
Leventis said: “I’m a bit gutted because you could see from the early part of the race what great pace we had and that we could have challenged for the privateers’ victory.
“But we’re immensely proud to have finished second in the privateers’ World Endurance Championship and we really can’t wait to come back next year and try to win the title.”
Winners in Shanghai were Alex Wurz and Nicolas Lapierre in Toyota’s fabulous 030 Hybrid prototype.
They finished just under a minute ahead of the Audi driven by Brit Allan McNish and Dane Tom Kristensen.
It was a good result for McNish but his world title hopes were finally dashed when Fassler and team-mates Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer brought their Audi home third to nail down the championship.
One Brit who did celebrate in Shanghai was Darren Turner, who won the GT class for Aston Martin with co-driver Stefan Mucke.
The victory also gave the pair second in the championship’s GT section.
Jubilant Turner said: “We had an amazing weekend and this result is a great reward for everyone’s efforts at Aston Martin Racing.
“The car has been at the sharp end in every race and the guys have got faster and faster in the pit stops. They should all be proud of what has been achieved. What a way to end the season.”