Le Mans news

[Rob]

24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24 entry criteria revealed by the ACO
By Series Update ⋅ December 15, 2009

For entrants who want to take part in the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours (12th – 13th June), the time for sending in entry forms is approaching. Here are the criteria decided by the ACO, which include several innovations.

Entry forms should be sent to the ACO between Monday 21st December 2009 and Wednesday 20th January 2010.
• Teams that have already won their invitation for the Le Mans 24 Hours in the ALMS, LMS and Asian Le Mans Series, FIA GT and Michelin Green X Challenge are automatically selected, but must confirm their entry by letter before 11th January 2010. For them, category changes cancel the automatic invitation and their inclusion will be decided by the Selection Committee.

The Selection Committee will meet under the authority of Mr. Jean?Claude Plassart, the ACO President, at the end of January to draw up the list of 55 entries.
• As announced at the Nu?rburgring 1000kms teams that have competed in 2009 in full in one or more of the Le Mans Series (ALMS, LMS, Asian Le Mans Series) will be given priority. The Selection Committee will also take into account teams entered on a yearly basis in the 2010 ALMS, LMS and Asian Le Mans Series. Entries from manufacturers have priority.

Driver nominations. For its communications requirements, the ACO asks each team to nominate at least 1 driver per car who cannot be replaced (except in the case of force majeure sent to the Sports Committee). In this case, the withdrawal will lead to the driver being removed from the list of those who can be selected for the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours. The names of the other 2 drivers is still optional but recommended up to 12th May after the Spa?Francorchamps 1000kms, the date on which entrants must send in their final driver line?ups to the ACO by letter. Thus, the final list of the driver line?ups for the le Mans 24 Hours will be sent out a month before the race.

2 reserve lists: In addition to the list of the 55 cars, the ACO will draw up a selection of 10 reserve cars divided into 2 separate lists, GT and LMP. Withdrawals received after 1st February 2010 will be replaced category by category – a GT by a GT and an LMP by an LMP. Reserves must confirm their entry before 7th April 2010.

[Rob]

Team Oreca to race 4th Peugeot at Le Mans
By Team Update
© Peugeot Sport

After taking time to consult the various teams which expressed an interest in running a Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in 2010, Peugeot Sport has finally decided to provide Team ORECA MATMUT with a car.

The motor sport record of the Hugues de Chaunac-directed operation provides clear evidence of the team’s skill and professionalism, while the team has provided assurances of its ability to source the necessary funding to enter a 2010-specification 908 HDi FAP in the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the Le Mans Series.

“ORECA and its director Hugues De Chaunac have a proven winning record in several motor sport disciplines over the years,” says Peugeot Sport Director Olivier Quesnel. “We have consequently chosen this team which we believe is the best qualified to defend Peugeot’s colours. Team ORECA MATMUT will run a 908 HDi FAP in the 2010 Le Mans Series, as well as in the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours where its support will be invaluable. I am convinced that our collaboration will be a fruitful one, and that there is every chance it can be extended in the future with the supply of Peugeot engines in 2011.”

[Rob]

Oreca & Peugeot Sport sign a long-term partnership
By Team Update

“I’m happy, proud and enthusiastic,” said a delighted Hugues de Chaunac at the signing of the partnership between Peugeot Sport and ORECA. “Since the launch of our challenge, our aim has been to join up with a major manufacturer with whom we can develop a long-term programme. And now, thanks to the decisive help of our four main partners, it’s done!”

2010: the fourth Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in ORECA colours!

In the final year of the current LM P1 regulations, the ORECA-Matmut team will run the 2010 version of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Le Mans Series races. De Chaunac, who is very proud to have been selected from among several top teams, explains this choice: “It’s a programme that’ll provide us with a great deal of useful information at every level. From a sporting point of view, of course, as we’ll have a prototype with exceptional potential, which has already proved its speed and reliability over the past three seasons. And in the technical field, we’re going to be working hand in glove with Peugeot. It’s the perfect opportunity to develop our relationship.”

2011 perspectives…
In parallel, the ORECA design office is already working on the design of the brand-new ORECA 02 prototype, whose engine will be badged Peugeot Sport. De Chaunac confirms the above: “Our technical team’s already hard at work and is collaborating closely with Peugeot Sport, all of which is helping us to design our future LM P1 prototype in the best possible circumstances. It would be difficult to begin this new phase of our challenge in better conditions.”

[Rob]

Extreme Speed Motorsports reveals lineups
By Series Update

© Patrón Highcroft Racing
Extreme Speed Motorsports, the new race team created and owned by veteran race car driver Scott Sharp, revealed today its driver lineup for the American Le Mans Series’ GT class in 2010. The announcement follows a successful day of testing the team’s first new Ferrari F430 GTC on Wednesday at Sebring International Raceway – the car’s first run on American soil after arriving from the factory in Italy.

“The Ferrari F430 is beautiful and definitely one of the best handling cars I have ever driven,” Sharp said. “The team is incredibly enthusiastic about our relationship with Ferrari, and I’m very excited that we are already hitting the track, testing.”

The team will compete with two cars, one piloted by Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek, and the other with Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo behind the wheel. Tequila Patrón, a longtime supporter of motorsports racing, has signed on as a sponsor, along with Ferrari Corse Clienti and the team’s official tire technical partner Michelin.

Scott Sharp
Sharp, who last season helped Patrón Highcroft Racing bring home the American Le Mans Series’ LMP1 championship and three victories, began racing karts at the early age of 8. His celebrated career on the track has included racing in Champ Car, and the Indy Racing League (including nine IndyCar event wins and 35 top-five finishes, along with 14 Indianapolis 500 starts) before he began competing in the American Le Mans Series in 2008.

Johannes van Overbeek
Sharp’s partner Johannes van Overbeek began his racing career at age 23, purely as a hobby. He has since become one of the world’s top-ranked Porsche drivers, competing in the American Le Mans GT2 series with Flying Lizard Motorsports since 2005. He has amassed six wins in the Series and has finished in the top-five 54 times in 77 starts. He was the recipient of the 2007 Porsche Cup as the world’s top independent Porsche driver.

“I’m very excited about joining ESM and Patrón in the ALMS. Scott has been working tirelessly to ensure that we have all the tools in place to be successful,” commented van Overbeek. “Having been a part of a successful start-up team in the past, I know it won’t be easy but I look forward to contributing to ESM’s long-term success and working hard to ensure that Patrón’s investment in the team and the Series is maximized.”

Ed Brown
Ed Brown will drive the team’s other full-time Ferrari F430 GTC, with partner Guy Cosmo. Brown is formerly a Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama driver who made his debut in the American Le Mans Series in 2009 in the Challenge class with ORBIT Racing. Brown’s best finish in the GT Challenge class last season was in the runner-up spot at Lime Rock Park.

“There’s no one in racing today more passionate and committed to this sport than Scott Sharp, and I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather be racing with than the talented and professional team we’ve assembled here,” said Brown.

Guy Cosmo
Guy Cosmo, 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year and also a former ORBIT Racing driver, competed last season in the No. 47 Porsche 911 GT3. He finished the season 3rd in the Challenge class championship qualifying on the pole three times. Cosmo has 19 starts in the American Le Mans Series, finishing in the top-five 17 times and has been on the winner’s podium twice. In addition to being an accomplished driver, Cosmo is also a highly sought-after driving instructor.

“Joining Scott Sharp’s Extreme Speed Motorsports for the 2010 American Le Mans Series GT2 championship is a great opportunity,” added Cosmo. “This program is exactly what I’ve wanted to be part of for several years now. It’s the ultimate trifecta; Patrón-sponsored, Ferrari-driven, and in the American Le Mans Series. What more could a driver ask for? I’m really looking forward to contributing to the team and making this program a success.”

Michelin is the recognized leader in developing technologies that help provide the right tires for competitive motorsports.

“Extreme Speed Motorsports is thrilled to add Michelin as a technical partner to our team,” Sharp added. “After driving on Michelins for the last two seasons, I know how important it is to run on the best tires out there, and having them on our cars will immediately bring confidence to everyone on the team.”

“This is such an incredible time!” Sharp continued. “We have been able to formulate an incredibly strong team in short order, but not only do we have the best drivers in racing, we also have unbelievable support from the league, and from our partner sponsors. What a combination – Patrón, Ferrari and Michelin – the premium brands in each of their markets.”

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

[Rob]

Ragues and Mailleux confirmed at Signature
By Marcel ten Caat ⋅ December 21, 2009

As we mentioned in the Endurance News Briefs on December 19th Signature will enter a Lola Aston Martin LMP1 in the Le Mans Series in 2010. Even though no drivers were confirmed on Saturday the expectation was that Pierre Ragues and Franck Mailleux would be retained…and that is what happened today.

Today Quadra Sports, the company that manages both Ragues and Mailleux, confirmed that the two French drivers will indeed continue in the Le Mans Series in LMP1 with Signature. As Signature will be an official partner of Aston Martin Racing in the 2010 LMP1 class the two drivers will become Official Aston Martin Racing Team Partner Drivers.

Signature plans to run the Lola Aston Martin in the full Le Mans Series season as well as in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, subject to an invitation by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. The Courage-Oreca LC70 the team used this season will not be used in 2010 and is for sale.

For Pierre Ragues the opportunity to race the Lola Aston Martin is like a dream come true. “This is definitely the highlight of my career so far!” says Ragues. “To be able to continue working with a team as professional and motivated as Signature is fantastic, but to have the opportunity to race with a manufacturer of Aston Martin’s status is truly wonderful. I am so proud to have been offered this chance and I will do all I can to repay the faith that the team has placed in me.

“My experiences in LMP2 gave me very useful experience in preparation for my first season in LMP1 with Signature in 2009 and I think we performed well above everybody’s expectations. Next year, with Aston Martin support, I think we will be much held much higher in people’s expectations but I am sure we will rise to that challenge. Thanks must go to Phillipe and all at Signature for this excellent opportunity; I am really looking forward to getting started after the winter break.”

His team mate, Franck Mailleux, is equally happy with his chance to step up from the Courage-Oreca LC70 into the Lola-Aston Martin. “I am very excited to have the chance to drive in one of the most sought-after seats in the Le Mans Series with Signature and Aston Martin. It is a privilege for me to hold the title of Official Aston Martin Racing Team Partner Driver in 2010. It promises to be a fantastic season working with such an iconic and esteemed manufacturer like Aston Martin, who demonstrated such competitiveness and performance by winning the championship last season.

“I was very pleased with my performances in 2009, my first year in Le Mans Series, and I am optimistic that I can carry my improvements into 2010 and be in an even more competitive situation. With the support of Aston Martin and the professional teamwork from everyone at Signature, I think we will definitely be one of the teams to watch. I’d like to thank Philippe Sinault for his faith in my capabilities; I can’t wait to get started with our preparations in the New Year.”

[Rob]

Strakka Confirms move to HPD ARX-01 for 2010
By Team Update ⋅ December 21, 2009

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat // Strakka Racing Ginetta-Zytek in 2009
Silverstone-based Strakka Racing is pleased to confirm that the team will be competing in the 2010 Le Mans Series with Honda Performance Development (HPD) and the ARX-01 LMP2 sports prototype.

The decision came at the end of a very successful first season in prototype racing for the young team. In just three years, Strakka has progressed from running sports saloons in national championships, via an Aston Martin DBR9 GT1, to competing at the highest level in sportscar racing. Challenging for outright pole in the Le Mans Series, and a highly creditable run in the Le Mans 24 Hours, were just two highlights of 2009.

“The move to HPD has been a logical step for us,” suggests Piers Phillips, Team Manager at Strakka. “We examined all the options open to us, and swiftly recognised that HPD offered us a relationship and product that would give us the best opportunity to move forward with a serious manufacturer. We also felt it was sensible for us to aim for the top in LMP2, rather than attempt another season in LMP1, where the situation looks set to become increasingly dominated by factory squads. The budget for a privateer team such as ourselves is not hugely different in LMP1 and LMP2, but the potential for good results is poles apart - probably quite literally.”

“We are very pleased to welcome Strakka Racing to the HPD family of race teams,” said Stephen Eriksen, HPD Technical Director. “Strakka Racing have a clear direction for their evolution as a team, and we are pleased to be able to support them in their desired direction. We are excited to be competing for the first time in the Le Mans Series LMP2 class and to show that our updated ARX-01c can compete on European circuits as well as it has on American circuits. Thanks to Strakka Racing for giving us that opportunity. We look forward to working with them in the coming year.”

Although not previously seen in Europe, the HPD ARX-01 comes with an excellent record. In the American Le Mans Series, the ARX-01 recorded seven pole positions and eight wins from ten starts in 2009, finishing on the podium in every race. “It’s a well-sorted package, but one that still has enormous potential for further development,” insists Piers. “Our first opportunity to experience that first-hand came at the Misano test in mid-November, and we were hugely impressed.”

Officially invited by Michelin to take part in the test, Strakka Racing arrived with an inspiring driver line-up, including David Brabham, Jonny Kane and Andrea Piccini as well as Strakka regulars Danny Watts and Nick Leventis. “David was simply superb – a pleasure to work with, and a consummate driver,” said Piers. “Jonny and Andrea are both familiar with the LMP2 Lola, and this, combined with Andrea’s local knowledge, gave us an excellent benchmark to judge against. The results confirmed our best hopes, and we all recognised the enormous “wow factor” this car generates.”

The commitment to LMP2 is for a minimum of two years. “The team structure, the personnel and the ethos within the whole outfit is now exactly right,” insists Piers. “After a full foundation year, we can move forwards with confidence, and HPD represents our best opportunity for doing so. I’ve worked with many manufacturers over the years, but I can’t quantify how impressed I have been with their operation, their approach and their technical capabilities.”

The calendar for 2010 is “exciting and diverse,” adds Piers. “It highlights the variety of the series, but it will also be enormously challenging. Anyone fortunate enough to gain an entry to Le Mans, for the 24 Hours, couldn’t have wished for a better first half to the season. Eight hours at Paul Ricard, followed by the Spa 1000 Kilometres, represent the perfect preparation opportunities ahead of the year’s toughest race.”

Strakka Racing intends to begin testing for the 2010 season early in the New Year.

Le Mans Series Calendar 2010

March 7/8 - Official test - Paul Ricard
April 11 - Paul Ricard (8 hours)
May 9 - Spa-Francorchamps (1000 kms)
June 12/13 - Le Mans 24 Hours
July 17 – Portimão, Algarve ((1000 kms, night race)
August 21 - Hungaroring ((1000 kms, night race)
September 12 - Silverstone (1000 kms)

[Rob]

Aston Martin set to sit out 2010 season

By Steven English Monday, December 21st 2009, 10:24 GMT


The works Aston Martin team is set to sit out the 2010 Le Mans Series to focus on its 2011 challenger, with at least one customer team running the current Lola coupe next year.

French team Signature-Plus has announced that it will run at least one of the cars in the LMP1 class of the Le Mans 24 Hours and Le Mans Series next season, driven by Pierre Ragues and Franck Mailleux.

"This is definitely the highlight of my career so far," said Ragues. "To continue with Signature is fantastic, but to have the opportunity to race with Aston Martin is truly wonderful. I am so proud to have been offered this chance and I will do all I can to repay the faith that the team has placed in me."

When Aston Martin Racing's plans for a new car in 2011 were unveiled, AUTOSPORT magazine revealed that marque boss David Richards wanted to concentrate on that project and would consider not running the current car in 2010.

Though AMR is yet to confirm either that it will sit out 2010, and could still enter just the Le Mans 24 Hours with the car.

AMR won the LMS title this year and finished fourth at Le Mans with Stefan Mucke, Tomas Enge and Jan Charouz.

Signature finished 11th at Le Mans with a Courage-ORECA Judd driven by Ragues, Mailleux and Didier Andre.

[Rob]

© Planetlemans - Milo Kol // JMW Motorsport Ferrari F430 at the Nürburgring in 2009
JMW Motorsport, runners up in their debut Le Mans Series GT2 season in 2009, will be switching allegiance for 2010 and 2011 with the announcement they will be competing with the Aston Martin Vantage GT2 in the 2010 Le Mans Series and Le Mans 24 Hour, having become Aston Martin Racing’s official global GT2 Development Partner.

The Essex based team, headed by Team Principal Jim McWhirter, will become an official Aston Martin Racing partner and will work closely with the Banbury-based team on a three year programme to help develop the Vantage GT2.

JMW Motorsport are retaining their strong partnership with Dunlop who have renewed their long term commitment to the team as Development Partners in the GT2 programme. The JMW Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT2 will feature in Dunlop’s 2010 Le Mans Design Competition.

The core team, which took JMW Motorsport to 4th at Le Mans in 2009, remains with Tim Sugden as Team Manager and Steve ‘Doc’ Bunkhall as Technical Director, ably backed by Davey Nicholas, Duncan Ritchie and Ian Jones.

The UK’s Rob Bell, twice LMGT2 Champion, shall once again be part of a formidable driver line-up to be finalised shortly.

An intensive testing programme begins in January ahead of the opening Le Mans Series race on 9-11 April – the 8 Hours of Le Castellet, France. Participation in a number of selected high profile events may be added to the team’s calendar at a later date.

George Howard-Chappell, Aston Martin Racing team principal: “We have focussed considerable engineering resource on improving the performance of the Vantage GT2. While we offer cars in every class from LMP1 to GT4, the GT2 car is probably the most important customer car and the one where we can make the most improvements. Working with a top professional team like JMW with their resources and commitment will mean we will be able to really challenge for GT2 honours in 2010.”

Jim McWhirter, JMW Team Principal: “This is a very exciting development for our team and reflects the efforts invested over the past seasons. This may be a new car for JMW, but the same desire, commitment and perseverance is still there and we are confident we shall be in the mix from the start.

“Dunlop have been an integral part of our success and it is extremely rewarding that they are joining forces with JMW and Aston Martin Racing in this challenging new adventure.”

Jean-Felix Bazelin, General Manager Dunlop Motorsport Europe: “We have worked very successfully over the last four years with Jim McWhirter, winning the Championship twice, and being runner-up once, in the very competitive Le Mans Series GT2 category. It is therefore an obvious decision for Dunlop Motorsport to follow JMW Motorsport in their new challenge with a new car.

“Being associated with Aston Martin, the most prestigious English sports car manufacturer, is an honour and a thrilling prospect for Dunlop. It is also an opportunity for our designers to demonstrate their ability to be successful again with the same partner but another car. I am convinced that the ‘Best of British’ partnership of JMW, Aston Martin, Rob Bell and Dunlop can compete for the 2010 Le Mans Series podiums and stand out in the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours.

“In addition to our full technical support, we will put all our enthusiasm and passion into this fantastic new project. We want to contribute toward making the JMW-Aston Martin the winning package for 2010.”

Tim Sugden, JMW Team Manager: “This is an exiting new chapter for JMW Motorsport and one which cements the team’s desire not only to be at the forefront of racing, but it’s commitment to, and enthusiasm for, development. The greatest sense of competition for JMW comes not from others, but from within and with this new partnership with Aston Martin Racing, the team has the perfect platform to showcase that amazing level of drive and determination.”

Steve ‘Doc’ Bunkhall, JMW Technical Director: “The opportunity to become the GT2 development partner with Prodrive and Aston Martin Racing was too hard to resist! It is going to be very demanding on JMW and we will have to step up, but these are the challenges we relish.”

Rob Bell, JMW Driver: “I am so excited about this new challenge, the only way I can describe it is I feel rejuvenated. As a driver, the opportunity not only to race the Aston Martin Vantage GT2 but to play such an integral part in the development of the car fires me up.

JMW Motorsport’s progress can be followed on their website at www.jmwmotorsport.com. People can also keep in touch via social networking with the JMW Motorsport Facebook group and on Twitter (www.twitter.com, @JMWmotorsport).

[Rob]

© Planetlemans - Milo Kol // JMW Motorsport Ferrari F430 at the Nürburgring in 2009
JMW Motorsport, runners up in their debut Le Mans Series GT2 season in 2009, will be switching allegiance for 2010 and 2011 with the announcement they will be competing with the Aston Martin Vantage GT2 in the 2010 Le Mans Series and Le Mans 24 Hour, having become Aston Martin Racing’s official global GT2 Development Partner.

The Essex based team, headed by Team Principal Jim McWhirter, will become an official Aston Martin Racing partner and will work closely with the Banbury-based team on a three year programme to help develop the Vantage GT2.

JMW Motorsport are retaining their strong partnership with Dunlop who have renewed their long term commitment to the team as Development Partners in the GT2 programme. The JMW Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT2 will feature in Dunlop’s 2010 Le Mans Design Competition.

The core team, which took JMW Motorsport to 4th at Le Mans in 2009, remains with Tim Sugden as Team Manager and Steve ‘Doc’ Bunkhall as Technical Director, ably backed by Davey Nicholas, Duncan Ritchie and Ian Jones.

The UK’s Rob Bell, twice LMGT2 Champion, shall once again be part of a formidable driver line-up to be finalised shortly.

An intensive testing programme begins in January ahead of the opening Le Mans Series race on 9-11 April – the 8 Hours of Le Castellet, France. Participation in a number of selected high profile events may be added to the team’s calendar at a later date.

George Howard-Chappell, Aston Martin Racing team principal: “We have focussed considerable engineering resource on improving the performance of the Vantage GT2. While we offer cars in every class from LMP1 to GT4, the GT2 car is probably the most important customer car and the one where we can make the most improvements. Working with a top professional team like JMW with their resources and commitment will mean we will be able to really challenge for GT2 honours in 2010.”

Jim McWhirter, JMW Team Principal: “This is a very exciting development for our team and reflects the efforts invested over the past seasons. This may be a new car for JMW, but the same desire, commitment and perseverance is still there and we are confident we shall be in the mix from the start.

“Dunlop have been an integral part of our success and it is extremely rewarding that they are joining forces with JMW and Aston Martin Racing in this challenging new adventure.”

Jean-Felix Bazelin, General Manager Dunlop Motorsport Europe: “We have worked very successfully over the last four years with Jim McWhirter, winning the Championship twice, and being runner-up once, in the very competitive Le Mans Series GT2 category. It is therefore an obvious decision for Dunlop Motorsport to follow JMW Motorsport in their new challenge with a new car.

“Being associated with Aston Martin, the most prestigious English sports car manufacturer, is an honour and a thrilling prospect for Dunlop. It is also an opportunity for our designers to demonstrate their ability to be successful again with the same partner but another car. I am convinced that the ‘Best of British’ partnership of JMW, Aston Martin, Rob Bell and Dunlop can compete for the 2010 Le Mans Series podiums and stand out in the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours.

“In addition to our full technical support, we will put all our enthusiasm and passion into this fantastic new project. We want to contribute toward making the JMW-Aston Martin the winning package for 2010.”

Tim Sugden, JMW Team Manager: “This is an exiting new chapter for JMW Motorsport and one which cements the team’s desire not only to be at the forefront of racing, but it’s commitment to, and enthusiasm for, development. The greatest sense of competition for JMW comes not from others, but from within and with this new partnership with Aston Martin Racing, the team has the perfect platform to showcase that amazing level of drive and determination.”

Steve ‘Doc’ Bunkhall, JMW Technical Director: “The opportunity to become the GT2 development partner with Prodrive and Aston Martin Racing was too hard to resist! It is going to be very demanding on JMW and we will have to step up, but these are the challenges we relish.”

Rob Bell, JMW Driver: “I am so excited about this new challenge, the only way I can describe it is I feel rejuvenated. As a driver, the opportunity not only to race the Aston Martin Vantage GT2 but to play such an integral part in the development of the car fires me up.

JMW Motorsport’s progress can be followed on their website at www.jmwmotorsport.com. People can also keep in touch via social networking with the JMW Motorsport Facebook group and on Twitter (www.twitter.com, @JMWmotorsport).

[Rob]

© Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin will be represented by two teams in the new FIA GT1 World Championship in 2010. Teams Hexis AMR and Young Driver AMR have applied for entry and each plan to run two Aston Martin DBR9s in the championship. Entries are subject to approval by the FIA and the confirmed entry list will be issued in January.

Hexis AMR, an existing Aston Martin Racing partner team, based at the Nimes circuit in France has successfully campaigned Aston Martin DBRS9s for the past three years, winning the FIA GT3 European Teams Championship in 2009. In addition to its existing GT3 activity, the French team is adding two GT1 DBR9s to its stable of Aston Martin race cars in preparation for the World Championship.

Young Driver AMR is a new team, formed specifically to compete in the FIA GT World Championship with Aston Martins. The team has taken delivery of its two DBR9s and is currently setting up its new race facility.

With 10 events on four continents, organisers hope that the new championship will capture the hearts and attention of motorsport fans around the globe.

The calendar for the inaugural season of the FIA GT1 World Championship as approved by the World Motor Sport Council is:

03 Apr Abu Dhabi Yas Marina
02 May UK Silverstone
23 May Czech Republic Brno
04 Jul France* Paul Ricard
01 Aug Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
29 Aug Germany Nürburgring
19 Sep Portugal Portimao
07 Nov South Africa* Durban
28 Nov Brazil Interlagos
05 Dec Argentina San Luis
*Subject to the ASN confirmation

Based on the road-going DB9, the V12 engined Aston Martin DBR9 has enjoyed great success since winning its inaugural race at Sebring in 2005. Multiple race wins around the world followed and the DBR9 went on to win its class at Le Mans in 2007 and 2008 in the hands of Aston Martin Racing.

The announcement of the new World Championship will see a change to the existing structure with GT1, GT2, and GT3 classes split into three distinct championships.

The FIA GT1 World Championship is for independent teams and professional drivers, the FIA GT2 European Championship is for independent teams and pro-am driver crews, and the FIA GT3 European Championship is for independent teams and non-professional drivers.

Further information about the Aston Martin teams and their driver line-ups will be announced in January following confirmation of the full entry list.

[Rob]

Rossi turns down Alesi's Le Mans offer

By Simon Strang and Michele Lostia Sunday, December 27th 2009, 15:47 GMT


Valentino Rossi has turned down an offer to race alongside Jean Alesi in a Ferrari 430 GT2 car in the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours.

The reigning Moto GP world champion, who finished third in class in the Vallelunga Six Hours GT race last month, told AUTOSPORT in the summer that he would be interested in competing in the French classic in the future.

But as he prepares to compete for his tenth world championship title, Rossi has ruled out any participation in car events that might distract him from this task - including Rally Mexico.

"I'm flattered by Jean's offer, but June is the busiest month of the championship, with as many as three races scheduled, so it's impossible to think of participating in the 24 Hours race," Rossi told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Rossi's Yamaha team manager David Brivio also emphasised Rossi's determination to concentrate on defending his crown in 2010.

"Valentino has even abandoned the idea of taking part in the Rally of Mexico, because it's too close to the start of the season, and there are the test sessions too," said Brivio. "Truth is, when the season starts, Vale wants to concentrate solely on bikes, which constitute his proper job.

"That's why he takes part in rallies and car races only once the season finishes."

Former Ferrari F1 driver Alesi, who will race an AF Corse Ferrari 430 in the Sebring 12 Hours and Le Mans, admitted he had got the idea after learning that Rossi was interested in doing the 24 Hours.

"It would be a dream for me, even though in truth I haven't spoken to Valentino yet," said the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix winner. "I got the idea after reading of his desire to race at Le Mans. So why not do that with me?"

[Rob]

Kolles plans Intercontinental Cup entry

The Kolles team is to continue running its Audi LMP1 programme in 2010 and will contest the new Intercontinental Cup as well as staying in the Le Mans Series.

The squad, best known for its Formula 3 and DTM projects and for boss Colin Kolles' involvement with the Force India Formula 1 team, made its sportscar debut with two Audi R10 TDIs this year, contesting the full LMS schedule, the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Asian Le Mans Series races at Okayama.

Participating in the Intercontinental Cup next season means that next year it will also race in the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, a round of the American Le Mans Series.

Le Mans organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest has announced a rules break to allow the R10 to continue racing in its original form while the newer generation of diesel prototypes will need to be modified to fit the latest regulations.

The team believes that the rules situation and its growing sportscar experience will make it more competitive in 2010.

"Apart from the experience gained in the past season, surely the specification of the regulations made by the organiser Automobile Club de l'Ouest will have a hand in the competitiveness of the successful Audi LMP1," said a Kolles statement.

The team also hopes to get a Le Mans 24 Hours entry again. It has not yet announced any of its 2010 drivers.

Kolles' two cars took seventh and 10th in the LMS LMP1 standings this year, and its #14 car finished seventh at Le Mans with Charles Zwolsman Jr and Andre Lotterer. Its best result of the season was third in the first Okayama race with Oliver Jarvis and Christian Bakkerud.

[Rob]

Planetlemans wishes you a happy 2010!!!

January 1, 2010

Another year has gone by and we’re now in 2010. We wish all our readers a very happy New Year! After finishing the champagne and the snacks it is time to get 2010 underway!

At Planetlemans we will continue our coverage of the world’s best endurance and GT racing series. So there is more to come from the various Le Mans Series around the world, the FIA GT1 World Championship, the FIA GT2 European Championship as well as the 78th 24 Hours of Le Mans in June…and of course we will also look at other series.

2010 will in many ways be a transition year. New regulations for LMP cars will be introduced for 2011, so teams will not come up with brand new ideas for this season at Le Mans and in the Le Mans Series.

Ratel and his organization will however do something new: a brand new World Championship for GT1 cars. And even though many of the cars raced in 2009 will be seen in 2010, the idea is good. It will be interesting to see how this championship develops.

In America the new American Le Mans Series format, without LMP1 and GT1 but with Formula Le Mans cars and GT3 cars, will be something new as well. Considering the fact that Audi will not race at Sebring for the first time in 10 years it might well be crucial for the series.

Over in Europe the Le Mans Series has changed its calendar again compared to 2009. The Nürburgring, on the calendar since the start of the series, has been dropped, while Barcelona is also off the calendar. Replacing these rounds are an 8-hour race at Paul Ricard as well as a second night race at the Hungaroring.

GT racing fans in Europe will have nothing to complain about, as lots of national and international series will be racing across the continent, giving plenty of opportunities to see the action in real life.

Only a few months before the action kicks off again…we’re ready for it!

[Rob]

New ACO series not in Peugeot plans

Friday, January 1st 2010, 16:20 GMT

Peugeot is unlikely to contest the new Le Mans Intercontinental Cup despite arch-rival Audi Sport's decision to do so, preferring instead to focus its time and resource on building a new LMP1 prototype for the 2011 regulations.

The new Cup will begin with the Le Mans Series finale, the AUTOSPORT 1000km at Silverstone in September, before going on to Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and finishing with an as yet unspecified round of the Asian Le Mans Series.

But while Peugeot will not officially confirm its plans until February, Peugeot Sport boss Olivier Quesnel told AUTOSPORT that Peugeot was unlikely to have a factory presence in 2010 after the Le Mans 24 Hours.

"The board has given me a budget with two objectives: to do our best with the current car at Le Mans and to build a new car for 2011," said Quesnel.

"The Intercontinental Cup is a good idea, but we can't do everything.

Quesnel also confirmed that Sebastien Loeb is to get two more tests in Peugeot's 908 HDi FAP before the French manufacturer decides whether to field the World Rally Champion in one its cars in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours race.

Loeb has already driven the car at Mugello and Aragorn, and while Peugeot is happy with his performance, the Frenchman still feels he needs more time in the car.

"We were happy with what he did," said Quesnel, "but Seb told me he did not feel he was up to speed."

[Rob]

i know it FIA GT news, but....

Gigawave to close GT1 team

Friday, January 1st 2010, 14:45 GMT

The Gigawave Motorsport team, which was set to represent Nissan in this year's new FIA GT1 World Championship, is to close down according to a report on this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, published yesterday.

Gigawave was Nissan's development partner on the V8-engined GT-R project in 2009, and was due to have coordinated sale of cars and spares for the Japanese manufacturer this year.

The company has not yet officially confirmed its decision, but AUTOSPORT understands that financial problems were behind the move.

Nissan, which is now looking for a new European agent and team to run a pair of its GT-Rs in 2010, still has two cars entered in the FIA GT1 World Championship with the Swiss Racing Team.

[Rob]

Mansell targets Le Mans LMP1 entry

Monday, January 4th 2010, 10:55 GMT


Nigel Mansell is targeting a drive in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours after linking up with British sportscar team Beechdean Motorsport.

The 1992 Formula 1 world champion has formed Beechdean Mansell Motorsport to run a factory-backed Ginetta-Zytek Z09R in the LMP1 class of the Le Mans Series this year, and is hoping to receive an entry for the 24 Hours.

Mansell's two sons, Leo and Greg, will share the car during the season with Nigel joining for selected races.

"I'm very happy to announce this partnership between myself and Beechdean," said Mansell. "The team comes fresh to the LMS with an impeccable pedigree and full support from Zytek.

"I'm very excited about 2010 and the prospect of racing with both by sons for the first time. I can confirm that I will be racing with Leo and Greg during the season and, if we receive an entry, we will also be racing at Le Mans."

Mansell shared a Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 with Greg in the LMS round at Silverstone last year. Greg also competed in Formula Renault 3.5, while Leo raced a Team Modena Ferrari F430 GT in the LMS and at Le Mans.

Beechdean Motorsport has raced in British GT since 2007, when it ran a Ferrari 360, and then switched to an Aston Martin Vantage N24 for 2008.

"It has been an ambition of mine to race a Le Mans prototype ever since we started racing GTs," said Beechdean boss Andrew Howard. "It's a dream come true for our young team to enter into a partnership with one of the sport's most famous names.

"Nigel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and Leo and Greg are already established as accomplished race drivers in their own right.

"We begin testing early in the new year and 2010 promises to be an exciting and dynamic year. We can't wait to get started."

[Rob]

Jean-Christophe Boullion joins REBELLION Racing
By Marcel ten Caat ⋅ January 8, 2010

REBELLION Racing has completed its line up for the 2010 Le Mans Series season by signing Jean-Christophe Boullion. The French driver will team up with Andrea Belicchi in one of the two Lola-Rebellion cars this season. Boullion will also compete for REBELLION Racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Jean-Christophe Boullion was one of the fastest drivers in the 2009 Le Mans Series, racing for Pescarolo Sport last year. With the arrival of the Le Mans Series champion of 2005 and 2006 and vice-champion in 2009 the line-up of the Swiss team promises a lot for the upcoming season.

The news also brings fresh doubts about the 2010 plans of Henri Pescarolo.

[Rob]

Pierre Ehret joins AutoCon Motorsports

January 12, 2010

AutoCon Motorsports announced today the signing of GT veteran Pierre Ehret to co-drive the AutoCon Lola B06/10 at the three 2010 ALMS enduro events (Sebring, Laguna, Petit). Support is provided by the Flamingo Resort Hotel and Ehret Family Winery.

Ehret is a frequent competitor in the ALMS with his last foray into the series netting him a GT2 podium finish at the Laguna in the 2009 finale.
Meanwhile in the LMS GT2 category where he runs fulltime he was a frequent visitor to the podium and finished the season ranked 4th in the drivers championship.

“Pierre is quick and consistently gets the maximum out of the car while still bringing it home” observed AutoCon Principal Michael Lewis. “This is exactly the type of driver you want at Sebring , Petit and Laguna and we are looking forward to see what he can do. He does have a bit of prototype experience but it’s been awhile and I know he’s looking forward to the challenge. We’ll give him a familiarization run out west and then it’s off to Sebring to throw him in the deep end!”

For his part Pierre is looking forward to running in the ALMS’s premier class. The car will be new to him but he is very familiar with the circuits. “It will be a real change driving out the front of the car instead of looking for prototypes in the mirror all day” noted a smiling Pierre. “I hope we can do something special with AutoCon starting at Sebring. I really enjoy the GT2 class but wanted to experience a prototype, so when this opportunity came up it was perfect”

[Rob]

Lola Group releases Lola B10/60 details
By Team Update ⋅ January 13, 2010


Lola are pleased to release details of its much anticipated development upgrades to the successful LMP1 and LMP2 designs. The newly titled B10/60 LMP1 Coupe sees significant upgrades in both mechanical and aerodynamic areas. The Lola LMP cars are set to race on both sides of the Atlantic in 2010, as well as at the 78th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

After winning both LMP1 and LMP2 Le Mans Series constructors titles in 2009, Lola has continued to invest in and further develop its capabilities to ensure that the LMP designs have a major advancement in pace for the new racing season.

As well as perpetual upgrading in CFD and Windtunnel facilities, Lola has also seen key investment in its assembly and office areas as well as taking on extra technical staff to bolster its already renowned design office.

Lola has been a clear market leader in recent sportscar history with 60 LMP designs having been sold since 1999. With flexibility in technical and commercial strategies, Lola continues its dedicated support to all its teams.

Lola Cars Managing Director Robin Brundle will be interviewed on the Autosport Main Stage at 13.30 on Thursday afternoon, along with Lord Paul Drayson from Drayson Racing and Guy Smith from Dyson Racing.

Q&A with Julian Sole, Chief Engineer, Lola Cars

Q. What are the key changes that people will see for the 2010 season?

A. “We have done a lot of work on suspension geometry, improving front and rear suspension; there was quite a big focus on that this year. When the car is released you’ll be able to see the rear of the bodywork is a lot different. Everything rearwards from the door is different. We have also incorporated on to the LMP1 the removable rear end that we had on the LMP2 car last year.

Q: When did the planning for 2010 begin? Was it straight after the last race or was it influenced by the regulation announcement?

“We really started work in the middle of last season. Then the regulation changes influenced it further which meant that we had to keep going longer (in the tunnel) which worked extremely well for us.”

Q. For 2010, what is the percentage of mechanical and aerodynamic updates that have been made to the Lola LMP? Can you give a precise or rough estimate?

A. “This year, in terms of development time spent, it is probably 50/50. We have completed a lot of mechanical work as well as the aero programme, so really there is more mechanical development for the 2010 spec car then we usually would do. This has included a lot of very concentrated vehicle dynamic work on our 7-post test rig and all the new suspension geometry.”

Q. How did the regulation changes affect your work in the tunnel?

. “The regulation changes, although they seem quite small, always affect the balance of the car and the performance of the car, so it’s just working to make the car work with the new regulations. In practice it meant we had to change a few surfaces on the car.”

Q. Obviously you know the car inside out after two full seasons of racing. How do you decipher the data from having been on track to then make a decision to change different areas of the car?

. “The focus of how much development we do each year and which areas we develop is not only an engineering decision, but also a commercial decision. We can’t do a new car every year because customers simply couldn’t afford to update to that level each year, so we tend to focus on smaller development areas of the car so teams can update their cars with kits to keep the cars moving forward in terms of pace. All the information we get back from the teams will be useful in closing the loop and continuing the development of the cars with the teams’ feedback. Drivers always give us an idea of the strengths of the car and we can focus on pushing even further forward.”

Q. What about the step-by-step process of development? How do the designers and the aerodynamicists work on it all practically?

. “Our initial steps will often be done on CFD, of which we have a very good capability at Huntingdon. Those parts will be pushed through into the wind tunnel team who will do further work on developing them just to get the last piece out of the development before we turn it into full-size CAD surfaces. Then we release them to make full size tooling, then full-size components for the car.”

Q. Are there areas on an LMP car that are given over more to aero-dynamic development? Is there a specific area where you just can’t exhaust the development, you just chip away?

“ The answer is easy. You can’t exhaust the development you do on any project. It’s an ongoing process and we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t find consistently more improvements, so it’s just a case of carrying on and moving forward. Every new development generates a massive amount of new ideas of where we could go next. So, the parts that make it onto the car are really just a point in time where we have to release the car, otherwise we would be constantly in a development circle. Once we have released to the car, we go back to the development side of it, pushing it forward ready for the next development and we never really stop.”

Q. There is a fierce debate about CFD v Wind Tunnel – what’s your opinion on how this is helping the 2010 updates for the LMP?

“We use both and they both have a very important place in the development process. I wouldn’t really want to loose either of them. So, in terms of putting them in a priority, it’s very difficult because we rely on both. They both have strengths and weaknesses and we play them always to their strengths in order to push the development of the car forward as quickly as we can. The other areas are 7-post rig testing which is carried out once we have the full-sized car. We run simulations to validate and focus the design areas and find where we can get the maximum improvement in lap time for our development strategy.”

Q. Please talk us through the interim regulations that the ACO announced last autumn?

“With the interim regulations for 2010, the changes next year centre on the bodywork around the rear wheels where you now have to have a louver panel rather than gauze. Up until 2010 we have been able to just put wire mesh behind the rear wheels which now the ACO would like removed, really because the gauze is getting damaged by lumps of rubber (marbles) and stones flicking up from the rear wheels and pushing the meshes out and leaving meshes lying on the track which can be dangerous. So the ACO have changed the regulations to incorporate a louvre panel rather than a mesh and that is part of an interim rule because the 2011 regulations will be closing that area off totally. So, we will not be allowed any openings there at all eventually.”

Q. Any changes to the cockpit or the A/C systems or anything ergonomically within the tub itself?

“No, the ergonomics inside the tub tend to get honed quite a lot to the drivers’ requirements depending whether they are tall or small drivers or not. Various pieces get changed to suit them, so we try to allow as flexible an interior as we can, so they can move to suit their needs. The A/C has been very successful, so we haven’t really done much work on changing it. It worked very reliably through last season, so we have kept that pretty much as it was.”

Q. Looking at the season, how easy is it for us to react to adding certain development parts – do you envisage Lola having an additional kit for certain specs of racetrack?

“Not necessarily. The car that we produce is a very similar car that races in Europe at the low drag circuits and in America on high downforce circuits, so we have to design a car that has a good range of downforce that is adjustable by the team with various components around the car. So, going from high to low downforce really is a strength of the car as a standard design feature and I am glad to say we have this in abundance. As the season goes on, depending on how development work is going, we will often try to release a small update kit during the season to improve things.”

(Source: Lola Group)

[Rob]

NISMO announces FIA GT1 Championship teams

January 14, 2010

NISMO (Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd.) today confirmed that is has signed official partnership agreements with Swiss Racing Team and Sumo Power GT for the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship.

The Swiss and British team will run two Nissan GT-Rs each in the new World Championship, where NISMO will support both teams. Swiss Racing Team already confirmed its partnership with NISMO back in November. The team, managed by former Jetalliance Racing and KplusK Motorsport technical director Othmar Welti, is considering Karl Wendlinger as one of their drivers. No announcements were made about the drivers.

With the news that Gigawave MotorSport would not be running the Nissan GT-R in 2010 there were several rumors floating on the internet, with the names of Larbre Competition, CRS Racing and Scuderia Ecosse being on top of most shortlists. Sumo Power GT is an unknown name for most people, although it seems that British JR Motorsports is behind this project. The company ran Mitsubishi Evo Xs in the British Rally Championship and is also behind Sumo Power, “the UK’s number 1 for Japanese performance parts.”

More details about the teams including driver line-ups will be announced at the later date.

[Rob]

Primetime Race Group announces LMPC plans
By Team Update ⋅ January 14, 2010

Announced today, Primetime Race Group has signed 19 year old Canadian driver Kyle Marcelli to co-drive alongside team owner Joel Feinberg in the 2010 American LeMans Series in the LeMans Prototype Challenge class (LMPC).

After clinching the 2009 IMSA Prototype Lites Championship, the Florida based team has decided to build on that success and take their team to the next level of motorsports. Throughout 2009, Feinberg and Marcelli competed head to head in the ALMS feeder series each with a goal of making a future move into Le Mans Prototypes. Recognizing each other’s abilities behind the wheel as well as sharing the same aspirations as drivers, the two are excited to team up for a run at the LMPC season championship in 2010.

Throughout the off season and recent months the hard work and determination of both Joel and Kyle to make this move have finally come to fruition. Together they will co-drive the Primetime Race Group entry through the pre-season testing and in each of the nine events on the ALMS race schedule, all with one goal of following up Primetime’s 2009 championships. By winning a season championship in the LMPC class, Kyle Marcelli will make history as the youngest American Le Mans Series champion.

“This is a dream come true for me” Said Marcelli, “when I was 13, my dad and I used to go to Mosport International Raceway each year when the American LeMans Series arrived in late August. We would sit on top of turn two with thousands of others and watch the prototypes and GT cars race by, 6 years later I have found myself behind the wheel. I’m excited to team up with Joel and Primetime, he is a quick driver with a good amount of experience in the American Le Mans series and the team has shown a great track record over the years. I know we will both be pushing each other all season long”.

Primetime is no stranger to the big show, the team has campaigned their Dodge Viper GT2 program in the American Le Mans full time for the past two years as a privateer team and was recently awarded the 2009 Founders Cup Championship as the #1 non-factory supported team in the series. This recognition coupled with their championship in IMSA Lites shows an obvious progression in the team as well as defining them as true winners in their sport. A move to the LMPC class has been expected and looks to be as successful as their past endeavours.

“This move is a true testament to all of our hard work over the past few years” said Feinberg. “Our goal as a team since day one was to start at the bottom and work our way to the top. We’ve proven ourselves thus far and have established a team that can compete anywhere, against anyone. Racing at this level is a serious commitment and it takes the effort of the entire team to win races, after racing against Kyle last year and getting to know him I feel that he will be a great addition to our team and I look forward to winning lots of races with him this year”

The team is currently underway with preparations before pre-season testing begins February 22-23 at Sebring International Raceway. Drivers Joel Feinberg and Kyle Marcelli will be looking to make good use of the testing time to develop the car and be race ready for the start of the 2010 American LeMans Series season which kicks off on March 20th with the 58th annual Mobile 1 “12 Hours of Sebring

[Rob]

McNish, Minassian want world series

Saturday, January 16th 2010, 13:24 GMT

Le Mans stars Allan McNish and Nicolas Minassian have given their full backing to the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's plan for a new worldwide LMP1 series.

The ACO's Le Mans Intercontinental Cup will commence with this year as a three-race series encompassing the AUTOSPORT 1000kms at Silverstone, the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, and a yet to be decided event in Asia.

The organisers hope the cup can develop into a season-long championship by 2011 - and McNish and Minassian, whose Audi and Peugeot teams have not contested full series since 2008, are extremely keen to see it succeed.

"In 2011 the ACO's idea is to roll out a kind of world championship, and with the suggestion of a few other manufacturers coming on board, I can see that being a very, very good programme, with more non-manufacturer teams able to fight out the Le Mans Series championship and the American Le Mans Series championship while the manufacturers go into this global branding programme," said McNish on stage at AUTOSPORT International today.

Minassian added: "Next year I cross my fingers and would really like to have a world championship coming out of it, because we're not racing much at the minute. We want to go to circuits around the world and have great competition all year.

"We need more races, we really need this championship to happen. The cars are so good to race, they're made for these types of circuit, and it's just so much fun."

McNish admitted he would dearly love to fight for a fully-fledged world championship.

"I have won thankfully all the major races in sportscar racing, I have won three American Le Mans Series titles, but I'd love to have a crack at a world title," he said.

"As a racing driver, when you go to your retirement home, it's always nice if you've got that chance to have world champion against your name in any category. From that point of view it is a fantastic opportunity if it can develop as they hope."

[Rob]

IMSA Performance Matmut wins 24H Dubai
Series Update January 16, 2010

The French IMSA Performance MATMUT team has won the fifth anniversary edition of the Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai. After 24 hours of racing at the 5.390 kilometres long Dubai Autodrome circuit, its driver pairing of Raymond Narac, Patrick Pilet and Marco Holzer had racked up a total of 608 laps with the team’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Marco Holzer drove the car across the finish line.

“My first ever outright win in a 24-hour race, a fantastic feeling”, said the German. Second place was taken by the Japanese Petronas Syntium Team with the BMW Z4 Coupé, driven by Nobuteru Taniguchi, Masataka Yanigada, Farique Hairuman, Johannes Stuck and Hiroki Yoshida. The Al Faisal Racing team with Abdulaziz Al Faisal, Claudia Hürtgen, Marko Hartung and Khaled Al Faisal took their BMW Z4 Coupé to third place overall.

The French IMSA Performance MATMUT team couldn’t have hoped for a better debut in the Dunlop 24H of Dubai. Their maiden participation in the first international motor racing event of the new year not only brought them pole position, but also a commanding outright victory with a margin of no less than three laps. Together with the BMWs, the IMSA Performance MATMUT team set the pace for most of the race, their car with starting number 66 never running outside the top three. “Of course, we had our little problems, but it is great having been able to bring victory home. I am particularly happy for Porsche and for our sponsor MATMUT”, said driver and team owner Raymond Narac. Patrick Pilet, who had qualified the car on pole position on Thursday, admitted to having had a difficult moment right after the start. “There was a driver of a smaller car who didn’t see me and hit the left rear wheel of my car. I was really worried then, but fortunately, the car turned out to be all right.”

The first eight hours saw a lot of action that involved some of the possible contenders for a podium finish. Among the early retirements were the Auto Racing Club Bratislava-Porsche (Miroslav Konopka/Oliver Morley/Sean Edwards/Richard Cvörnjek) and the Besaplast-Porsche (Franjo Kovac/Martin Tschornia/Kurt Thiim/Roland Asch/Sebastian Asch). The latter team that finished third in last year’s race was out of contention after their car caught fire on the main straight with Martin Tschornia behind the wheel, seven and a half hours into the race. The unfortunate driver escaped unscathed, but the car was damaged beyond immediate repair.

Last year’s winners, the number 1-Land Motorsport-Porsche (Gabriel Abergel/Xavier Pompidou/Carsten Tilke/Otto Klohs) was sidelined as well after Tilke had over-revved the engine. Almost at the same time, the number 148-AF Corse Ferrari (Robert Kaufmann/Michael Waltrip/Marcos Ambrose/Rui Aguas/Niki Cadei) became involved in a collision with another car. NASCAR-star Michael Waltrip, who drove his first-ever 24-hour race in Dubai, couldn’t avoid the collision when the other car started swerving in front of him. The Ferrari also incurred considerable damage and retired. Up to the time of the accident, the car had always been in the top ten, running as high as sixth at times.

In the opening half of the race, the pace was set by the two IMSA Performance Matmut-Porsches and the BMWs of the Petronas Syntium Team and Al Faisal Racing. However, the IMSA Performance Matmut-team 65’s hopes were dealt a severe blow when the clutch had to be replaced on the car in the twelfth hour of the race. Later on, the car was sidelined due to gearbox failure.

The Japanese Petronas Synthium team also raced in Dubai for the first time. They had their pair of BMW Z4s in the top five for most of the race, but the second car (Tatsuya Kataoka/Manabu Orido/Johan Adzmi/Kosuke Matsuura/Hiroki Yoshida) retired with half an hour remaining. A good performance was shown by the BMW Team Hungary with Efficient Dynamics. The BMW 120D driven by Lázlò Palik/János Vida/Csaba Walter/Gábor Weber finished eleventh overall out of the 75 participating cars, winning the D2-class for diesel-powered cars. The Hungarian Brokernet Silversting sportscar was also successful, winning the SP1 category with Kalman Bodis/Attila Barta/Istvàn Ràcz/Wolfgang Kaufmann driving for the Bovi Motorsport team. Leading the A3T-class, the SEAT Leon of the Spanish SUNRED team (Oscar Nogues/Michael Rossi/Ferran Monje/Borja Veiga) was in the top ten for a long time, but dropped back after a collision. Still, the SUNRED team scored a 1-2 in this class.

The German Black Falcon team that has won the title in the German Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring for the past two years also had a very successful debut in Dubai, winning the SP2-class with the BMW M3 (Vimal Metha/Sean Patrick Breslin/Sean Paul Breslin/Christer Jöns/Alexander Böhm) and the A4-class with the BMW Z4 Coupé (Oleg Volin/Andrii Lebed/Marc Colell/Kai Riebetz/Alexander Böhm). There was local success for the AUH Motorsport team that won the SP3-class with the Aston Martin Vantage, driven by Humaid Al Masaood/Alex Kapadia/Michael Prophet/Eric Charles. The A2-class brought victory for Team Sally Racing from Denmark, their Renault Clio driven by Anders Maigaard/Dan Brian Träger/Martin Sally Pederson/Brian Borger/Mick Reimerson. Victory in the D1 class, last but not least, went to the Marcos Racing International BMW 120D of Jim Briody/Hall Prewitt/Toto Lassally/Cor Euser.

The top three:

1. Narac/Pilet/Holzer (F/F/D), Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, 608 laps in 24.01.34.668
2. Taniguchi/Yanagida/Hairuman/Stuck/Yoshida (J/J/MAL/LIE/J), BMW Z4, 3 laps
3. Al Faisal/Hürtgen/Hartung/Al Faisal (KSA/D/D/KSA), BMW Z4, 5 laps

The class winners:

A2 # 89 Team Sally Racing Renault Clio
A3T # 74 Sunred 1 SEAT Leon Supercopa
A4 # 88 Team Black Falcon 2 BMW Z4 Coupé
A5 # 40 Petronas Synthium Team BMW Z4 Coupé
A6 # 66 IMSA Racing Performance Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
D1 # 112 Marcos Racing International 1 BMW 120D
D2 # 33 BMW Team Hungary with E.D. BMW 120D
SP1 # 168 Bovi Motorsport Brokernet Silversting
SP2 # 111 Team Black Falcon 1 BMW M3 E92
SP3 # 122 AUH Motorsports 2 Aston Martin Vantage GT4

[Rob]

Herbert wants Le Mans return

Sunday, January 17th 2010, 15:50 GMT


Johnny Herbert says he is open to offers to return to the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The former Formula 1 driver won Le Mans with Mazda in 1991, and contested the race several times after his F1 career ended. But he has not participated in the legendary French event since his 2007 outing with Aston Martin's GT1 team.

"I'd like to go back to Le Mans for sure," said Herbert on stage at AUTOSPORT International. "Everyone thinks I'm very expensive for some reason - I'm not, so please come and talk to me!

"I still love the challenge of Le Mans. I've always enjoyed it when I've gone back, obviously after Formula 1 with Audi, with Bentley and latterly with Aston Martin."

He regards Le Mans as one of the premier events outside the world championship, and wants to get a drive in the top LMP1 division if he returns.

"The challenge is one of the best, it's still a race that's very important in the motosport world, and I'd still love to go back," said Herbert. "If I could get an opportunity to get into a sportscar, LMP1, I'd like to.

"It would be good to get back because it's one of the big challenges still left outside Formula 1, and I'd enjoy it."

Herbert's immediate plan for this season is to remain in the British Touring Car Championship, having joined the series with Team Dynamics in the middle of 2009. He is working on 2010 options but has not completed a deal yet.

[Rob]

Le Mans scrutineering to start on Sunday?
By Series Update ⋅ January 19, 2010

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest confirms that at the end of 2009 it asked the Le Mans town hall if scrutineering* for the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours could begin on Sunday afternoon 6th June. This would enable many people to take advantage of this free event on what is a rest day, and would also attract a large crowd from the neighbouring departments and the Parisian region.

“The local impact and media fallout are obvious and they would help promote the image of the 24 Hours, as well as the entrants and drivers a week before the start of the race on 12th – 13th June,” said Jean-Claude Plassart, the ACO President.

“Our services work in close collaboration with the town of Le Mans to settle technical and organisational problems,” stated Ghislain Robert, the events and infrastructure manager.

The ACO will confirm the final dates of scrutineering in 2010 as soon as possible. Because of major works on the Place des Jacobins scrutineering will move for 3 years to a nearby location, the “Place du Jet d’Eau”.

(*) Scrutineering & Administrative checks

[Rob]

GT1 World: 6 brands, 12 teams, 24 cars
By Marcel ten Caat ⋅ January 17, 2010

The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship will kick off with 6 brands, 12 teams and 24 cars. On Friday January 15th at midnight the FIA had received the FIA has received entry forms and proof of payment for 12 teams, representing six brands, with 24 cars.

For Stephane Ratel a part of his dream has now been fulfilled, although there is still a lot of work to do to get the World Championship underway. “With two car teams only and two teams per brand, this will be the most professionally presented grid outside of Formula One, the only one to display such clear visibility for the Media and the fans. It is a long held dream becoming reality and even if a lot remains to be developed in terms of promotion, media and television, there is no doubt that we are at the beginning of something big.”

“We are convinced of the unlimited potential of a series that brings together all the ingredients for success: an official World Championship title, a fair balance between the teams’ budget without direct manufacturer involvement, a truly global calendar visiting four and possibly five continents, a collection of great circuits, a format appealing to spectators and TV audiences, and most importantly the best, looking, best sounding and most prestigious cars around.”

While the six manufacturers and twelve teams that have now applied for an entry will be given all the focus by SRO Ratel is already looking to the future. “We have no doubts that the many brands that are looking at the series will soon decide to join in and their only way to do so will be to come through the 12 original teams who started the series. It is our objective that in 2012, all of the teams will benefit from manufacturer support; it is our aim to bring together 10 to 12 brands represented by one team of two cars each.”

The brands and teams that have confirmed their intention to race in the new championship are:

Aston Martin: Hexis AMR (2009 FIA GT3 European Teams Champion) from France and Young Drivers AMR from Germany.
Corvette: Mad Croc Racing (a collaboration between SRT and DKR) and Phoenix Racing Carsport (a collaboration between Phoenix Racing and Carsport Holland).
Ford: Matech Competition and Marc VDS Racing. Both teams already entered the Ford GT in the 2009 FIA GT Championship
Lamborghini: Münnich Motorsport (who already raced Lamborghini’s as All-Inkl.com) and Reiter Engineering.
Maserati: Vitaphone Racing Team (Five time FIA GT champion) and Triple H Team Hegersport (a new team led by former BMW, Audi, Honda and Peugeot factory driver Altfrid Heger).
Nissan: Swiss Racing Team, run by Othmar Welti, and new British team Sumo Power GT.

The applications will now be examined by the FIA, before an entry list is released by the end of the month.

With the FIA GT1 World Championship now having its planned 24 cars Ratel will now “concentrate on making the FIA GT2 European Championship a similar success”.

[Rob]

Porsche squad with eight works drivers
By Team Update ⋅ January 19, 2010

Eight works drivers compete for Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, this motorsport season. The professional racers, all of whom held a Porsche contract last year, will support Porsche customer teams around the world.

Like in 2009, Marc Lieb (29, Germany) and Richard Lietz (26, Austria) contest the Le Mans Series (LMS) for the Felbermayr-Proton team in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Patrick Pilet (28, France) again races for IMSA Performance Matmut in the LMS. Moreover, the Porsche works drivers will compete for other teams in selected championships and at long distance races.

Joerg Bergmeister (33, Germany) and Patrick Long (28, USA) aim to defend their title win in the 2009 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and are back driving for Flying Lizard Motorsports with a 911 GT3 RSR. Wolf Henzler (34, Germany) will pilot a 911 GT3 RSR in the ALMS for the Porsche customer team Falken Tire. Aside from their ALMS commitments, the factory drivers will support customer teams at other races.

Porsche works drivers Timo Bernhard (28, Germany) and Romain Dumas (32, France) are determined to defend their overall win at the Nürburgring 24 hour race in 2010 and are currently involved in intensive preparations and testing. Further events are planned.

“I’m proud to have eight world-class works drivers in our line-up for the 2010 season,” says Hartmut Kristen, Head of Motorsport at Porsche. “We know all of them very well and our customer teams can totally rely on their driving skills. In the development and optimisation of our race vehicles, these pilots also play an important role and our teams around the world profit from this.”

For the majority of the factory pilots, their first race of the season will be the Daytona 24 hour event, where they support customer squads in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup vehicles.

[Rob]

REBELLION Racing’s Lola B10/60’s ready to go
Team Update January 21, 2010

The 2010 endurance season starts in 45 days with the official Le Mans Series test days at Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track. REBELLION Racing is eagerly awaiting taking part in that first event.

The first of REBELLION Racing’s Lola B10/60 was completed a few days ago and its Rebellion engine was run-up in the car to test the basic systems. The team’s second Lola Rebellion will be completed this week.

“Having our two new cars ready to roll out of Lola’s factory by the end of this week is a very positive achievement and a key milestone in our plan. We started working early on with our major partners, Lola on the new aerodynamics and Engine Developments on the new Rebellion engine, to develop our package for 2010. This has given us the time to complete our development programme as scheduled. Moreover, it has allowed us to focus resources on some of the finer details that, when put together, will play a significant part in the performance of our cars. In fact, we now just need to make the drivers’ seats in order to run the cars out on the track!” said REBELLION Racing team manager Bart Hayden.

After a full systems check in England in early February, the REBELLION Racing team will undertake four days of testing in southern Europe with all four of the team’s drivers, Andrea Belicchi, Jean-Christophe Boullion, Neel Jani and Nicolas Prost together for the first time this year. The team will then head off to the official Le Mans Series test days at Paul Ricard (7-8 March).

[Rob]

Endurance News Briefs
By Marcel ten Caat ⋅ January 22, 2010

Preparations for the 2010 season are well underway with announcements coming from all over the world. In the last two weeks the potential FIA GT1 World Championship entries were revealed, JaguarRSR and Risi Competizione confirmed their American Le Mans Series crews, Porsche its works drivers and the ACO confirmed plans to start Le Mans scrutineering on Sunday. But there was more!

In Birmingham the Autosport International show took place between January 14-17. Several teams confirmed plans or showed their cars at the show. JMW Motorsport, which recently announced its move from Ferrari to Aston Martin brought the Aston Martin Racing test car with yellow Dunlop sponsoring to Birmingham. Beechdean Mansell Motorsport also showed its livery for the first time. Our colleagues at Dailysportscar spoke with Lotus’ Motorsports Director Claudio Berro who confirmed that Lotus is thinking about an LMP1 entry for 2011. Modena Group Racing, the rebirth of Team Modena, confirmed its plans to run a Ferrari F430 GT2 in the Le Mans Series.

Yesterday our French colleagues at Endurance-Info were able to announce that Pierre Bruneau Compétition will run the works Radical SR9 AER, with several updates, in the 2010 Le Mans Series championship. Pierre Bruneau will be sharing the car with a familiar face, Marc Rostan. A third driver is not signed yet.

From the other side of the Atlantic there are rumours about a Lola Aston Martin. While it seems pretty much a done deal, with Autosport magazine already reporting Fernandez Racing to race the car in the full American Le Mans Series, the article that pretty much confirmed the entry was removed from the Sebring International Raceway. Where there is smoke though… One would expect a British driver, with Aston Martin LMP1 experience, to be part of the crew at Sebring though.

Another potential entry for the American Le Mans Series is the former Black Swan Racing Doran Ford GT. ACS Express Racing, which competed in the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship Presented by Toyo Tires, has reportedly bought the GT2 Ford GT and is planning to run it in this years American Le Mans Series.

With the season less than two months away expect a continuous stream of announcements in the coming weeks…and for those of you that are unable to go to the Sebring 12 Hours, MotorsTV will bring 13 hours of non-stop LIVE coverage of the event on Saturday 20 March.

Updated entry lists for the Le Mans Series, American Le Mans Series and FIA GT1 World Championship can be found via our entrylist page.

[Rob]

CRS Racing confirms Ehret/Quaife in second car
By Team Update ⋅ January 26, 2010


CRS Racing // CRS Racing’s new livery shown at the Autosport International show
After announcing recently that Andrew Kirkaldy and Tim Mullen would contest the 2010 Le Mans Series in a CRS Ferrari 430, the team is pleased to reveal that they will have company in the shape of a second Ferrari 430 LMS entry for CRS Racing.

Pierre Ehret and Phil Quaife will join Kirkaldy and Mullen in the CRS garage for the five Le Mans Series races, starting with the 8-hour race at Paul Ricard in April. A third driver for the Ehret/Quaife car will also be announced soon.

Pierre Ehret has a great deal of experience in the Le Mans Series where last year he finished 4th in class in the overall championship. He is a very successful businessman who only began racing at the age of 40. In 2010, in addition to running in the full Le Mans Series with CRS, Pierre will race in selected American Le Mans Series races in the Autocon Lola LMP1 car.

Phil Quaife is already part of the CRS family after racing in the FIA GT3 Championship with the team in 2009. It was a difficult season but the 23 year-old British racer demonstrated incredible speed and a great maturity. His performance in the GT2 Ferrari during the Spa 24 Hours proved that he is more than ready for the challenges that lie ahead in 2010.

“We’re really pleased to be able to enter a two-car team into the full Le Mans Series,” said CRS Team Director, Andrew Kirkaldy. “I’m very happy with the line-up. Pierre is one of the quickest non-professional drivers out there. Phil did a fantastic job for us last year and really came on strong when things got tough. We have another driver to announce soon for that car. I think it will be a real advantage to have a three-driver line-up when it comes to the longer races. It’ll certainly keep Tim and I on our toes.”