Vive Le Mans!
Posted 02-27-2009 at 11:10 AM by John Dagys
This blog entry is also a featured article on John's official new blog, http://www.thefastline.net. Visit it today!
It seems like the critics come out of the woodwork every February when the the Automobile Club de l’Ouest releases the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I must admit that I’m no exception. Each year, I prepare my own list of “probable” entrants I’d envision the ACO to select in the days prior to its release. Usually I’m not perfect, but almost every time, a few surprises pop in. Surely enough, the 2009 edition was no exception.
Today, the ACO revealed its selections for the 77th edition of the “Grand Prix of Endurance,” and by all means, the organizers did a commendable job to shape this year’s field. Considering there were 83 applicants for 55 spots (plus 10 reserves), the ACO had to make some tough decisions.
Without a doubt, an incredible group of competitors were selected for the two prototype divisions. Audi Sport Team Joest enters three brand-new Audi R15 TDIs, while Team Peugeot Total returns with three of its 908 Hdi-FAPs, seeking revenge. To add to the mix, Aston Martin Racing has taken its factory team to the prototype ranks and fields three V12-powered Lola Coupes.
That’s nine fully factory backed P1s right there, but there’s more. Audi will be lending support to Colin Kolles, who will run a pair of year-old Audi R10 TDIs. Peugeot didn’t want to be outdone and has given one of its 908s to Le Mans stalwart Henri Pescarolo to campaign.
In this economic climate, nobody would have imagined a few months back that there would be a dozen factory backed or manufacturer-assisted cars on the P1 grid this year. But there is. I believe this speaks volumes for Le Mans-branded racing worldwide, and the automaker’s will power to stay in the sport. Sure, Audi has pulled the plug on its American Le Mans Series and European-based Le Mans Series programs, but it’s still rolling out a brand-new car and remains faithful to Le Mans.
If you look at the depth in the LMP2 category, you can see manufacturer presence there, too. Despite dropping its factory backing in the American Le Mans Series, Porsche is continuing to support its RS Spyder privateers in Europe. In fact, two new teams, Team Goh and Vitaphone Racing, have entered RS Spyders for Le Mans. And Team Essex has risen from the ashes to take one more stab at the twice-around-the-clock classic.
Mazda, on the other hand, has increased its support on both sides of the Atlantic, with a two-car program with Dyson Racing in the ALMS and four teams with Mazda MZR-R power at Le Mans. Then of course there’s Chevrolet, which has continued to fund its Pratt & Miller-run Corvette Racing squad despite the brutal US car market, and fields two Corvette C6.Rs in the GT1 class.
The ACO knows it needs to have a good balance of manufacturers and privateers in order for its rather complicated formula to succeed. If you look at this year’s entry list, the organizers have achieved that in P1. Sure, there’s certainly some disappointed teams today, finding out the news that they’re not in the race. I feel for Autocon Motorsports and ECOSpeed Racing, teams that didn’t get an entry. But there’s only 55 spots, and only so much room, especially this year with the increased factory presence.
However, It was interesting to note that the ACO only selected eight GT1 entries out of 22 that filed a request. Was that decision based on the current level of competition (or lack there of it in the ALMS and LMS), or the category’s future? Next year, both GT1 and GT2 will be restructured under new regulations proposed by SRO Chairman Stephane Ratel. Ratel is pushing ahead with plans for a World GT Championship, and the ACO is so far going along with those changes.
A lot of questions remain over what exactly will happen in 2010, though. The rules, which call for current GT2-style cars with engine displacements of over 5.5 liters being classified as GT1 and below 5.5 liters as GT2, doesn’t seem to be gaining much momentum, with only one manufacturer (Nissan) possibly showing interest to race in GT1, and the rest of the marquess content to stay in GT2 (Chevy, Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin). Those “big four” have been calling for a single GT category, but Ratel isn’t responding. What will come of all this, and could the GT1 category’s low entry count at Le Mans have any political ramifications?
Did the ACO only select eight cars on purpose? There were a handful of teams that had the right qualifications (professional drivers, full-season entries in the Le Mans Series), but still didn’t get an invite. Take a look at Larbre Competition for instance. Here’s a team that has been at Le Mans for the last 16 consecutive years, and is put ninth on the reserve list. Or Full Speed Racing, a new team run by GT specialist Graham Nash that recently signed sportscar ace Christophe Bouchut. Was there just not enough room for these two teams, or does the ACO have a grand new plan for future GT regulations?
Even without Larbre and Full Speed, the GT1 grid at Le Mans will be very strong – something the ALMS and LMS has lacked in past seasons. Between Corvette Racing’s two factory racers and a pair of Luc Alphand Corvette C6.Rs, along with two strong privateer Aston Martin DBR9s and Reiter-engineered Lamborghini Murcielagos, there is potential for a competitive race.
Fourteen entries make up GT2, with an overwhelming majority being Prancing Horses. But to the ACO’s credit, five of those were automatic invites for Ferrari’s success on the racetrack from last year. The three Porsche teams, Flying Lizard Motorsports, IMSA Performance Matmut and Team Felbermayr-Proton, are certainly all very strong squads, as long as they don’t run into trouble. Last year, two of the Porsches collided in the early hours, knocking one out of the race and severely delaying the other.
Aside from the Porsche and Ferrari battle, there’s some variety in the category with an Aston Martin Vantage GT2 and Spyker C8 Laviolette. While it may not be completely balanced, the ACO did the best job it could given the circumstances.
If this entry doesn’t get you excited for Le Mans, I’m not sure what will. Without a doubt, Le Mans will be the sportscar race of the year. I’m already counting the days…
It seems like the critics come out of the woodwork every February when the the Automobile Club de l’Ouest releases the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I must admit that I’m no exception. Each year, I prepare my own list of “probable” entrants I’d envision the ACO to select in the days prior to its release. Usually I’m not perfect, but almost every time, a few surprises pop in. Surely enough, the 2009 edition was no exception.
Today, the ACO revealed its selections for the 77th edition of the “Grand Prix of Endurance,” and by all means, the organizers did a commendable job to shape this year’s field. Considering there were 83 applicants for 55 spots (plus 10 reserves), the ACO had to make some tough decisions.
Without a doubt, an incredible group of competitors were selected for the two prototype divisions. Audi Sport Team Joest enters three brand-new Audi R15 TDIs, while Team Peugeot Total returns with three of its 908 Hdi-FAPs, seeking revenge. To add to the mix, Aston Martin Racing has taken its factory team to the prototype ranks and fields three V12-powered Lola Coupes.
That’s nine fully factory backed P1s right there, but there’s more. Audi will be lending support to Colin Kolles, who will run a pair of year-old Audi R10 TDIs. Peugeot didn’t want to be outdone and has given one of its 908s to Le Mans stalwart Henri Pescarolo to campaign.
In this economic climate, nobody would have imagined a few months back that there would be a dozen factory backed or manufacturer-assisted cars on the P1 grid this year. But there is. I believe this speaks volumes for Le Mans-branded racing worldwide, and the automaker’s will power to stay in the sport. Sure, Audi has pulled the plug on its American Le Mans Series and European-based Le Mans Series programs, but it’s still rolling out a brand-new car and remains faithful to Le Mans.
If you look at the depth in the LMP2 category, you can see manufacturer presence there, too. Despite dropping its factory backing in the American Le Mans Series, Porsche is continuing to support its RS Spyder privateers in Europe. In fact, two new teams, Team Goh and Vitaphone Racing, have entered RS Spyders for Le Mans. And Team Essex has risen from the ashes to take one more stab at the twice-around-the-clock classic.
Mazda, on the other hand, has increased its support on both sides of the Atlantic, with a two-car program with Dyson Racing in the ALMS and four teams with Mazda MZR-R power at Le Mans. Then of course there’s Chevrolet, which has continued to fund its Pratt & Miller-run Corvette Racing squad despite the brutal US car market, and fields two Corvette C6.Rs in the GT1 class.
The ACO knows it needs to have a good balance of manufacturers and privateers in order for its rather complicated formula to succeed. If you look at this year’s entry list, the organizers have achieved that in P1. Sure, there’s certainly some disappointed teams today, finding out the news that they’re not in the race. I feel for Autocon Motorsports and ECOSpeed Racing, teams that didn’t get an entry. But there’s only 55 spots, and only so much room, especially this year with the increased factory presence.
However, It was interesting to note that the ACO only selected eight GT1 entries out of 22 that filed a request. Was that decision based on the current level of competition (or lack there of it in the ALMS and LMS), or the category’s future? Next year, both GT1 and GT2 will be restructured under new regulations proposed by SRO Chairman Stephane Ratel. Ratel is pushing ahead with plans for a World GT Championship, and the ACO is so far going along with those changes.
A lot of questions remain over what exactly will happen in 2010, though. The rules, which call for current GT2-style cars with engine displacements of over 5.5 liters being classified as GT1 and below 5.5 liters as GT2, doesn’t seem to be gaining much momentum, with only one manufacturer (Nissan) possibly showing interest to race in GT1, and the rest of the marquess content to stay in GT2 (Chevy, Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin). Those “big four” have been calling for a single GT category, but Ratel isn’t responding. What will come of all this, and could the GT1 category’s low entry count at Le Mans have any political ramifications?
Did the ACO only select eight cars on purpose? There were a handful of teams that had the right qualifications (professional drivers, full-season entries in the Le Mans Series), but still didn’t get an invite. Take a look at Larbre Competition for instance. Here’s a team that has been at Le Mans for the last 16 consecutive years, and is put ninth on the reserve list. Or Full Speed Racing, a new team run by GT specialist Graham Nash that recently signed sportscar ace Christophe Bouchut. Was there just not enough room for these two teams, or does the ACO have a grand new plan for future GT regulations?
Even without Larbre and Full Speed, the GT1 grid at Le Mans will be very strong – something the ALMS and LMS has lacked in past seasons. Between Corvette Racing’s two factory racers and a pair of Luc Alphand Corvette C6.Rs, along with two strong privateer Aston Martin DBR9s and Reiter-engineered Lamborghini Murcielagos, there is potential for a competitive race.
Fourteen entries make up GT2, with an overwhelming majority being Prancing Horses. But to the ACO’s credit, five of those were automatic invites for Ferrari’s success on the racetrack from last year. The three Porsche teams, Flying Lizard Motorsports, IMSA Performance Matmut and Team Felbermayr-Proton, are certainly all very strong squads, as long as they don’t run into trouble. Last year, two of the Porsches collided in the early hours, knocking one out of the race and severely delaying the other.
Aside from the Porsche and Ferrari battle, there’s some variety in the category with an Aston Martin Vantage GT2 and Spyker C8 Laviolette. While it may not be completely balanced, the ACO did the best job it could given the circumstances.
If this entry doesn’t get you excited for Le Mans, I’m not sure what will. Without a doubt, Le Mans will be the sportscar race of the year. I’m already counting the days…
Total Comments 0
Comments
Recent Blog Entries by John Dagys
- Is it a Lola or is it an Aston Martin? (03-05-2009)
- Reflecting on the career of Didier Theys (03-03-2009)
- Vive Le Mans! (02-27-2009)
- Corvette Racing's Future; The Demise of GT1? (09-13-2008)
- Acura's Impressive Sophomore Season (09-05-2008)
