Lucus Luhr Captures LMP2 Pole for Porsche RS Spyder

Lucus Luhr Captures LMP2 Pole for Porsche RS Spyder

Posted: July 15th, 2006 in American Le Mans
Author: Penske Racing
Photo By: Joe Martin

For the third time since the debut of the Penske Porsche RS Spyder last year at Laguna Seca Raceway, Lucas Luhr, from Monaco, has earned the LMP2 class pole for Saturday’s Utah Grand Prix. It marks the sixth time the RS Spyder has taken the LMP2 pole in its six-race history.

Luhr, a two-time American Le Mans Series GT2 champion, is only five points out of the LMP2 Drivers Championship lead with co-driver Sascha Maassen, and feels comfortable at the challenging new 23-turn circuit.

“The track is not easy, but it’s a wonderful design and enjoyable to drive. We tested here last month for two days, and had so many problems that we were afraid to come back for the race, but all the problems have been resolved, and we have run well all week,” said Luhr, whose two previous RS Spyder poles were at Laguna Seca (’05) and Sebring this past March.

Timo Bernhard, from Germany, who will co-drive the other Porsche RS Spyder with Romain Dumas from France, was faster in qualifying until the last lap in the session, when Lucas turned his polesitting time. Bernhard and Dumas have won the LMP2 class at the last two American Le Mans Series events, including an overall win in May at Mid-Ohio. The Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 prototypes were fourth and fifth overall, behind three LMP1 racers, the two Audis and an AER/Lola.