Smith fails to add to Le Mans record

Guy Smith endured a disappointing run in the Le Mans 24 Hours last weekend after the Quifel-ASM team was forced to retire from the La Sarthe Classic.

Smith began the race from fifth place in LMP2 but lost 30mins in the opening hour when the Portuguese team was forced to repair a broken fuel line.

Guy resumed in 53rd position overall, 11th in class, but with just over three hours on the clock, co-driver Miguel Paes do Amaral crashed off at Arnage causing extensive right front corner damage which could not be repaired.

"Some braking issues had started during the warm-up on race morning,"? Smith reflected. "We fitted new brakes for the race but something wasn't quite right. I encountered a fuel problem early on and with that repaired, was running well apart from a lack of straight-line speed.

"Miguel took over from me but went off the track, got going again only to immediately 'lock-up' under braking again and hit the barriers hard. He managed to get the car back to the pits but the damage was too extensive."

Smith will now return to his regular drive in the American Le Mans Series and he admitted he would like the chance to contest the Le Mans event with his regular team

"Perhaps the team that I race for in the American Le Mans Series, Dyson, will come over with it's Lola-Mazda team," he said.

Smith currently lies second in the LMP2 standings in the ALMS after three podium finishes from the first four races.