As a preface to this post, I'd like to mention that the Silverstone event was no normal event like Monza or Misano. To mark the 60th anniversary of Ferrari's inception Ferrari GB/UK organized the Ferrari Race Days, which comprised of various activities and parades to celebrate Ferrari's new and old alike. The main attractions were the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli (Europa), Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Coppa Shell (Europa), the F1, FXX and Vintage Clienti as well as the Guinness world record of the largest Ferrari parade - which comprised of a staggering 385 Ferrari's, new and old. To add to all this excitement, Bruno Senna - nephew to the late, great Ayrton Senna - was battling it out in the Trofeo Pirelli as a guest entrant.
With all this excitement going on us fans were quite distracted. Furthermore, Silverstone being a colossus of a circuit, getting the even bigger fan base to good locations with only 2 scooters at our disposition wasn't an easy task! Needless to say we had a great weekend and although certain mishaps for the Bullish Racing - ACM cars in the races followed by fallouts with the race stewards we had a great weekend! Thanks again to the whole Bullish Racing - ACM team, from the motorhome attendants to the mechanics. Sempre Rosso!!
Team changing Ange's Tyres during Q2.
Watching the team work a pit stop is an event in itself!
Eric, mentally preparing himself for Q2 - seen here talking to BR-ACM's Telemetry expert - Fred.
Tapani documenting Eric's inspirational words, Lloyd in the background also getting ready.
Earplugs (earphone), Balaclava, HANS device and helmet is everything a driver has to put on his head before getting into the car. Safety first!
Eric in his car, ready for Q2.
Lloyd getting into his car.
Pitlane, before Race 1, last minute checks before a warmup lap and grid placements.
Eric in action.
Eric's new logo - ELM.
Lloyd was caught catching some Z's and some sun in between Q2 and Race 1. unusual place to sleep!
Bruno Senna Exiting the pits.
Eric in front of one of only 39 250 GTO's ever built. many beleive that this Scaglietti designed Ferrari is the most beautiful ever built. One of these fetched $15million in an auction in the early nineties.. all we know is she's a beauty!
A sea of Maranello beasts!
Even more!
Lloyd battling it out in Race 1.
107 exiting a corner.
Start of Ange's first race. Having had a good start our enthusiasm was short lived.
Having been blatantly harpooned by Nathan Kinch - whom subsequently said he'd pay for the damage, but never lived up to his word - Ange's car came back to home base in very bad state.
Mechanics and Gerard assessing the extensive damage to Ange's car.
Mechanics frantically working to fix the car, they all stayed up till 2.30 am. prepping Ange's car for Race 2 the next day! BRAVO!
Visibly Ange's whole left rear side was demolished, suspension struts were gone, fairings teared off, even the chassis was hit. This needed a thorough and extensive overhaul of the car.
Ange's forged Aluminum wheel mount totally demolished. This attests to the violence of the impact.
The impact was such that the Carbon ceramic disc brake exploded, puncturing the magnesium rim. wow!
Eric with his No.1 fan before race 1. Eric started 22nd and finished 24th after having spun 3 times. Lloyd stared 14th and climbed 5 places to 9th!
The Ferrari Parade - 385 of them!
Ange's Podium (race 2). While Senna finished first, he isn't in contention for the championship so the podium was: Piccini - Ange Barde - Cullen.
To us fans on the start finish straight, the last lap was action packed, but seemingly without incident. Think again! Ange gave it his all, and while his overtaking manouver didn't pan out, he was lucky to even get across the line at all!
How the tire didn't deflate is a mystery to all of us!
All's well that ends well. After a hard weekend for the whole team, Ange's second place was largely welcomed! Moments later ange chased Gerard down half the pitlane with the champagne bottle!
Ange Barde and Bruno Senna.
Eric being his usual self!
Eric and Lloyd practicing some Thai Kick Boxing moves in the motor home, that's how they deal with pre-race stress!
Eric and his posse!
Eric in his car, on the grid for race 2.
Eric.. and one of our hostesses...
Henri admiring the starting grid. Lloyd started 5th and Eric 24th. After 5 laps - while he was 17th - Eric's wheel bearing failed, he was forced to retire. Lloyd finished a brilliant 2nd, but was sanctioned for supposedly hitting another driver. His final classification was 6th. We were so disappointed!
ACM!!!
