EXCERPT: 'A Big Ask' - Qualifying

Wednesday, 14 December 2016


RACER Staff / Image by LAT In "A Big Ask: The Story of Ford's Triumphant Return to Le Mans," author David Phillips chronicles Ford's return to Le Mans 50 years after Henry Ford II opened the Ford Motor Company's checkbook to defeat bitter rival Ferrari.
They partnered with Chip Ganassi Racing, six-time winners of the 24 Hours of Daytona and America's most successful racing team, Multimatic Engineering, among the world's leading automotive engineering and manufacturing firms, and a host of world-class suppliers in an effort to win the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In this week's excerpt, one of Ford's biggest moments has arrived: qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
More from 'A Big Ask'

As (Ryan) Briscoe pitted to turn the car over to (Richard) Westbrook, (Dirk) Müller was replacing (Joey) Hand behind the wheel of the #68 Ford GT. He took to the track on fresh tires, a low fuel load and with pressure starting to mount. After all, stymied by traffic, yellows and the red flag, Hand had been unable to get out of the 3:55s.
"We decided to put on another set of tires at the end, hoping and anticipating rain for Thursday and saying, 'OK we can use this extra set of tires and we won't shoot ourselves in the foot for
the race,'" said (race engineer John) Hennek.
"Dirk went out and didn't seem to be going anywhere and I was starting to get concerned. (Team manager) Mike (O'Gara) was not concerned. He was saying, 'OK it's all about getting the lap.' And it probably was true – not just for us but for everybody. It's such a long lap, and you have to be fortunate not to get any local yellows, you don't get traffic – there's so many things happening that unfortunately it's not down to car setup so much as it is getting the clear lap and can the driver do it on the lap.
"I didn't think it was going to happen. For two or three laps we kept getting guys in the Porsche Curves. You're looking and trying to tell him where traffic is, but it's impossible on an eight-mile track with people coming and going, to say, 'OK let's send him out here – there's a gap.' It really comes down to a bit of luck on getting the clear lap."
An out lap, a flying lap and traffic; a second flying lap, more traffic in the Porsche Curves. Then with ten minutes to go Müller got the lap: Every braking zone perfect, every apex nailed, no mistakes, no traffic and even a brief tow from an LMP1 car on the straight. The result? 3:51.185.
"I was a little under pressure," Müller said. "Joey kept getting his laps interrupted and we'd used one of set of tires for qualifying. Then I saw Ryan's time and I said, 'Oh my God. My teammate just got the pole.'
"The car felt good on the out lap and then I did a good flying lap but ran into traffic and did a 52.4. 'OK,' I said, 'be patient.' The next lap was good too, but I hit more traffic in the Porsche Curves and it was 51.7. The last lap there were cars in front, cars in back but I had a clear lap and I just got it. Really it was just coincidence that it was the last lap. I could have been quicker on the laps before but I ran into traffic ... So now we do a rain dance for tomorrow night?!?!"

"A Big Ask: The Story of Ford's Triumphant Return to Le Mans" can be purchased directly through the publisher by clicking here. To pre-order "A Big Ask" on Amazon, please click here.