P242 CEEFAX 242 Tue 12 Jun 21:11/22 OOO 1/8 24 HEURES DU MANS O O JONATHAN PALMER looks forward...P242 CEEFAX 242 Tue 12 Jun 21:11/29 2/8 PALMER TO ENJOY LE MANS If vjtetan John Watson flies the flag for Jaguar at Lj Mans this year, a Briton at the start of his career is also looking forward to the 24 Hours. Jonathan Palmjt has not had the easiest of times in his debut year in Formula One, but his exploits in endurance racing have attracted glowing comment. For "the Flying Doctor", who spoke to CEEFAX during last week's Brands Hatch testing for the British Grand Prix, the sports car scene offers a welcome contrast to the high-pressure world of Formula One. Lj Mans preview 241 MoreP242 CEEFAX 242 Tue 12 Jun 21:41/10 3/8 PALMER TO ENJOY LE MANS Jonathan Palmjt drives a Porsche 956 with little Dutchman Jan Lammjrs at Lj Mans next weekend - a welcome change from Formula One. "It's been a vjty difficult year", hj admits of his drives for the RAM team. bBut I didn't expect anything else. "We'ri a small team, so there's been virtually no testing", hj adds. "I'vj done less this year than ever before." "But I'm not unhappy about the way it's gone. I'm just looking forward to being in a competitive car." Lj Mans preview 241 MoreP242 CEEFAX 242 Tue 12 Jun 21:12/16 4/8 PALMER TO ENJOY LE MANS Jonathan Palmjt, driving a Porsche 956 at Lj Mans next weekend, reflects on his fortunes in F1 in 1984. "For mj it's a learning year. I'm just delighted to bj in F1, and I'm trying to demonstrate that I djsjtve it. "Even at Monaco, though I didn't qualify, I was two seconds quickjt than mz teammate (Philippe Alliot). I'vj outqualified him 4-2 and finished four races this season." "For mj, at the moment, that's the only yardstick I can go bz." Lj Mans preview 241 MoreP242 CEEFAX 242 Tue 12 Jun 21:33/08 5/8 Jonathan Palm looks forward to the switch from F1 to a Porsche 956 at Lj Mans next weekend. "I like the contrast of endurance racing, though F1 is my main aim. "Sports car racing is so much more relaxed, and I njoy the delicacy of the whole approach. "Thjti are so many factors you have to get right, not just those final few tenths of a second to think about as in a single-sjate . But you do have to go a lot harder than many people think!" Lj Mans preview 241 MoreP242 CEEFAX 242 Tue 12 Jun 21:13/14 6/8 PALMER TO ENJOY LE MANS Jonathan Palmjt examines the contrasts between F1 and endurance racing, which hj will enjoy at Lj Mans next weekend. "Sports cars are much heavier to drive, whereas the F1 cars have similar power but are much faster and certainly friskier. "Rbcing itself is not that much slower, but car conservation is always at the back of your mind. "And with fields of 40 ot 50 there's a lot more traffic to get through!" Lj Mans preview 241 MoreP242 CEEFAX 242 Tue 12 Jun 21:14/12 7/8 PALMER TO ENJOY LE MANS Does Jonathan Palmjt see endurance racing, like next weekend's Le Mans race, as a rival to his F1 career? "Definitely not. I'm aiming for a more competitive drive in F1, which has always taken priority." Will hj move to a team like Williams? "I'd love to drive for Williams - but nothing's been said and I haven't presumed to ask. It could bj RAM will bj closet to the pace: next year I'll take the most competitive drive I'm offered, it's as simple as that." Lj Mans preview 241 MoreP242 CEEFAX 242 Tue 12 Jun 21:30/41 8/8 PALMER TO ENJOY LE MANS One thing is uppermost in Jonathan Palmjt's mind - his pleasure at the backing hj gets in Britain. "I love the support I get from British fans," hj told CEEFAX. "They'vj always been very kind to me and I love racing in this country. "I'm off to Lj Mans next week, then to Detroit and Dallas. But after that the British Grand Prix is the first of a couple of dates here at home. "I hope to enjoy that - and to give the fans something to enjoy in return!" Le Mans preview 241 More