16.04.2004  THE LAMBORGHINI MURCIELAGO R-GT ANNOUNCES ITS ARRIVAL IN SPORTSCAR RACING AS PETER KOX POSTS THE FASTEST TIME IN THE WET SECOND PRACTICE SESSION

Walter Lechner Jr set the fastest time during the first free practice session, with a lap of 1:48.069 in the nr 4 Konrad Motorsport Saleen S7, just 68 thousandths ahead of the nr 3 BMS Care Racing Ferrari 550 Maranello, with the nr 5 Vitaphone Saleen S7 third. 

The first session started off wet, and although the rain reduced to a very light drizzle and then stopped during the 90-minute session, the track remained quite damp. 

Times gradually improved, and towards the end of the session, the nr 29 Reiter Engineering Lamborghini Murciélago took to the track, after suffering from an oil problem early on, and proceeded to set the fifth fastest time, with Peter Kox at the wheel. 

It was raining hard by the time the second session started, and the rain continued throughout. 

However, an exciting session saw the Lamborghini Murcielago shine in the tricky conditions, going fastest after quarter an hour and remaining at the top of the sheet for most of the session. 

Twenty minutes before the end, the nr 10 Zwaan's Racing Chrysler Viper set a new fastest time of 1:54.089, before the nr 27 Creation Lister Storm went fastest with a lap of 1:52.956. Times were still coming down as the chequered flag fell, with the nr 29 Lamborghini regaining the top position, Peter Kox having set a time of 1:51.970. 

The two RML Saleen S7 cars also improved, with Erdos and Newton second, eight tenths behind the Lamborghini, and Goodwin and Ramos fifth.

Peter Kox: "I am really happy, for Lamborghini but especially for Hans as he has done a fantastic job. And I am happy as well, as after Monza I did all the driving, so I am a little bit involved. 

"For sure, it is wet today, and tomorrow it could be different. I still have both feet on the ground and I know that there is still a lot of work to do, but everybody deserved and needed this result, as they worked so hard. 

"I am more happy for them than for me !  It's good for the Championship too, I think. If we stay out of trouble, I think we have a chance of a good result."