For this race, team regulars, Mitch and
Alan Bonner and joined by Pete James who has previously raced the LMGT,
while Joe Tuckey brings his wealth of Silverstone knowledge to the
team for the first time.
JOE TUCKEY COMES HOME FOR THE NIGHT - Photo used with permission
The Corvette has undergone recent
extensive work, with engine development finding a lot more horses to
play with, while yet more carbon now adorns the car, so it's faster
and leaner and with the new paint work, it's a stunning sight and
sound.
THE CREW GET STUCK IN - Photo used with permission
The team took to the track at lunch
time Friday and came home with an 11th place on the grid out of 52
starters and both Mitch and Alan thought the car had more to offer and
was now a totally different package.
OUT INTO THE TOP 10 - Photo used with permission
As darkness fell around the Northamptonshire
circuit, the air was already full of the smell of barbeques thanks to
the late Indian Summer's evening, highlighting that the circuit was
already filling fast for the ever popular race.
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR - Photo used with permission
Pete James was first out in the car
and sat as high as 7th in the early part of the session. With all four
drivers having to complete a mandatory number of night laps, Alan
followed by Mitch and finally Joe, took turns to tick off the laps
during the first hour.
BRIAN JONES DIGS DEEP - Photo used with permission
The pack soon settled into a familiar
order with the Mosler of Sean McInerney
seemingly out in a league of it's own at this stage, however, under 4
seconds covered the chasing pack of a dozen or more cars, with the
Corvette holding station in 11th once again.
24 HOUR OFFICE - Photo used with permission
In the final quarter of the first
hour, it was clear that Joe was getting to grips with the C5 as he
first moved to 10th and then into 9th with some impressive laps.
Xero
Competition opted not to
take advantage of the second hour with little to gain, so at just
after 9pm, the Corvette was wheeled back into the pit for the night
shift to set about their data and mechanical checks.
THE CREW SECRETLY BETTING? - Photo used with permission
The race gets underway at
4.30pm on Saturday and with the likes of former Le Mans winner Andy
Wallace, Lawrence Tomlinson, Michael Caine, Mark Sumpter and the afore
mentioned Sean McInerney, not to mention the 51 other cars, many with
novice drivers behind the wheel, there is no question that this will
be a hard race in every sense of the word, but there will be few teams
as well prepped as Dave Beecroft's Xero
Competition, so a solid and safe run could well be rewarded come
the flag at 4.30pm on Sunday.
ALL ACTION PIT - Photo used with permission
Join us throughout the weekend for up
dates from the circuit and if you can't make it to Silverstone, you
can also catch live action images on Rapid
TV.
READY FOR ACTION - Photo used with permission
MITCH SEES THE BRIGHT SIDE - Photo used with permission
INTO THE NIGHT - Photo used with permission
ALAN BONNER READY FOR ACTION - Photo used with permission
DOING THE BUMP - Photo used with permission
FEELING THE PULSE - Photo used with permission
SEXY LINES - Photo used with permission
SCOTLAND THE BRAVE - Photo used with permission
THE BOSS'S VIEW - Photo used with permission
HOMEWORK - Photo used with permission
DRIVERS BRIEFING - Photo used with permission
MONSTER LS - Photo used with permission
