Doha 8 hour World Endurance, Qatar
Racing in the desert for the first time Simon Andrews joined James Hutchins and Gary Mason competing for the 666 Diablo Bollinger Team contesting the last round of the World Endurance Series at Qatar in the Doha 8 hour World Endurance.
Having had several days to acclimatise, including sand storms and extreme heat, the teams expectations after the first practice session were set high. Preparing for qualifying included racing both day and night sessions, it became clear that the team worked well together and as the speeds increased the laps became faster and expectations rose. Combined qualifying of the three riders placed the team into seventh place for the start of the race where the riders had to run across the track to their bikes.
After the first half an hour of racing the team had propelled its way into the number one position and began to settle into a long hard day. A water pipe supplying rehydrating fluids to Simon through his helmet burst which made visibility difficult, but by the first timing point on the hour the team had secured fourth place and had broken away from the rest of the field with the leaders. For the next two hours the team stayed in this position until the third timing point when the pit crew confirmed that they were racing at almost two seconds a lap faster than the other leading teams with the forecast of a podium position becoming a real possibility.
At three hours and thirty-seven minutes, almost halfway through the race and having completed 101 laps, a problem occurred forcing Simon to return to the pits where the disappointing news from the crew chief was that the team would have no option but to retire. Disappointed but not disheartened Simon and the 666 Diablo Bollinger Team gave a tremendous account of themselves and the racing order had been changed for the first half hour of the 2008 Qatar World Endurance, a great experience for the riders also a great feeling for Simon to be back at the top of the time sheets even if was only for a few laps.
Brochure.pdf
Timing sheets from the Doha 8 hour World Endruance
http://www.si-andrews.com/heure1.pdf
http://www.si-andrews.com/heure2.pdf
http://www.si-andrews.com/heure3.pdf
http://www.si-andrews.com/heure4.pdf
Full Race report tba.
Knee repair at the rear of my knee that was broken and required cutting out!
Down load the Doha Poster.
http://www.si-andrews.com/Brochure.pdf