Le Mans 24 hours 2010

[vyselegend]

Entry list has been unveiled today!

Great news is that AMR has decided to take the fight this year, despite their early announcement that they were steping out of 2010. That's an extremely pleasant surprise. Note that on top of that one of their car will be in Fernandez' hands in America for Sebring (at least), and another run by team Signature in LMS (full-time).

Very relieving to see two Pescarolo in P1 as well, because it seemed the team was done for good this winter. Curiously one of the car is entered under the banner of SORA composites while the other is an "official" Pescarolo sport entry.

Kolles has failed to sell one of their car apparently, as both are entered bor both LM and the LMS season.

That makes the big guns at least as numerous as last year with 3xAudi R15, 2xAudiR10, 4xPeugeot 908, 3xLola Aston-Martin, plus 2xPescarollo Judd, 1xOreca AIM, and very promising entries such as Rebellion's Lola Judd ...

Another very good news is the presence of Highcroft in La Sarthe! (Better late than never!) It will also be the first time for an Acura prototype for this side of the pound. Too bad however that it won't be the P1 car, which's program has seemingly been abandonned. Instead, Highcroft will run the ARX 01 c-spec from the ALMS, while Strakka wil have the ARX 01 in b-spec. (ex Fernandez car?)
Surprisingly another Acura engine complete the list in P2 in a Lola B08/80 ran by RML.

In GT1 we'll be blessed with the presence of two new Ford GT. Too bad there are still no Nissan GTR and no Maserati MC12 as well (it is considered ACO legal now, isn't it?)

GT2 grid is simply incredible! After last year's boring F430 vs a few 997 GT3 RSR, we have a great variety of car for 2010, with BMWs, Jaguar, Spykers, Astons and Corvettes in the fight!

Here's the full list.

Code: Select all

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

[Pandamasque]

In GT1 we'll be blessed with the presence of two new Ford GT. Too bad there are still no Nissan GTR and no Maserati MC12 as well (it is considered ACO legal now, isn't it?)

Some more teams will be accepted I guess. Those FIA-GT1 cars will be eligible for Le Mans 24h after they compete in certain number of LMS races (don't remember how many). I'm almost sure Vitaphone will be there.

I'm surprised that Luc Alphand didn't enter the new GT2 vettes.

Are you sure about Strakka running the ARX-01B? It's listed as C and read in the news before that its the new version.

PS: GT2 =D>

[WhiteBlue]

AMuS writes that Porsche will test hybrid GT3RS cars this year in the 24h Nürburgring. This is seen as a preparation for a 2011 LeMans attack with a new LMP car.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/moto ... 71221.html

[dumrick]

Some more teams will be accepted I guess.

How? This is the final invitation list, comprising those teams that accepted ACO's invitation and the other that applied for it. It already includes the 55 cars designated to take the start and also the reserves that will take their place if any of those fails to make the start.

Quite an impressive list, numbers and diversity in P1 (Dome is back, hooray!!) and GT2. And Highcroft's take on P2 will deserve an eye on them, the car has already proved competitive and Brabham/Pagenaud/Franchiti sounds like a dream team.

[Pandamasque]

How? This is the final invitation list, comprising those teams that accepted ACO's invitation and the other that applied for it.

Usually there are some entries that refuse to start, IIRC. It's quite a long time to go yet.

[Ray]

Are there any live streams anywhere on the internet in higher quality than SD? (Am I allowed to ask this? ) Cause I don't get SpeedTVHD in this stupid redneck town and I don't want to watch it in SD if I don't have to. I want to record the whole race if possible and I'm not sure how to do it in HD from my cable box. Do the EyeTV things for Mac record in HD, and does anyone have any advice how to accomplish this? Can you do it with one of those DVD recorders?

[dumrick]

Usually there are some entries that refuse to start, IIRC. It's quite a long time to go yet.

That's exactly why there are the reserve cars. This year, for the first time, there are even 2 separate lists, if a prototype doesn't show, it will be replaced by a prototype, a GT by a GT.

The list of reserves is in vyselegend's post:

Code: Select all

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

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

So, other than the 55 entries or the reserves (note: the reserve list is ordered, the reserve cars will be called in the list's order, in case of DNS's), there will be no other cars at Le Mans in June.

[Roland Ehnström]

Nice entry list, both in terms of cars and in terms of drivers. Le Mans is slowly getting back to where it was in the good old days.

[vyselegend]

How? This is the final invitation list, comprising those teams that accepted ACO's invitation and the other that applied for it.

Usually there are some entries that refuse to start, IIRC. It's quite a long time to go yet.

Nope, dumrick is right. Any selected entry unable / unwilling to make the start will be replaced by the first following entry from the reserve list. No MC12 this time sadly... I would be very surprised to learn that the ACO turned off an entry from the likes of Vitaphone, so the most credible option is that they didn't postulate. Maybe Vitaphone felt uncomfortable with the idea of racing in the traffic along faster cars, a situation they didn't encounter yet with the MC12. If I remember well the car is something like 5,4 m long (which made it illegal under ACO rules up to now), so it is probably not very agile... But their performances at the Nurb tend to show they don't care that much about traffic...

Ray, I can't tell what are the broadcast conditions in the USA, but I don't think any TV channel is going to show the whole 24 hours, apart Motors TV (do you guys have Motors TV?). Speed TV don't show the entire races and have a LOT of adverts cut, but it is often possible to catch a free live stream, at least for the IMSA sanctioned races...

Quite an impressive list, numbers and diversity in P1 (Dome is back, hooray!!)

How could I miss that! Woohoo! I gonna see it again!
Bring on June, quick!

[dumrick]

I don't think any TV channel is going to show the whole 24 hours

Ok, I officially envy you, because you probably see it live (I plan it also, eventually...), but Eurosport has been transmitting the full 24 hours live for the last 2 years and I believe they will do it again this year. No idea concerning the US, though...

[Pandamasque]

This is weird. Why would ACO go to great lengths to keep the near dead GT1 alive... for JLOC?

[dumrick]

This is weird. Why would ACO go to great lengths to keep the near dead GT1 alive... for JLOC?

JLOC has been really a very rejectful entry, but that's probably what you get when you are racing Lamborghinis

But, may I remind you that this GT1's aren't last year's GT1's? The ACO opened the class for 2010 FIA GT1's and older ones, but restricted in performance to match the current ones. So, the Murcielago, Corvettes and DBR9 will probably be similar to the ones in FIA GT and the Ford GT's are 2010 cars. Also, looking at the race lengths they are going to have in FIA GT, it's not likely most of the new cars would make a decent showing at the 24 hours, anyway...

Finally, having 8 cars, from 5 different makes isn't that bad, and it seems one of them will probably have a all-girl line-up and racing chicks are hot humm... I wonder if Vanina will race, also...

[Pandamasque]

But, may I remind you that this GT1's aren't last year's GT1's? The ACO opened the class for 2010 FIA GT1's and older ones, but restricted in performance to match the current ones. So, the Murcielago, Corvettes and DBR9 will probably be similar to the ones in FIA GT and the Ford GT's are 2010 cars. Also, looking at the race lengths they are going to have in FIA GT, it's not likely most of the new cars would make a decent showing at the 24 hours, anyway...

It is not clear yet if the GT1's will be in WC spec. On the contrary I reckon it'll be the LMS GT1 so cars like Ford GT and others (that are not in the list) are supposed to modify their cars quite heavily to run 24 hours against the proper GT1s.
Probably that is the reason there is no sign of Nissan or new Reiter Engineering R-SV cars. Remember, FIA-GT WC cars have to run in LMS to be eligible for the 24h.

[dumrick]

But, may I remind you that this GT1's aren't last year's GT1's? The ACO opened the class for 2010 FIA GT1's and older ones, but restricted in performance to match the current ones. So, the Murcielago, Corvettes and DBR9 will probably be similar to the ones in FIA GT and the Ford GT's are 2010 cars. Also, looking at the race lengths they are going to have in FIA GT, it's not likely most of the new cars would make a decent showing at the 24 hours, anyway...

It is not clear yet if the GT1's will be in WC spec. On the contrary I reckon it'll be the LMS GT1 so cars like Ford GT and others (that are not in the list) are supposed to modify their cars quite heavily to run 24 hours against the proper GT1s.
Probably that is the reason there is no sign of Nissan or new Reiter Engineering R-SV cars. Remember, FIA-GT WC cars have to run in LMS to be eligible for the 24h.

Take a look at the technical regulations. On the beginning, you can check the cars allowed: number 3 concerns the cars homologated under the new rules, points 1 and 2 to older homologations, but with performance restrictions. Obviously, it's a bit murky, since the FIA tries to equalize GT cars with specific performance kits - example: in GT2, only Porsche and Ferrari play by the rules, others get waivers to be competitive - so the rules are a bit tricky to understand.

[Pandamasque]

I didn't find anything that dictates the '09 LMGT1 cars to run LMS or LM24h in the '10 FIA-GT1 spec (apart from equalization bit which can mean anything). In any case it would be ridiculous to expect the new WC cars to do 24 hours without serious modifications.