24 Hours Of Le Mans 2022 - What a Week (Part 1)
Channel: Sophia Floersch
Date: 2022-06-22

I competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Portuguese structure alongside Jack Aitken (UK) and John Falb (USA) in the #47 Oreca used by ALGARVE PRO RACING TEAM. On the very best track of the world, I was hoping for a podium or even a win in the LMP2 Pro-Am class.

Unfortunately, everything changed already at the start.

On the approach to the flying start, my gearbox got stuck in first gear, which is why I had to abort the race start in the starting phase and the entire field passed by. 

In a radio exchange with my team, I was told to stop and restart the car. My display showed N (Neutral), although 1st gear was engaged. At around 80 km/h I rolled around the 13,626 km long track to get back into the pits. For what felt like an eternity. My crew then quickly found the issue in the pits. A sensor in the switching hydraulics got overheated and failed as a consequence. The change costed us more time. By the time I was able to resume the race, we had lost six laps, or about 15 minutes, to the entire field.

Out of the 81 drivers who competed in the LMP2 class, I set the 17th fastest time in LMP2. It was a 3'32"664 achieved in the race. At the time of the lap it was even the tenth fastest LMP2 lap. This performance matches that of PLATINUM driver and is even significantly better than others PLATINUM or GOLD rated pilots. Only two silver drivers of PREMA and WRT were better in the race, all also in 3:32 minutes .

My team with Jack Aitken and John Falb drove great. We were the fastest LMP2 ProAm and - unfortunately subjunctive - would have won the class with a lap lead. But it was not meant to be.

The boys were incredibly motivated and pushed despite the obviously hopeless situation. We made good laps after laps. But it was easy to see that if nothing big happened, it wouldn't be enough for a podium. Psychologically, it's not easy, I can tell you. 

Regardless of the technical problem, my team did a perfect job. We had a super fast race car. Thanks to the whole APR crew: Stewart, Sam, David, Felix and all the engineers and mechanics. But the men and women behind the scenes who look after us drivers: 1000 thanks! 

Our race lasted 24:04:43.281 for 361 laps = 4,918.986 km. We completed the fastest lap with an average speed of 231.8 kmh. My driving time in the 24H was just under 9 hours. At the limit.

Part 2 of the vlog will be published next Sunday.

Sophias merchandising SOP can be found at www.sophia-floersch.de.

www.europeanlemansseries.com
https://www.24h-lemans.com/en
www.algarveproracingteam.com
www.eila.de
www.hrxtech.eu
www.bellhelmets.com

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Thanks for watching!! xxx
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SOPHIA 
www.sophia-floersch.de

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Filmed & edited by JanBeyer 🎥🎥 

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