Autodrom Most preview

As 'Eternal Flame' by Atomic Kitten hit the top of the UK music charts this week, the racing team of the same name were starting their journey to Most in the Czech Republic for the fourth round of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), hoping for the No.1 spot in the ELMS GT hit parade.

The Atomic Kitten Racing team will contest the highly competitive GT class, where the strongest challenge is likely to come from London-based PK Sport, current leaders of the GT class and runners-up by just 3 seconds after 6 hours of gruelling action in the previous round at Estoril. Their Porsche GT3 RS two-car entry will face stiff opposition from Harlow Motorsport, looking to improve on their third place spot in the Portuguese race, and the highly professional Spanish outfit of Paco Orti Racing.

RML will be looking to continue their winning streak in the shapely Saleen S7R after taking overall victory in Estoril. They will compete in the exciting four way battle for class honours, with Konrad's two cars - the Saleen and Porsche 911 GT2 - and the Brookspeed Viper.

Heading the ELMS prototype field is the LMP 900 of the Gulf Audi team hoping that all their bad luck is behind them, after a small stone in the brakes cost them the lead in Jarama and the much publicised Pescarolo Sport shunt in Estoril cost them almost certainly their first victory. Formula One BAR test driver Patrick Lemarié will once again partner ex-Formula One star Stefan Johansson in the Johansson Racing Audi R8 as they look for an overall win at Autodrom Most. They are set to battle with the Panoz Roadster of the Lanesra team at the front of the field, closely followed by the 'baby' prototypes in the LMP 675 class. The Debora of Didier Bonnet Racing team of Dussau, Gomez and Jackubowski will be looking to make up for the disappointment of an early retirement in Estoril in what looks like an intriguing head-to-head battle with the Reynard 2KQ of Racing Organisation, piloted by Jordi Gene and Christophe Pilon.

Off the track, ex-F1 Ferrari driver Stefan Johansson will be accompanying the Mayor of Most on Thursday 2nd August to visit a group of children in hospital, handing out gifts before signing autographs in the town centre.

This 'Le Mans' factor has captured the imagination of the local populous and over 50,000 people are expected to pour into the circuit - situated North West of Prague - from the Czech Republic and Germany for the latest round of the European Le Mans Series. The event has been supported by a major promotional campaign and includes an extensive television package broadcasting race updates on several terrestrial channels with live coverage in the UK, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Qualifying for Round 4 of the European Le Mans Series takes place at Autodrom Most on Saturday 4th August, from 15:30-16:00 (local time) for GTS and GT entries and from 16:20-16:50 (local time) for LMP 900 and LMP 675. The 2hour 45minute sportscar race commences on Sunday 5th at 13:00 (local time). Most is +1 hour GMT.

-ELMS