The 2008 Season of the Le Mans Series kicked off perfectly for the #72 car of Luc Alphand Aventures. Clear skys welcomed a grid of 47 cars at the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona.

Moreau posted the fastest time in his C6R during the final free practice session ahead of qualifying but then missed out on class pole by just four hundredths of a second to the Aston Martin of Antonio Garcia. On Sunday, Moreau had the heavy responsibility of starting the race. The Corvette C6.R was still shod with the tyres used in qualifying and proved difficult to handle.

 

In the early laps Antonio Garcia led the class and was the quickest GT1 car on the circuit, and the team recovered from an early delay to close in with the #72 C6R and was second at the halfway point in the six-hour race. However later on the DBR9 was plagued with techincal problems which ultimately ended their hopes for a win.

“It was very frustrating, if we had no problems then we could have fought for the GT1 win, the Corvette was very quick but we were going well early in the race.” -Team Modena

The other competitors had mixed results as well. The biggest chargeback had to be the Larbre Saleen that started in last place and staged an amazing comeback to finish only 2 laps behind the 1st place C6R. Due to engine woes the team was unable to fully participate in practice or Saturday (thus resulting in the grid order).

Christophe Bouchut immediately began the task of charging through the field to make up time lost on the grid. As early as lap 17 he was 31st, passing all the GT2 cars and was up to the GT1 class podium places by lap 28, having overtaken the #73 C6R and the Lamborghini. After a long safety car period the larbre saleen was forced back a lap and in 4th place.

Frederic Makowiecki later reeled in and re-passed, the IPB Lamborghini for third. The retirement of the Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9 promoted Makowiecki to second. Despite this and then Bouchut’s best efforts in the closing stages, the class winning no.72 Luc Alphand Adventures Corvette C6.R was just too far ahead to catch and ultimately won the race in spectacular fashion (a debut win for their new 003 chassis).




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