- Daniel Schneider & Shaun Lynn achieve highest qualifying of the season
- Heavy rain & multiple Safety Car periods make for a disjointed race
- Late race puncture denies best race finish of season for #2 & #32
UA MLMC Spa 2022 284
United Autosports’ Le Mans Cup four car entry crossed the line at the penultimate round of the season in a very wet and disjointed race, that saw 35 minutes of the race behind the Safety Car.
After a two month break since the last race in Monza, a 36-car entry (31 LMP3s) arrived at Spa – Shaun Lynn and Daniel Schneider both claiming their highest qualifying and starting race position of the season around the magnificent Ardennes circuit, in their respective cars. Rain fell at the start, the opening 14 of the 110mins race run behind the Safety Car, with visibility and grip minimal in the cool and wet conditions.
With 20 minutes on the clock and back under Safety Car conditions (lasting 21mins) due to an on-track incident, the #32, #2, #23 and #22 were placed 12th, 17th, 20th and 26th respectively with many cars reporting aquaplaning – including the #22 which spun to the back of the field, incurring front splitter damage and out of alignment steering.
As the clock ticked down, the rain slowed allowing the pro drivers, who jumped in the cars for the final 45 minutes of the race, to battle on track and make up as many places as possible. Two unfortunate late rear punctures for Andy in #32 and Max in #2, meant they crossed the line in an unrepresentative 22nd and 21st, both having run well within the front of the field for the majority of their stints. The #23 crossed the line in 14th, an impressive comeback after a tricky qualifying for John, once again hampered by the weather conditions. Garnet, managing the car’s earlier damage, crossed the line 25th.
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#2 Shaun Lynn (GB)/Max Lynn (GB)
Qualified: 13th (SL). Race: 21st
Shaun: “The race began in horrible, torrential rain, under Safety Car conditions – as was the majority of my stint. When the race did run green it was pretty scary and it was a matter of keeping out of trouble.”
Max: “We got the car over the finish line in one piece which was the main goal today. Unfortunately Dad didn’t get much of a race due to the Safety Cars but unfortunately, I got a puncture halfway through my stint which cost us around 90secs.”
#22 Andres Latorre (AUS)/Garnet Patterson (AUS)
Qualified: 27th (AL). Race: 25th
Andres: “Obviously the rain totally changed the dynamics as we had got ourselves a good race car in the dry practice sessions. It was extremely wet, I was aquaplaning on the straights and it was a case of surviving. The positive is that it was good experience driving in the wet.”
Garnet: “It was tricky as the car sustained some damage early in the race. I couldn’t really do much more and I was a lap down so it was a case of trying to be as safe as possible in the difficult conditions and stay out of everyone’s way!”
#23 John Schauerman (US)/Wayne Boyd (GB)
Qualified: 20th (JS). Race: 14th
John: “We were close to scoring points but just missed out in the end. A very difficult race for me due to the lack of visibility in traffic and aquaplaning. I’m happy we brought the car home without any damage. Overall a great experience racing at Spa.”
Wayne: “Spa, in the wet, is always difficult – there’s never a dull moment here! John, who drove a very good stint in horrible conditions, and I did a good enough job. We went for a bold strategy due to the conditions and Safety Cars but it didn’t quite work out.”
#32 Daniel Schneider (BRA)/Andy Meyrick (GB)
Qualified: 7th (DS) TIME. Race: 22nd
Daniel: “I believe the race should have been red-flagged. We could have waited 30-45 minutes and the weather would have cleared and everything would have been okay. It was way too dangerous and I was very close to retiring the car. It wasn’t a race for me.”
Andy: “It’s tricky when you jump into a car in such changeable conditions and multiple Safety Cars. My stint started well but seemed to lack pace in the middle but a top-six still looked achievable until a puncture scuppered our chances.”
Charlie Kemp, Le Mans Cup Team Manager:
“Overall, a tricky race from the very start with the [weather/track] conditions that we had to contend with. Standing water and spray made it horrible for the drivers, some believing it should have been stopped. #22 had a small off early on which caused damage necessitating a nose change at its scheduled stop while #2 and #32 both suffered right, rear punctures due to contact.”