Technical inspection up-close with OAK Racing.
Having reviewed the administrative process, we now take a look at the technical scrutineering. This is mainly to do with the car, and has three main stages: the weight and dimensions, the inspection of the underside of the car and finally safety. We followed the OAK Racing team, and especially the Morgan-Judd #24, competing in the LMP2 class in the FIA World Endurance Championship 2012.
In the first stage the car is mounted on the scales for weighing. The weights for each category are regulated (900 kg for the LMP2-Judd Morgan #24 of OAK Racing). The car is also measured with a laser from every angle with extreme precision: all the information is recorded on a computer. In this stage, measurements are made that include the height of the rear wing or roll cage for example.
For the second step, the car is lifted from ground level so that it can be inspected from below. The underside is inspected for compliance, as is the rear diffuser, exhausts or even the towing eyes (very important when the car must be towed out of a gravel trap for example). Finally we proceed to final measurements such as wheel width and diameter, before proceeding to the third and final step: safety.
Many points are verified as in the previous step: from the fire extinguisher to seat belts, and fuel tank, lighting, and timing transponder. The #24 OAK Racing competes in the whole World Championship, and must display a sticker with the logo of the Championship so that it can easily be distinguished as a FIA/WEC competitor.
Each car has a folder with forms that the scrutineers complete as the car proceeds through inspection. When all operations are completed, the team manager, in this case Sébastien Philippe for OAK Racing, goes into the office of Alain Tannier, head scrutineer, who informs the team of any abnormalities.
The OAK Pescarolo-Judd #15, the Morgan-Judd #24 and Morgan-Nissan #35 (which does not compete in the entire Championship) were finally directed to the official photo that includes the entire team and cars. Competitors will have additional technical inspections after testing and before the race.
A big thank you to all the team of OAK Racing who welcomed us with open arms, and a thought for Moreau, who should have participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but was sidelined by his accident at the Test Day.
Dave Davies
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE, LE MANS 24 HOURS, Sunday, 10th June 2012, SCRUTINEERING. The operation of the headlights one of the battery of tests undergone by the OAK Racing Morgan-Judd #24.