Lucas crosses the finish line

With GT Academy winner Lucas Ordóñez behind the wheel, the Nissan PlayStation Racing Team’s Nissan 350Z GT4 crossed the finish line of the TOYO Tires 24h of Dubai endurance race to a rapturous reception. The team finished 45th overall and ninth in its class, completing 451 laps and covering a distance of 2431km.

Their placing fails to reflect stunning performances from drivers and pit-crew alike amidst frustrating mechanical difficulties that forced the car into the pits 21 times. During the course of the race they used 1,170 litres of fuel and 30 sets of tyres. The top speed achieved by the car was 150mph and Alex Buncombe recorded the quickest lap at 2:10:04 minutes. The fastest driver changeover and refuel was achieved in an incredible 56 seconds.

Land Motorsport 2 took first place overall, completing 573 laps; Al Faisal Racing 1 came in second and won the A5 class in which the Nissan PlayStation team competed; and Besaplast Racing Team claimed third place.

Lucas was clearly elated as he received pats on the back from his teammates and hugs from his family, who have travelled over from Spain and supported him throughout the race. “It was the most amazing feeling,” he beamed. “I saw all of my team climbing the barrier and cheering me on. It was the craziest feeling of my life.”

“This is a weekend of disappointments and great achievements,” declared Johnny Herbert. “Lucas did brilliantly, producing a mistake-free drive under big pressure. He has achieved everything we had hoped from him and proved that it is possible to make the transition from virtual racing to the real thing.

“It’s a shame about the mechanical problems, but they come with the job. Everyone wants a race without problems but these things rear their ugly head. I’ve been in races where we didn’t even make the finish line so at least we got there.”

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Lars offers insight from behind the scenes

What are your thoughts on the race so far?

It has been difficult; there are a lot of cars on the track and we have had problems with the steering and a punctured tyre. At the moment something has happened on the track; it must be a crash somewhere because the safety car is out and everyone has to drive slowly. I didn’t see what happened.

Have you been impressed with Lucas’s driving?

Yes, he is posting some fantastic times and coping well with the traffic, but it comes as no surprise to me because I know how good he is.

What have you been doing in the pit-lane to help out?

I’ve been sitting in the timing booth, recording Lucas’s lap times and reporting back to the mechanics. If a time is unusually slow it means that he has a problem and we need to find out what it is

It’s getting dark, does that present a new challenge for Lucas?

Night driving is different because you have bright lights approaching you from behind; it’s very difficult.

Is this the first endurance race you have been to?

I live in Bonn so I always try to see the endurance race at the Nürburgring. There’s a special atmosphere here in Dubai. It is very cold in Germany but here the sun is shining and everyone is having a great time.

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Mixed fortunes

A combination of solid driving and ill luck has left the Nissan PlayStation racing team with it all to do at the TOYO Tires 24h of Dubai endurance race. Rob Barff got off to a solid start, driving consistently to achieve lap times of around 2:12 minutes. Unfortunately, he was blighted by a freak incident early into his session and was forced to pull into the pit-lane with smoke billowing from his car.

“A piece of debris on the track popped up and damaged the power steering system,” explained Darren Cox, Interactive Marketing Manager of Nissan Europe. “It ruptured a joint and caused power steering fluid to pour onto the track; it also landed on the hot exhaust which explains all the smoke. We’ve repaired it but it has cost us ten laps, which is a blow as Rob was going so well out there.”

Once the fault had been repaired, Lucas got off to a flying start, completing one of his first laps in 2:14 minutes before settling into an impressive run of 2:15 minute postings. However, on lap 36 a puncture forced the Nissan 350Z GT4 into the pit-lane once again, although professional driving from Lucas and a tremendous effort from the pit team meant that the team lost less than a minute.

At time of writing, the Nissan PlayStation team is in 62nd place overall and 15th in their class, with Johnny Herbert currently behind the wheel. Before beginning his session, he said that a comeback was needed, but with Lucas driving so well and, hopefully, the misfortunes behind them, he is optimistic of finishing the race in a respectable position. Read more

The temperature rises

The heat is searing here in Dubai, with temperatures hitting 30 degrees Celsius trackside. The cars have all assembled on the starting grid for a parade and warm-up lap, with Rob Barff shouldering the responsibility of the first session.

“The hardest part is taking that first corner,” he said before climbing behind the wheel. “You have more than 80 cars vying for position, but after the first lap the quicker cars will pull away and you can settle into a rhythm.”

The team has decided to change drivers approximately every 90 minutes. GT Academy winner Lucas Ordóñez will drive the second session, with motoring legend Johnny Herbert taking the third. Lucas seemed relaxed as he answered questions for the media; many journalists have made the trip over from his native Spain, where his amazing story has captured the public's imagination.

With the start of the race rapidly approaching, look out for updates from the start of the TOYO tires 24h of Dubai endurance race and full interviews with members of the Nissan PlayStation racing team. Read more

GT Academy winners arrive in Dubai

Excitement is building for the TOYO tires 24h of Dubai endurance race, but not without a tinge of disappointment. To take a driver from novice to International license level in just three months was never going to be easy; Lars Schlömer faced additional challenges along the way and unfortunately has had to relinquish his seat in the Nissan 350Z GT4.

Illness forced him to miss vital training exercises such as the night race, leaving him with less experience than Lucas Ordóñez. This forced the team to make a tough decision.

Darren Cox, Interactive Marketing Manager of Nissan Europe said: “The Nissan PlayStation team have assessed the situation prior to Dubai and have made the decision that Lars is not quite ready to join the team on the track for the final race. We are proud of what he has achieved and look forward to working with him in 2009.”

Despite obvious disappointment, Lars is here in Dubai to support Lucas and the rest of the Nissan PlayStation team, and he remains a valued member of the team assisting with race strategy. Making it this far is an incredible achievement of which he and his family can be extremely proud. Read more