Not good news[
] Below is an update from Russ Brown.......
Oh dear! We've been here before and it's bad news on day two, I'm sorry to report. Having retired with the Cobra in the lead in 2008 and in 2010, today brings more of the same with a suspension collapse forcing the boys to retire in the lead yet again and much earlier than on the other occasions. They are both OK and the car will fight another day.
The suspension caved on the morning stage - a 7.8Km route from Darnac to Miaumande - just South East of Poitiers. Winding through tight country lanes at high speed the front wishbone snapped in two places. Shaun held it together and it's being recovered from the roadside. There are a couple of photos attached. Ouch!
In other news the winner of the morning stage was the AC Cobra of Ludovic Caron and our old friend Richard Mille finished the morning stage in 40th place - 1 minute and 9 seconds behind Caron.
That puts the new standings as follows:
1 - Ludovic Caron in the AC Cobra (France)
2 - Jean Pierre Lajournade in the Lotus Elan (France)
3 - Jose Manuel Albuquerque in the Ford GT 40 (Portugal)
With no Brits in contention and none in the top 20 it's most likely to be a local winner this year. I won't send you the daily updates but you can still follow the action on Sky and on YouTube each evening and there will be new photos and reports each day on the Tour Auto website.
I hope you have all enjoyed my little updates. I know that many of you will be at Goodwood this year for the Festival of Speed (July 1st-3rd) and the Revival (September 16th-18th). I'm sure that Shaun, Kevin and 644 CGT will all be there so pop by and say hello. You would all be very welcome. For anybody planning a trip to Le Mans this year for the 24hr race you might also get to see Shaun and Kevin go head to head in the Classics warm-up race just before the main event starts on June 11th. Let us know if you are going to be there.
Russ