(27/07/2006)
Ni Amorim optimistic about rest of the year, after
tests in France
After
completing three of the six tests which make up the 2005 season, two
on the LMES and the Le Mans 24 Hours, this week Ni Amorim was on the
French circuit at Dijon trying out the Noel del Bello Team’s
Courage-Renault in order to improve its reliability as well as its
performances, mainly its increased power and lower fuel
consumption.
“This
test went very well. We did 400 kilometres without a hitch and now
the engine will have over 1,000 kilometres on the test bed. If
everything goes as we hope we will have the necessary level of
reliability for the rest of the season. Besides this, we managed to
cut one second off our time in Dijon three months ago, which is very
good on such a small circuit,” Ni Amorim began by saying.
|
(13/08/2006)
Ni Amorim out of luck
Today
the Silverstone circuit was the stage for another day of the Le Mans
Endurance Series Championship. The British race was over 1,000
kilometres which did not go well for the Portuguese Ni Amorim, who
after fourth place in the training sessions of the LMP2 drivers, was
in the same position and seventh in the general when he was forced
to pull out.
“The
training went well, there were seven teams all within one second of
each other, which promised a very lively race. However, in the race
itself we were not so lucky, the engine gave out on the 15th lap,
when we were in seventh in the general and fourth in the LMP2,” said
Ni Amorim.
Now
they have a lot to think about for the next round of the
championship, which takes place on the first weekend in September,
in Nurburgring. “We have already had a meeting with Mechacrome and
they too can’t explain why an engine which went through the training
and 15 laps of the race would give way. They promised to work like
“crazy” for the next race and they will book a series of tests on
Monday,” the Portuguese driver concluded.
|
(04/09/2006)
Ni Amorim gets points
Once
again Ni Amorim was out of luck in the penultimate race of the Le
Mans Endurance Series. Although he only started off from the 11th
position of the LMP2 category on Nurburgring’s 1,000 kilometres, at
the end of the first section Noel del Bello team’s Courage-Mecachrome
was already in seventh place in the general and second in its class.
But just when the Portuguese driver was getting ready to get out on
the track, a problem with the alternator and then with the starter
engine forced him to stay in the box for another 20 minutes, which
meant that Ni Amorim ended up only in eight position in the LMP2.
“It
was a shame we had the problem that we had, as without this setback
we would have certainly ended up on the podium and we might have
been in with a chance of winning. The car was excellent in terms of
tuning of the tyres and the engine, which shows the progress made in
these areas, but a problem with the starter motor cost us a podium
place,” stated Ni Amorim.
|
(07/11/2006)
Ni Amorim will not race
Ni
Amorim, will not race in the Istanbul 1000 Kms which will be held
this weekend in Turkey due to reasons concerning the contract he
has with his team. Noel del Bello reserved the right not to take
part in the Turkish race, if Ni Amorim was not contesting for the
title. Which turned out to be the case.
Although he was sorry not to be in Turkey: “This was our agreement
and I had to fulfil it. It is obvious that even though I am not
contending for the title, I would like to take part in the race, if
only to try to finish the season with a good result”, the driver
from Porto explained.
|