MINI at Nürburgring 24 updates - 2011

147 is back on the track so both endurance Coupes are still in it. I saw a short interview with the guy in charge of the effort prior to the race. Asked about the team's goals he said to have both cars running at the end. He never wavered on the more hopeful side and kept up the mantra that the goal is to have both cars finish. Even that would be an excellent result for an untried car. It also felt like he was talking about the sort of conservative goal you set in the first year of an ongoing effort (he writes, hopefully). :wink:

 

MINI Motorsport's explanation of what happened to 147 a few hours ago:

"Frightening moment for Harald Hennes as he skids on a patch of fuel, goes off the track and crashes into a pile of tyres. MINI #147 needs to be towed back to the pits."

As mentioned above, it's running again:

"The damaged MINI #147 has been repaired and is back on the track. Now it's Nico Bastian's turn. The driver's first feedback is promising."

 

The video feed isn't much to see at night. Thank goodness for the great commentary from RadioLeMans. They seem to have few cameras running and most of the coverage lately other than occasional interviews (in German) is a stationary cam view down in the pits. Fortunately, the cam is pointed almost directly at the MINI pits. I've been just listening because of the lack of good coverage but happened to sit down to check in at just the right time to watch the 146, 147 and (I think) the 153 or 154 come and go all within about a minute.

There's the 147 just getting back underway.

 

Latest update from MINI Motorsport:

 

MINI Motorsport again:

 

If you're not following along elsewhere, here's the latest big news. The 152 Schirra entry MINI has apparently burnt to a crisp. Described as "an absolute conflagration" and "nothing left of it" so it's definitely out. No idea what caused it.

 

146 still 64th after 52 laps
147 up to 176th on 30 laps

 

146 is up to 4th in the class (don't know where it stands overall at the moment) behind an Impreza WRX (1st) and 2 Audi TTs (3rd & 4th).

It's approaching 4am over there. The RadioLeMans announcers are getting tired and between their waning commentary and nothing much to see in the dark, entertainment and good info are both becoming quite sparse.....

 

MINI Motorsport:

I also spotted the 147 in and out of the pits fairly recently so it seems they're both still running well.

 

Yup, and the 146 got to 47th overall before just recently coming down with some sort of engine trouble. Looking for more details.

 

MINI Motorsports:

 

Both are still running but they've also both dropped back...

 

I'm used to watching races that are basically sprints compared to this. Interesting that even though I know how far back the Coupes are at this point, when I see them still out pounding around the track moving fast more than 16 hours along I don't care how far back they are! And I just watched one of them pass an Aston Martin Zagato! Granted, the Zagato isn't in great shape, but it still makes me smile.