Le Mans 2012 - Ayse's Story
Page 21 - Sunday
Back to the Garages and the Run-In Begins
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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