2010 LE MANS 24HRS News and Discussion

[Everso Biggyballies]

2010 LE MANS 24HRS 12-13th June 2010



Ok Le Mans 2010 is a fair way off, with its date not being until June, but already planning and such is underway, with the official entries for the 24 hour classic being released today. They had received 84 applications for an entry into the race. A sign of confidence is that this year we have nine major manufacturers taking part, including three new manufacturers.

For those not aware entries to Le Mans is done partly by allocation, where Teams of previous successful appearance are given automatic entries and official starters are limited to 55 in total. This year 27 entries were automatic invites to teams on the basis of last years success, with the remaining 28 slots available accepted at the organisers discretion.

Basically of 84 teams that entered (which includes the 27 automatic invites), that will leave 29 entries which will be refused, although reserve entries will be accepted in the case of any withdrawals leading up to the race. They then add a few reserves in case some of the original applicants dont make it to the event through reasons beyond control, usually financial or cars being written off in the lead up to qualifyiing. AFAIK reserves are allowed to practice. The final list has been released today.

So of the 55 accepted entries, it is now confirmed that will be made up of 21 LMP1 cars, 9 LMP2 cars, 8 GT1 cars and 17 GT2 cars. Nineteen nationalities are now confirmed, while both the LMP and GT categories have 10 makes.

Of the following list you will see that many of the drivers positions are left as TBA ..... it is for the teams to decide in the future who will drive their cars. The first driver had to be registered before February 1st. Nominated first drivers can not be replaced and being withdrawn from a team in case of ‘force majeure’ means they can not be racing with another team.

I have highlighted a couple of the entries, one in LMP1 being that of 'Team Mansell, with Nigel and his two sons having a family entry in a Ginetta Zytec. Also we have the return of Dome to LMP1, something that I am sure will please many of the Le Mans addicts we have on the forum. Otherwise, as we expected there are 3 works entries from Peugeot, (plus an Oreca entry) Audi (plus 2 Kolles R10) and Lola Aston Martin. LMP1. No Pescarolo Peugeot tie up this year with the Pesca entries all his own cars powered by Judd engines. Still, Le Mans legend Henri Pescarolo was at one stage unlikely to compete this year, which would have been a shame. Prior to becoming a team owner / builder, Henri raced at Le Mans every year for 33 years, a record. He won the race 4 times as a driver, three in a row in a Matra during the 1970's when of course he was also an established F1 driver. He has been an entrant 6 times on top of that

In LMP2 there is no Porsche entry However Honda / Accura have entered I think for the first time, and with 2 cars. Interestingly Brabham is down to drive that rather than the Peugeot LMP1 team (with whom he won the race last year). I assume that is more a contractual thing with Accura Honda being his 'full time' ride in the LMS.

Not so much action in GT1 this year, although the Ford GTs will be amongst them, but a strong field of GT2. As expected a strong entry of GT2's including Jaguars, BMW's, Corvettes, Porsche 997's, Aston Martin Vantage and a Spyker (for Tom Coronel, the Dutchman of Dakar and WTCC fame)

Ferrari this week announced that it will be running Fisichella and Alesi in the Le Mans series this year, driving an AF Corse 430 Ferrari. They have only one car in the 24 hour race, with only one listed driver, so whether the spare seats there go to Alesi and Fisi at this stage I dont know. Edit: Just noticed the AF Force 'Fisi' entry for Le Mans is only as a reserve at this stage.

Full Entry List

LM P1

1 // Team Peugeot Total // Peugeot 908 HDi FAP // Alexander Wurz - TBA - TBA
2 // Team Peugeot Total // Peugeot 908 HDi FAP // Nicolas Minassian - TBA - TBA
3 // Peugeot Sport Total // Peugeot 908 HDi FAP // Sebastien Bourdais - TBA - TBA
4 // Team Oreca Matmut // Peugeot 908 HDi FAP // Olivier Panis - Nicolas Lapierre - TBA
5 // Beechdean Mansell Motorsport // Ginetta-Zytek Z09R // Nigel Mansell - Greg Mansell - Leo Mansell
6 // AIM Team Oreca // Oreca 01 AIM // Soheil Ayari - TBA - TBA
7 // Audi Sport Team Joest // Audi R15 TDI // Tom Kristensen - TBA - TBA
8 // Audi Sport Team Joest // Audi R15 TDI // Andre Lotterer - TBA - TBA
9 //Audi Sport North America // Audi R15 TDI // Mike Rockenfeller - TBA - TBA
10 // Dome Racing Team // Dome S102 Judd // Sébastien Philippe - TBA - TBA
11 // Drayson Racing // Lola B09/60 Judd // Paul Drayson - Jonny Cocker - TBA
12 // Rebellion Racing // Lola B10/60 Rebellion // Nicolas Prost - Neel Jani - TBA
13 // Rebellion Racing // Lola B10/60 Rebellion // Andrea Belicchi - Jean-Christophe Boullion - TBA
14 // Kolles // Audi R10 TDI // Christijan Albers - TBA - TBA
15 // Kolles // Audi R10 TDI // Christian Bakkerud - TBA - TBA
17 // Pescarolo Sport // Pescarolo 01 Judd // Ho-Pin Tung - TBA - TBA
18 // SORA Racing // Pescarolo 01 Judd // Christophe Tinseau - TBA - TBA
19 // Autocon Motorsports // Lola B06/10 AER // Michael Lewis - TBA - TBA
007 // Aston Martin Racing // Lola Aston Martin // Harold Primat - TBA - TBA
008 // Signature Plus // Lola Aston Martin // Pierre Ragues - Franck Mailleux - TBA
009 // Aston Martin Racing // Lola Aston Martin // Darren Turner - TBA - TBA

LM P2

24 // OAK Racing // Pescarolo 01 Judd // Jacques Nicolet - TBA - TBA
25 // RML // Lola B08/80 HPD // Mike Newton - Tommy Erdos - TBA
26 // Highcroft Racing // HPD Acura ARX-01C // David Brabham - Marino Franchitti - TBA
29 // Racing Box // Lola B08/80 Judd // Luca Pirri - TBA - TBA
35 // OAK Racing // Pescarolo 01 Judd // Richard Hein - TBA - TBA
37 // Gerard Welter // WR Zytek // Philippe Salini - TBA - TBA
40 // Quifel-ASM Team // Ginetta Zytek 09S Zytek // Miguel Amaral - Olivier Pla - TBA
41 // Team Bruichladdich // Ginetta Zytek 09S Zytek // Karim Ojjeh - Tim Greaves - TBA
42 // Strakka Racing // HPD Acura ARX-01C // Nick Leventis - Danny Watts - TBA

RESERVE LMP
38 // Pegasus Racing // Norma Judd // Julien Schell - TBA - TBA
23 // Tokaï University YGK Power // Courage-Oreca LC70 YGK // Shigekazu Wakisaka - Shogo Mitsuyama - TBA
39 // KSM // Lola B08/47 Judd // Jean de Pourtales - Hideki Noda - TBA
28 // José Ibanez // Lola B05/40 Judd // José Ibanez - Lionel Robert - Arnaud Santamato
22 // Kaneko Racing // Courage-Oreca LC70 Judd // Yutaka Yamagishi - TBA - TBA

LM GT1

50 // Larbre Competition // Saleen S7R // Roland Berville - Patrick Bornhauser - TBA
52 // Young Driver AMR // Aston Martin DBR9 // Christoffer Nygaard - Tomas Enge - TBA
53 // Peka Racing NV // Chevrolet Corvette C6.R // Anthony Kumpen - TBA - TBA
61 // Matech Competition // Ford GT // Natacha Gachnang - Cyndie Allemann - TBA
69 // JLOC // Lamborghini Murcielago GT1 // Yogo Atsushi - TBA - TBA
70 // Marc VDS Racing // Ford GT // Eric de Doncker - TBA - TBA
72 // Luc Alphand Aventures // Chevrolet Corvette C6.R // Luc Alphand - TBA - TBA
73 // Luc Alphand Aventures // Chevrolet Corvette C6.R // Stéphane Gregoire - TBA - TBA

LM GT2

63 // Corvette Racing // Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 // Jan Magnussen - Johnny O’Connell - Antonio Garcia
64 // Corvette Racing // Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 // Oliver Gavin - Olivier Beretta - TBA
75 // ProSpeed Competition // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Paul van Splunteren - TBA - TBA
76 // IMSA Performance Matmut // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Raymond Narac - TBA -TBA
77 // Team Felbermayr-Proton // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Horst Felbermayr - TBA - TBA
78 // BMW Motorsport // BMW E92 M3 // Jörg Müller - TBA - TBA
79 // BMW Motorsport // BMW E92 M3 // Andy Priaulx - TBA - TBA
80 // Flying Lizard Motorsports // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Seth Neiman - TBA - TBA
81 // Jaguar RSR / Jaguar XKR GT2 // Paul Gentilozzi - Scott Pruett - Marc Goossens
82 // Risi Competizione // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Tracey Krohn - Nic Jonsson - TBA
83 // Risi Competizione // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Jaime Melo - TBA - TBA
84 // Modena Group Racing // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Roman Rusinov - TBA - TBA
85 // Spyker Squadron // Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R // Tim Coronel - TBA - TBA
89 // Hankook Team Farnbacher // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Dominik Farnbacher - Allan Simonsen - TBA
92 // JMW Motorsport // Aston Martin Vantage GT2 // Rob Bell - TBA - TBA
96 // AF Corse // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Luis Perez Companc - Matias Russo - TBA
97 // BMS Scuderia Italia // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Matteo Malucelli - TBA - TBA

RESERVE GT
88 // Team Felbermayr-Proton // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Marc Lieb - Richard Lietz - TBA
91 // Hong Kong Racing // Aston Martin Vantage GT2 // Philip Ma - Marchy Lee - Christian Jones
95 // AF Corse // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Giancarlo Fisichella - Joe Foster - TBA
60 // Matech Competition // Ford GT // Thomas Mutsch - TBA - TBA
86 // Spyker Squadron // Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R // Tom Coronel - TBA - TBA


Some piccies from last year to get you in the mood..... (I will do a full preview nearer the time.)

Click for larger















The last two pics are 'Spotters Guides showing the cars and liveries from last year.

[matmills]

I read that Maserati were lobbying to get their cars included into the field since they are the FIA GT1 champions. Obviously the ACO still thinks the cars don't comply with their rules.

[★ Eno the Wonderdog]

The big masers? They were deliberately built outside the rules (I believe the wheelbase was too wide sorry that's the track?) and Maser (read Ferrari) believed they could bully the ACO into letting them do as they wished as Ferrari have with the FIA..

[matmills]

But apparently the ACO were going to allow all cars eligible for the FIA GT to be able to run, but the Masers would have had weight penalties like they do in the ALMS.

[Oldtony]

I think the lack of Maseratis is probably as you say the ACO standing on it's dig, but is also part of the phase out that ACO is undertaking for GT1 cars of all types.
My understanding is that the advance regs for 2011 are more in line with the current GT2 with a few more mods, becoming GT1 with entries in GT2 being for current GT3 cars.
The interesting entry in GT2 is the Rocketsport Jag from the US. In the past they have run a couple if cars they called Jags under Daytona (NASCAR) rules which IIRC were thinly disguised tube chasis. Obviously these are much more Jaguar, to enable them to comply with GT2, and are apparently recieving some factory support. Interesting.
The LMP1 field looks great and it is nice to see that quick and pretty Dome back this year.

[Everso Biggyballies]

The interesting entry in GT2 is the Rocketsport Jag from the US. In the past they have run a couple if cars they called Jags under Daytona (NASCAR) rules which IIRC were thinly disguised tube chasis. Obviously these are much more Jaguar, to enable them to comply with GT2, and are apparently recieving some factory support. Interesting.

Its a beautiful looking car IMO. Looking forward to it. Astons, Ford GTs Jaguars, Ferraris, Porsche.... Le Mans is taking on quite a return to its halcyon days with some of the names coming back.... and Paul Gentilozzi is one of those names thats been around for everin Sports cars and other categories. Sure he will do a great job.

Jaguar may not be able to return to the overall honours in a race they won seven times between 1951 and 1990, (making it the most successful British manufacturer in the event's history.) Last time they were at Le Mans was the XJ220 GT project of the early 1990s, when they won with Coulthard at the wheel only to be dsq'd for a technicality some weeks after the event. I think that was a couple of years after Brundle won the race outright in a Jag XJR-12.

Anyway great to see the Jaguar name back at Le Mans as a works assisted entry..... it is their 75th anniversary this year I think

The Jaguar XKR2

[Everso Biggyballies]

Davidson joins Peugeot for Le Mans

Ant Davidson may not have managed to secure a seat back in F1 for this year, but the good news is he has secured a seat in perhaps the 2nd most important series in the world of motor racing, and whats more he has secured what is arguably the best seat available in that series, at least for the crown jewels race, the 24 hours of Le Mans.....

Anthony Davidson will be one third of Peugeot's leading Le Mans line-up as the French manufacturer attempts to defend its title in the coveted race this year. 'Davo', Formula 1 commentator for BBC Radio 5 live, will share the drive with fellow ex F1 racers Alexander Wurz and Marc Gené.

With Peugeot having beaten the likes of Audi and Aston Martin to clinch victory at Le Mans in 2009 for the first time since 1993, Davidson's confirmation signals the sealing of Peugeot's defence.

Having last raced in F1 for the sadly defunct Super Aguri outfit in mid 2008, the Davo contested last year's Le Mans at the wheel of an LMP1 class Aston Martin, finishing 13th overall alongside compatriot Darren Turner and The Netherlands' Jos 'the Boss' Verstappen.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Start off with a copy of the official 2010 Event Poster:
Click for larger


Red Five returns

Firstly I mentioned previously that the Mansell family were lining up in an LMP1 car, Nigel joining sons Greg and Leo to form the family drive. For those that remember Nigel in his F1 days he became famous for his 'Red Five' favoured number. The GINETTA ZYTEK LMP1 car will be running his famous 'Red Five' at Le Mans. Interestingly it will be one of only two LMP1's running on Dunlop Tyres.


A bit about the Peugeot Challenge.

Firstly the team has just announced their new livery for this year, and I think it looks great.

<<Click for larger

They have also announced last week their full driver lineup for all three cars (they had previously only announced their #1 car lineup. In fact easiest to quote the full Peugeot press release of their 2010 Le Mans Campaign..... Sadly the much rumoured Kimi Raikkonen, David Coulthard, Sebastien Loeb Red Bull Peugeot has not happened...

2010 endurance racing : targeting another win at Le Mans.

Riding high on the back of last year's one-two finish, Peugeot Sport is aiming to do it again in 2010. In the fourth and final year of the 908 HDi FAP's career, Team Peugeot Total has pressed on with its development, getting down to work on the very next day after that historic win, striving to squeeze even more improvements out of the car.

Test sessions and races at a variety of venues have been programmed in order to be as well prepared as possible for the 78th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours, a race which always throws up unique challenges, uncertainties and changes of fortune, all part of its legendary status. But even the most meticulous preparations can hope to reproduce the specific features and surprises this race invariably delivers. Since its historic success on June 14, 2009, Peugeot will have racked up a total of eleven test sessions consisting of endurance runs, set-up work and two demanding warm-ups in the form of two actual races.

Eleven drivers have been chosen to fly the Peugeot flag, running with race numbers 1, 2 and 3, the numbers which were previously the property of the make's much respected rival.

The 2009 winners will carry the Number 1 plate: Marc GENE (ESP,) Alexander WURZ (AUT), plus a newcomer to the Peugeot Sport ranks, Anthony DAVIDSON (GBR). Marc and Alexander will be tackling their fourth Le Mans, the Austrian having won twice, in 1996 and 2009. Anthony has contested the French race twice (2002 and 2009) and tested the 908 in a session at Le Castellet at the end of 2008.

In the N°2 908 HDi FAP, three French drivers Nicolas MINASSIAN, Franck MONTAGNY and Stéphane SARRAZIN, reform the trio that previously raced together for Oreca in 2002 and again in a memorable race last November at Le Mans, in the 207 Relais relay race which formed part of the season's final Rencontres Peugeot Sport meeting. It's worth noting that Stéphane has taken pole position for the last three years at Le Mans in the 908 HDi FAP.

The third crew is made up of local boy (EB note, Le Seb was born in Le Mans) Sébastien BOURDAIS, who renews his partnership with his United States-based countryman Simon PAGENAUD and Portugal's Pedro LAMY. Sébastien and Pedro had also been Le Mans team-mates back in 2007, at the wheel of the N°8 Peugeot.

Christian KLIEN will be the reserve driver (EB note: CK, having scored a podium last year with the team, gave up the option of a race seat as he hung out for an F1 drive, the Canadian GP clashing with Le Mans this year) for Team Peugeot Total, while Gregory GUILVERT, having impressed at a test in the 908 (his prize for winning the 2009 THP Spider Cup), takes on the role of test driver.

On the racing front, Peugeot's first test comes in the shape of the full-on challenge of dealing with 12 hours of racing against the heat and difficult track at Sebring (Florida, USA), which provides the backdrop for the year's first appearance of the two Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs, shared by Davidson/Gene/Wurz (N°07) and Bourdais/Lamy/Minassian (N°08). The French squad will first tackle a test session the previous weekend and then resume testing two days after the endurance race. The second event is at Spa-Francorchamps in a round of the Le Mans Series and this will serve as a dress- rehearsal for the whole Peugeot Sport team, with three cars entered. Eleven test sessions and two races should see enable the team to prepare thoroughly for the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Source : Peugeot

[Everso Biggyballies]

Oreca run Peugeot 908HDi launched. Stunning Livery

Oreca has secured the customer Peugeot LMP1 deal for 2010 and will run its 908 in the full LMS and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre will drive the car for the full season, with Loic Duval joining them at Ricard and Le Mans.

ORECA's traditional red, yellow and blue sportscar livery has been adapted for the 908, and they have unveiled the new Peugeot look ahead of the car's debut in the Le Mans Series test at Paul Ricard tomorrow..

It follows their traditional red yellow and blue, but is an 'Arty' look.... based on Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, 'a pioneer in the field of abstract art'. The car also uses a touch of chrome, on the roof, and is a much better (IMHO)use of chrome than the over the top use of McLaren. Actually I suppose it could be said that this is something of a 21st century update of the multi coloured Benetton liveries.

I peronally love it, (the Oreca, not the McLaren) and always have liked the artist influenced race cars such as those favoured in the past by BMW in their M1's and Touriing Cars. I have always liked the look of previous Matmut backed cars, in fact my desktop currently is a Matmut 911 from I think Sebring last year.

Click for larger. You cant really see the detail from the thumbnails, the full size ones are good.


The Matmut '911' that is my desktop atm.

[★ Eno the Wonderdog]

Apparently that's really ugly.. Mrs Me just told me.. just when I thought I liked it..

[Oldtony]

I agree with your Missus Eno, the Oreca Pug is really ugly.
But then the Matmut Porsche looks brilliant. was the shot taken at the Dubai 24hr EB?

[Jari]

Anybody got a link to Fisi testing a FP2 car?

PS. IMO 24hr thread should be made the day after the race has completed

[Everso Biggyballies]

I agree with your Missus Eno, the Oreca Pug is really ugly.
But then the Matmut Porsche looks brilliant. was the shot taken at the Dubai 24hr EB?

Well, we will agree to disagree on the 'Pugly' OT, as I quite like it, if oly for its difference. s for the Matmut Porsche, Im pretty sure that was at Le Mans.... if you blow it up to its full size you can see Motul and also Marchal banner ads in the background and that says to me Le Mans, which is also where I have filed it under (2009).

Edit: Just cross checked last years Le Mans entry list and indeed #76 is shown as the "IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997). Also I checked the photo 'properties' and it is a shot taken on 13/6/09, the Saturday of Le Mans (even though to me it looks like Sunrise (which would make it Sunday a.m.) as opposed to sunset..... Anyway, Le Mans 2009 is the answer.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Anybody got a link to Fisi testing a FP2 car?

Fisichella/Alesi/Vilander car is #95 in the GT2 Class.

The pace-setter in GT2 was the #96 AF Corse, driven by Gianmaria Bruni. The Fisichella/Alesi/Vilander car was 8th of 12 GT2 cars, and the slowest of the AF Corse Ferraris, 1.366 second off the pace.

GT2 Times.
#96- AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 1:59.391
#92 – JMW Motorsport - Aston Martin V8 Vantage - 1:59.962
#77 - Team Felbermayr Proton - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – 2:00.215
#76 – IMSA Performance Matmut - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 2:00.381
#94 – AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.488
#75 – Prospeed Competition - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 2:00:570
#91 – CRS Racing - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.632
#95 – AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.667
#89 - Hankook Team Farnbacher - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.784
#78 – BMW Team Schnitzer - 2:01.441
#90 – CRS Racing - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:01.750
#87 – IMSA Performance Matmut - 2:05.287

LMP1, LMP2, GT1 & GT2 Full LMS Test Day Sunday report

[Jari]

Nice.

Typing fail on my part. GT 2