Rollcentre Racing Dallara Judd LMP by Spirit

The Dallara LMP was originally designed for the Le Mans Chrysler programme looked after by Oreca but was put on the shelf after 2002 when Judds replaced the American V8s despite a 5th place behind the three audis and a Bentley. In 2004 there would be two versions of the Dallara Judd LMP and the announcement of the entry of the Dallara Judd with the tiny British team Rollcentre Racing was a surprise and the performance up till Le Mans would impressed everyone. The Rollcentre Racing's line-up was Rod Barff, Joao Barbosa and Martin Short and they finished 5th in the Sebring 12 Hours in March, a performance that would stand it in good stead for Le Mans.

Rob Barff, Dallara Judd LMP

Martin Short had bought two cars from Oreca and thus had a good supply of spare parts. The original model was not modified apart from the rear wing which was linked to the body- work Audi style (something Spirit forgot on their model). The Dallara Judd LMP qualified 9th on the grid in 3m 39.260 secs with Barbosa behind the wheel in his Le Mans debut. The Dallara Judd quickly went up to 7th place on the first couple of laps and continued its steady progress and went up to 5th place despite a puncture in the fifth hour. In Tertre Rouge at 06h55 a Pescarolo with Sebastian Bourdais was so close behind Martin Short in the Dallara that they hit each other and sent the Dallara in a spin off into the gravel. It didn't look too serious as Martin Short managed to get the car back on the track within minutes. On lap 230 at 07h20 Martin Short's Dallara hit the wall in the Karting section when the left-hand rear suspension collapsed. It had been damaged in the collision with the Pescarolo. The tiny British team was very disappointed as a 4th place was in the reach.

Hour by hour: Start - 9th 1h - 6th 2h - 5th 3h - 5th 4h - 5th 5h - 5th 6h - 4th 7h - 4th 8h - 4th 9h - 4th 10h - 4th 11h - 4th 12h - 4th 13h - 4th 14h - 4th 15h - 4th 16h - 7th 17h - 18h - 19h - 20h - 21h - 22h - 23h - 24h -