Following a fourth place class finish at Monza in the opening round of the Le Mans Series, the championship’s only female driver, Liz Halliday, knows a very different challenge lies in wait at Round 2 in Valencia.
From the high-speed straights and fast sweeping corners of the Italian circuit to the twisty technical layout of the Spanish venue, the tracks are polar-opposites of one another and require completely different set-ups and driving styles.
Valencia, a regular Formula One testing venue, makes its Le Mans Series debut in 2007, having previously hosted the FIA GT Championship, and the race marks a first for Halliday too.
Liz said: “I’ve never been to Valencia before so it will be a completely new challenge for me. What I do know about the circuit is that it is very narrow and, with a 46-car grid, it’s going to be very, very busy on track. I think success in the race could depend on how well we can work through traffic and get up to speed. I’m sure it will be a tough race but having improved a lot during my race stints at Monza, I’ve learned even more about the car’s handling and characteristics. I appreciate that Valencia will be a completely different experience, but if we can build on the progress made at the last race then the experience can be a positive one. ”
The dual-sportswoman, who heads to Valencia less than a week after competing at the Withington Manor Horse Trials, will also get the chance to welcome a new team-mate at the race. Team Modena this week announced that ex-Formula One and Champ Car ace Christian Fittipaldi becomes the team’s third driver for Valencia and the Le Mans 24 Hours, joining Liz and Spaniard Antonio Garcia at the wheel of the impressive Aston Martin DBR9.
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