Marino thrilled at Le Mans performance even although car problems forced his team to quit

Jun 25 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

MARINO Franchitti insists he is thrilled with how his car performed at rain-lashed Le Mans last week despite spluttering out of contention half an hour from the end.

The Bathgate bullet was racing for Drayson Racing in the gruelling 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race when engine trouble finally forced the team out of the chase.

Paul Drayson, Jonny Cocker and Marino shared driving duties in a luxurious Aston Martin Vantage GT2 after just one day’s preparation in the new machine.

In the build up to the race the trio spent six hours behind the wheel in a non-stop practice session.

Jonny Cocker, Paul Drayson’s regular co-driver in the LMS Series, was selected to set the qualifying time at the throttle of the Drayson Racing Vantage and the managed a 4:06.482 around the 13.629km track — placing the team ninth in the 17 strong GT2 class.

Cocker was behind the wheel for the opening stint with Paul up next and Marino completing the driver rotation which saw each driver single stinting until darkness in their 13-lap, approximately 55 minute stints.

The car was running consistently until a stop just after 3am to fix an alternator problem.

However, nearly 10 hours later and just two hours from the end of the race, it was to be another alternator problem that left Jonny Cocker stranded beside the track with total loss of power and a final abandonment half an hour later with the race so close to its finish.

But Marino reckoned the race was a great experience and he was proud to have had some members of his family amongst the crowd.

“It was amazing to be back competing at Le Mans and although we came up just short of our ultimate goal, it was a very strong performance by the whole team ,” said Marino after the race.

“I have to thank everyone at Drayson racing for the fantastic welcome they gave me and also Dyson Racing and Mazda for giving their blessing to compete in this great race.”