08.05.2004 Mike Hezemans qualified the first of the Barron Connor Ferrari 575 GTCs on the GTS class front row at Monza earlier today just ahead of the Labre Ferrari 550

Barron Connor Racing will start from the front row in the Monza 1000 km race tomorrow.

Mike Hezemans qualified one of the team's two Ferrari's 575 GTC second in the GTS class today with a time of 1:47.654 and will thus start on the front row alongside the pole position claiming Saleen S7 which set a class benchmark of 1:46.261 and in front of the Prodrive Ferrari 550 of the French Larbre team which recorded a 1:48.597 best lap. 

The other Barron Connor Ferrari 575 GTC recorded the 4th fastest time with a 1:49,053 set by Thomas Biagi.

"We are happy with the progress that we are making", John Bosch said. "We are among the frontrunners here and now we just have to see what will happen in the race. It is a long race and anything can happen, but all we are looking for is the finish, learn again as much as we can and then, if all goes to plan, be on the podium."

Meanwhile Larbre Competition, starting from third place, bring many years of race-winning experience to the opening round of the Le Mans Endurance Series, the new series of 1,000 km races which will take place at four classic tracks around Europe from now until September. 

The LMES will use the same regulations as those at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the high-speed Monza circuit is ideal for those teams, including Larbre, preparing for the big race in June.

While Larbre have the services of two of the sport’s most experienced drivers amongst their line up, it is however the team’s first time here at Monza with the Care Racing owned Ferrari 550 Maranello. The relatively limited track time that has been available to the team has meant that they have not been able to experiment as much as they would have liked with the car’s set up and balance. Larbre are benefiting this weekend from the advice and Monza experience of one of BMS Scuderia Italia’s race engineers, Marco Galupi, the Italian team also being one of Care Racing’s customers.

Joining Larbre regular, Frenchman Christophe Bouchut, is 1998 FIA GT Champion Pedro Lamy of Portugal and young Swiss driver Steve Zacchia who last year drove a Chrysler Viper in the FIA GT Championship.

All three drivers have now had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with both the car and its characteristics on Italy’s Grand Prix track, but none of them were wholly satisfied with the outcome of today’s two qualifying sessions, feeling that much more time was still to come from the 6 litre, V12 engined Ferrari.

Christophe Bouchut (F) – drove in the morning session only: “It was difficult to find a clear lap but I expect us to find a solution to the problems we have had and we will be much quicker than we have shown here so far. For the race, the car should be very quick and competitive.”

Pedro Lamy (P) – drove in the afternoon only: “We are having some problems with the brake balance and the car is loose at the rear under braking so I don’t have the confidence to brake late.  It’s very important to be able to do that at Monza because braking at a high-speed circuit is so important.  We have to adjust it to find a good balance between front and rear.”

Steve Zacchia (CH) – drove 3 laps in the morning and 12 laps in the afternoon: “The car is fantastic and I have enormous confidence in it. The road holding and Michelin tyres are very good and all in all I find it hugely better than the Viper I drove last year!”

The Monza event, the first ever Le Mans Endurance Series race, starts tomorrow at 13.20 hours local time and will be 1000 KM or 6 hours duration.