Le Mans 2013 - Ayse's Story
Page 6 - Wednesday (2)
First Qualifying - Now This is For Real.......
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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