Nasamax shows improved performance.

The 'green fuel' Nasamax team had something to prove in Thursday's final qualifying sessions for the Le Mans 24 Hours, having suffered gear ratio problems and a misfire in the two Wednesday sessions.

Fears surrounding heavy rainstorms proved to be unfounded as, after a couple of showers in the afternoon, the evening stayed dry and allowed times to tumble. The British Nasamax team was not really looking for fast times, but was more concerned with getting into the 48-car field and working on its race set-up.

Canadian driver Robbie Stirling was first out at the green flag, eager to qualify as he had yet to do so after the opening night, and his first two full laps were in the 3min 52secs bracket, guaranteeing him a part in the French classic. Stirling eventually handed over to newcomer Kevin McGarrity during a fuel and tyre stop, which also allowed the team a pit-stop rehearsal.

"We have as much power as the faster cars down the straights," the Canadian reported, beaming with satisfaction at the performance.

Former works MG driver McGarrity revealed a return of gear selection problems when he brought the car back to the weighbridge, which was now becoming a favourite haunt of the car, and, over the radio, sought team manager John McNeil's advice about gear selection to get the car back to the garage at the far end of the pit-lane.

With the paddle shift system, the driver cannot select neutral manually and then a gear, and the team had to remove the gearshift solenoid, which was leaking and causing the selection problems. This repair allowed time for discussion between McNeil, chief engineer Brian Ireland and the drivers about the balance of the car and the choice and pressures of its Dunlop tyres. A new set-up was generated, with the addition of a gurney flap on the rear wing to give more downforce.

"It's fine on the straights, but we've got to be okay with the balance as well," Stirling explained later.

During the various work stoppages, the car dropped to 17th place on the timesheets, now headed by David Brabham's Zytek - another chassis designed by Nasamax chassis man Kieron Salter.

At 2045hrs, McGarrity rejoined the track for two flying laps in the Judd-powered car, and set a new mark of 3min 44.379secs, taking the N139 back to 14th place again, and leaving the team somewhat happier.

"We are on old race tyres," McNeil revealed, "If only we could run undisturbed, we can find more. It's already six seconds quicker than we were at the test weekend, which has got to be good."

McGarrity was also happier.

"It's our first proper run, and it's now going well, heading in the right direction," the Irishman reported, "That's an okay time on old race rubber. There was a lot of traffic, but then it is Le Mans..."

The plan was now to run a full second session and see what could be done about improving time, position and race set-up.

Although 19 minutes were lost waiting for the gearshift box to be returned from its rebuild, the car left the pits with Werner Lupberger at the wheel, immediately setting a time of 3min 43.597secs. The South African returned for new tyres and, again, a couple of laps later for more new tyres and fuel, as the team worked on the balance.

A new fastest time of 3min 42.429secs followed as the set-up improved, confirming the car in 14th.

"It's very dirty out there, with lots of gravel where people have gone off," Lupberger reported, "It's now getting cleaner, and we know we have more potential - and so has the car. I think we can do a 3min 40. Kevin's been great, consistent and good with the set-up - he's brought a lot to the team and we're all pushing each other."

With an hour of the final session to run, McGarrity took the wheel from the South African, the car was refuelled and left on a new set of tyres. Sixteen minutes later, a top speed of 308.50kph was recorded past the pits.

Stirling was back in the car for the final stint, with more fuel and new rubber, and reported that the car was much better balanced. after an evening of steady progress once the gremlins had been banished.

"We all agree there should be a 3min 39 in the car, but it's not possible to do that in the dark," McNeil remarked, "We're happy enough with the way it turned out and the car appears to be nicely set for the race."