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We had already thought about where to watch the
first qualifying session proper from and had decided that it was essential to
get out to the back of the circuit. Of course, the early termination of
the free practice session was a boon in one sense, as it gave us a little more
time to make the journey out to Arnage. In fact, we made very good
time and were there by 8.20, well in advance of the session start at 10 pm.
It was dry there but the evidence of recent heavy
rain was obvious, with the grassed track running along in front of the eateries very wet and
muddy. Bearing in mind the time, it was essential that we performed one of
the vital Le Mans rituals for the first time in 2013, the consumption of the
sandwich Americaine merguez! And jolly good it was too..
If my memory serves me right, there was a session
for the Ferrari Challenge in between the free practice and qualifying sessions
and although I had no real interest in this, I must admit that the
cars were more entertaining than some of the supports that we've seen in the past. After that
we made our way up to Indianapolis as the sun was finally replaced by the moon,
ready for the start of the session.
We spent most of the session watching from the
furthest corner that spectators can reach at Indianapolis, pleased that the
viewing there seemed to have been increased for the first time since they
enlarged the gravel trap. I took a lot of photos there, but as is always
the way with Le Mans at night, particularly when shooting through thick debris
fencing, not as many were 'salvageable' as I might have hoped.....
The session was eventually red-flagged at about
11.10 when the Thirier car had a major shunt. We all waited for half an
hour or so, not knowing if the session would be started again, but then the
announcement finally came through on Radio Le Mans that the session would not be
restarted. So at about ten to midnight we left Arnage and headed back to
the car and the hotel, getting back about twenty past.
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