After a challenging test weekend, where the Porsche RSR’s gearbox and clutch broke after just 22 testing laps, the Noel Del Bello team returned to Le Mans for the 24 hour race.

The clutch and gearbox were fully re-built with new components and the car’s setup adjusted following the driver feedback given after the few laps each of them had in the GT3. After the first test, the drivers reported a lack of straight line speed and the speed traps confirmed that the Porsche was down by a massive 20km/h against the pole sitter in the class. Some rear wing was taken off but to no great effect down the long straights at Le Mans. “The Spyker, Panoz, Ferrari and other Porsches seemed to have a lot more torque exiting the corners on the straight and then they continued to accelerate into 6th gear - whereas we struggled to get that good exit, which hurt us badly down all the straights”, reported Sharpe. With that in mind, the only thing the team could do was to prepare a good 24 hour car and drive consistently without pushing the car’s limits. Team professional Adam Sharpe qualified the car as the quickest driver of the three in testing.

Unfortunately on race day, 3rd driver Patrick Bourdais fell ill with a cold and wasn't feeling 100% fit. Adam started the race and held pace with a couple of Porsches for his stint, moving the car from 47th to 33rd. Tom Cloet then took to the wheel and drove a solid single stint with improving consistent times. Patrick was third to drive and he also put in a solid stint until he felt it was best to pit early for a driver change due to his illness. Adam was back in the car for a double stint into the dark for Tom Cloet to take over. Patrick followed them with his second stint in the car for what was to be the final time. A blow out on the Mulsanne straight saw the car pitch into the barrier. The car was thought too dangerous to drive back and after a few minutes retired on the circuit 10 hours into the race.

"After last year’s great podium finish in LMP2, I am very disappointed not to have finished this year. It was a struggle from the beginning with the clutch and gearbox issues, straight line speed and Patrick becoming ill", said Sharpe. “I would like to thank my sponsors VelocityPay.co.uk, Berwin Leighton Paisner, LifeForce, Carnales, Teng Tools and Castle Estates for their continuing support for Le Mans this year. We shall be back in 2007” Sharpe announced after the event.