Phaseone's 2007 season

World Endurance is undergoing big changes in 2007. 

Former promoters FG Sport have gone and the series is back in the hands of the FIM. 

But the one thing that hasn’t changed is the commitment to the series of Britain’s top team Phase One Endurance. 

This year’s line up of Warwick Nowland, Glen Richards and Didier van Keymuelen on a brand new Yamaha R1 marks them as one of the key contenders for the title yet again in what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons of endurance racing for years.

Team owner Russell Benney took time out from preparation of their new machinery to update the fans of their progress.

 

“Its our 23rd season and this year we will be on Yamaha R1’s again, this time with the brand new 2007 model! On paper, the bike looks to be improved in several key areas, most notably the four-valve per cylinder engine, which we hope will return significantly better fuel consumption without sacrificing power and the altered swinging arm pivot for improved drive. 

Our job will be to turn the paper potential into a race-winning machine. The rider line-up is probably the fastest since 2003 – maybe the fastest ever. 

We set out to significantly improve the average speed of our rider line-up, following our third place finish in the 2006 championship and that has been achieved, albeit with some nail biting moments waiting for the different increments to be put into place.

Warwick must now be one of the most experienced riders currently in the sport, starting his world endurance career with the team at Spa in 1998 (fourth) and riding pretty solidly in the championship since then.

Both Didier and Glen have significantly less endurance experience, (although both have competed in 24 hrs races) but more than make up for this in sheer speed and track time in high level competition. 

Didier has competed in World Superstock and Supersport championships winning the 2005 superstock championship for Yamaha and Glen for five years in BSB. 

Glen’s heroic Hawk Kawasaki rides on the 750 against the new 1000s being both successful and memorable. 

Added to that, our pit-team is amongst the best ever. Most of the 2007 key team members are seasoned hands, having spent a number of years gaining race experience within the team. In addition, half a dozen ‘newbies’ will also contribute significantly.”

“The 07 Yamahas are all new but based heavily on the ‘06 machines. The ‘07 model has a completely revised four-valve head planted on what is essentially a ‘04/’06 bottom end. 

That combination should form a very good basis for a competitive and reliable engine. The team are hoping to be able to coax a further 10 per cent fuel consumption gain to bring it fully in line with the Suzukis which currently enjoy a consumption advantage. 

Power should be improved as the ’07 stock bike is up eight bhp on the ’06 production bike. 

We should see 165bhp for the team’s 24hr spec and 185bhp for Suzuka, Albacete and Qatar ‘sprint’ races. 

There are a number of other developments that could prove beneficial, most notably the raised swing-arm pivot which should improve drive. 

Interestingly, Troy Corser told Glen that the traction was much better with the ‘07 bike at the Xmas Qatar test, but then at Phillip Island in later Jan there were traction problems.

We shall not have an answer until we get to Albacete, but the route to Troy Corser and his team, via Glen’s close friendship with him, could prove really helpful. 

As far as the rest of the bike is concerned, many of the small changes don’t help us much… the ‘06 tanks, sub frames, radiators, seats, fairings, exhaust, footrests, looms, lights and nearly everything else doesn’t fit. 

We are working flat out on all of these and we have a very busy month ahead of us before our first shakedown in the UK.

The big gains planned for 2007 don’t come from the standard bike, they will come from the suspension and how it is used. The new Ohlins TTX technology forks and shocks are a completely new generation. 

The forks are gas, but now with a 30hr maintenance period, up from 10hrs last year and are low pressure and fully adjustable without an Ohlins technician. 

It was for those reasons alone that the team have not used gas forks before. 

The shocks are also TTX and should be an improvement. Steven Casaer
 will accompany the team to the Albacete three-day test to work with the 2D data and the new components in order to optimise the investment.“ 

Testing

“The team’s test programme starts at Pembrey on February 27, 2007 for a shakedown. This is primarily to establish if there are any fundamental problems with any of the basic designs or systems before going to Spain. 

This year the engine, chassis, electronics, electrics, brakes, exhaust system and front and rear suspension are all new. 

I can guarantee they will not all work properly or in harmony first time out! If a second shakedown is needed, then this will be during the first week of March. 

Our second test will take place over three days at Albacete in mid-March (16 to 18) with all riders. 

The event is Dunlop run and will form one of the most important preparation elements of the year. It will be the Team’s first chance to get hold of the 2007 test tyres and to compare times with 06 and to work with all the riders as a team. 

There is already much speculation about who will be setting the times! It will also be our only chance to perfect circuit set-up before the May event itself. 

Test three is at Le Mans on March 21/22 and is organised by the circuit as a pre-race set up session. 

It will again serve that purpose but also benefit the team as good training for new team members and give a chance to try out of the new-look team pit interior which should be available by then.”

 “The inclusion of the factory Team Kawasaki France, alongside the factory Suzuki in the championship will create a genuine factory scrap not seen for 10 years.

It’s also great to see the gradual rise in quality of teams and rider line-ups, with TKF and Moto 38 coming back and Riba, Plater, Richards and Vankeymeulen joining the established big names on track.  

The championship seems to be the best of the recent and the best of the old combined. It certainly looks to me to be amongst the most complete endurance championships since 2000, when there were four 24 hrs races, plus an eight hour and a six hour. 

The inclusion of Qatar really marks a welcome development, taking the championship out of Europe for one third of its races. This in itself is good and is attracting some real press interest through being seen as a credible alternative championship. 

Three 24hrs and three 8hrs sounds good to me.

That makes 98hrs of racing…..I can hardly wait.! 

This year I would like to re-establish the supporters club gatherings at the 24 hour races. In years gone by we used to encourage supporters to join us for the race in the paddock at our awnings. 

In recent years this has become more difficult because of the paddock security; however with mobile phones we should be able to ease things. 

So, for all the 24-hour races, all supporters are invited for tea and cakes at the Phase One awnings. 

If you have any trouble getting into the paddock, ring 07739 178988. Let’s see you at Le Mans on April 21/22 or Albacete on May 6.

Come on see us at the races, together we have some winning to do.!!    See you at Le Mans.”   

Phase One Endurance has their own supporters club. Annual membership fee is £10.00 which gives access to reduced-price clothing and ten newsletters.  

Please send to; Team HQ, Moxhill House, Combwich, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 2PN.

Championship dates
April 21/22 Le Mans 24h
May 5 Albacete 8h
Jul 29 Suzuka 8h
Aug 11/12 Oschersleben 24h
Sep 15/16 Bol d’Or 24h
Nov 10 Qatar 8h