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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
No-one said that motoring racing should be easy, but…
Racing driver Amanda Stretton’s first taste of Le Mans from behind the wheel left her exhilarated, exhausted, frustrated, terrified and ecstatic in more or less equal measures.
It was not the easiest of race weekends for the privately-run Chamberlain-Synergy Lola team. Things started to go wrong in qualifying, when engine troubles threatened to put them out of the race before the famous 24 Hours had even begun.
A further engine rebuild in the pits at least ensured that Amanda, along with husband Bob Berridge and co-driver Gareth Evans were able to take their place on the grid, but their troubles were far from over.
A front puncture in the first few hours of the race dropped the car, then driven by Bob, towards the back of the field, but worse was to come shortly after Amanda took her first stint behind the wheel.
“My aim was to become the first British woman in modern times to compete at Le Mans in the top class and I achieved that… just. I’d only just left the pits when the car suddenly swapped ends at the Esses just after Dunlop Curves, the second corner I came to,” said Amanda.
In the spin, Amanda clobbered the barrier and damaged the car. But she was not about to give up.
“We’d packed a primitive tool kit in the car – a screwdriver, tie wraps, ratchet straps, pliers and tape – and with team members shouting instructions from behind the barrier, I was able to lever the damaged front wheel up out of the way and eventually drive the length of the circuit back to the pits for repairs.
“So with night falling, the bulk of my first racing lap at Le Mans was spent driving a three-wheeler and having to keep the speed up above 100km/h to ensure the engine didn’t overheat.”
Amanda’s efforts, which earned the praise of team manager Hugh Chamberlain, meant the team was able to rejoin the race after crash and further engine repairs, albeit more than an hour down on the nearest competitor.
Alas it was not to last. Although Amanda did get out in the car again – just before midnight almost nine hours into the race – the engine maladies finally side-lined the car for good soon after.
“While it was tremendously exciting being there, it was a deeply frustrating experience. As far as I am concerned, Le Mans is unfinished business,” she said.
One good thing did come out of the weekend, however. As well as being the first husband and wife team to compete together at the famous race, despite it all Bob and Amanda are still talking.
ONE STEP CLOSER
Amanda Stretton has moved one step closer to achieving her goal of becoming the first British woman in modern times to compete in the top class at the famous Le Mans 24 Hour race by successfully completing an official test at the French circuit at the weekend.
In simply atrocious conditions, Amanda drove the privately-run Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport Lola prototype racer at the daunting 13.65kms circuit, prior to the 24 Hours itself in two weeks time (14-15 June). Although the 34-year-old mother of two is no stranger to Le Mans - she has commentated on the event for television many times in the past - this is the first time she has raced there.
”Flash flooding meant conditions were so bad that many cars - and some fancied drivers - were spinning off in every direction. As I was learning the circuit as well as shaking down the car, I was very cautious during my first few laps,” said Amanda. “But after completing the ten laps required of all drivers starting their first Le Mans, I was able to go out on a drying track and discover more about the circuit and the car.”
A few technical niggles - including the failure of a wheel speed sensor which triggered the traction control system all the way down the fast Mulsanne Straight - and a return of heavy rain meant no meaningful lap times were recorded. Nevertheless the extended session boosted Amanda’s confidence for the 24 Hours. “I can’t wait for the race weekend: I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.
Amanda will be joining husband Bob Berridge (it is thought they are the first married couple ever to have raced at Le Mans) and Bob’s regular team-mate Garath Evans in the 1,000bhp 4.0-litre twin turbocharged Lola. The car competes in the top LMP1 class, competing with the might of works cars from major manufacturers such as Peugeot and Audi. Berridge and Evans are old hands at Le Mans, having competed together there since 2004. But while Amanda might be new to the Le Mans, she is no stranger to the top step on the motor racing podium.
In 2003, she won her GTC class at the 1000kms of Spa in Belgium at the wheel of a Porsche. In so doing, she became the first British woman to win an international long distance sports car event. Although this is her first race in the Lola, she has driven the car in private testing in the UK and during the official Le Mans Series test at the Paul Ricard circuit in March.
For more information, please contact Ghislain@panic-uk.com Ghislain Pascal at Panic +44 7778 788735
AMANDA STRETTON TO BECOME FIRST BRITISH WOMAN
TO RACE LE MANS IN LM P1 CLASS
Fearless mum of two, TV presenter and racing driver Amanda Stretton has announced that she is to race in the 24 Hour Le Mans 2008 and will make history on three counts. She will be the first British woman to ever compete in this top category of the prestigious event – the LM P1 Class; be the first British woman to compete at Le Mans in ‘modern’ times; and be part of the first known husband and wife team to race as she will be partnered by her husband Bob Berridge.
Amanda will be racing in a Lola chassied car with an AER engine. Her first official test will be at Bernie Ecclestone’s track at Paul Ricard, France on 2/3 March, followed by the first race at Monza, Italy on 26/27 April, with Le Mans on 14/15 June.
Amanda has set many records: becoming the first ever female driver to compete in the ASCAR (Anglo-American Stock Car Racing) Mintex Cup 2001, achieving 6th position; competing in the British GT Championships 2003 in the first ever all female team; and in racing and winning an International Sportscar event in the FIA GT Championships 2003 as the first ever British female driver.
Whilst women have been pushing back the boundaries in sport Ellen McCarthur, Tracy Edwards and Emma Richards in yachting ; and Paula Radcliffe in marathon running, motor racing remains the last bastion of unchallenged male dominance.
The 24 hour Le Mans race is without doubt one of the greatest motor races in the world. Where ‘man’ and machine are put to the ultimate test of endurance, stamina and reliability, competing on the most challenging and evocative tracks in the history of motor racing.
As well as racing Amanda is a successful television presenter with many credits to her name including: Goodwood Festival of Speed (ITV1), Goodwood Revival (ITV1), Grand Prix Masters (Sky Sports), Race of Champions (Sky Sports), Dream Machines (FIVE), Wrecks To Riches (Discovery), and 'Motorsport on 4' (Ch 4).
