Le Mans news

[Rob]

Guy Smith joins Rebellion Racing at Le Mans
Team Update February 15, 2010

REBELLION Racing are proud to announce the full driver lineup for the #13 Lola-Rebellion LMP1 in the forthcoming 78th edition of the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours.

The 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours winner will reinforce the REBELLION Racing squad. Guy Smith will drive the #13 Lola-Rebellion alongside Andrea Belicchi and Jean-Christophe Boullion during the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours race. REBELLION Racing now has a hugely talented and highly experienced trio aboard the #13 Lola-Rebellion LMP1 car. With their new recruit the Swiss team is, once again, demonstrating its ambition for success at Le Mans.

Guy will also join Andrea Belicchi and Jean-Christophe Boullion during the 8 Hours of Paul Ricard, the opening round of the 2010 Le Mans Series from 9 to 11 April, in order to maximise the #13 squad’s competitiveness in this long distance race and to be better prepared for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Guy Smith will first drive the Lola-Rebellion during Le Mans Series test days at Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track on 7 and 8 March. Prior to this event, Guy will have a seat fitting at the REBELLION Racing workshop where he will also meet the technical team.

Guy SMITH : “I think that Rebellion Racing are one of the most exciting and ambitious teams in sportscar racing today. The team has evolved over the last few years and has firmly established itself as one of the top teams in Le Mans type racing.”

“I am familiar with the Lola coupe chassis as it is similar to the one I race in the American Le Mans Series and it really is first class and combined with the new Rebellion engine I am sure we will have a fast and reliable package that will allow us to fight at the front at Le Mans as well as the Le Mans series.”

“I’m excited to be joining two great drivers in Jean-Christophe Boullion and Andrea Belicchi. Having raced Jean-Christophe over the years I know that he is one of the world’s best sportscar drivers. I first raced Andrea when we were 16 in karts and we had some great battles, he has developed into a very fast sportscar driver too.”

Team Manager Bart Hayden welcomed Guy to the team by saying : “Guy has a wealth of sportscar experience and as a previous winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Bentley in 2003 he knows what is required to succeed in the world’s greatest race. His experience with the Lola coupe in America should ease his integration into our team. Guy will have his first outing in the car at the official Le Mans Series test at Paul Ricard HTTT and then he will partner with Andrea and Jean-Christophe for the first round of the LMS. He’ll be back with us at Le Mans where we will all be hoping for a repeat of the success he experienced in 2003.”

[Rob]

OAK Racing confirms Guillaume Moreau for 2010
By Team Update February 15, 2010


Guillaume Moreau has signed with OAK Racing for the five-round Le Mans Series (LMS) season and the Le Mans 24 Hours, joining the already-confirmed Matthieu Lahaye, Richard Hein and Jacques Nicolet, all three of which will drive for the team for a third consecutive season. Moreau, LMS GT1 champion in 2008, previously did a fine job for the team driving the #35 OAK Racing LMP2 Pescarolo-Mazda in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours.

The team had its first shakedown of the #35 car at the Magny-Cours club circuit layout recently, giving Moreau a first chance to test the prototype equipped with a Judd engine. The shakedown went well as, despite snowy weather conditions and a cold track surface, Moreau and Lahaye lapped the track for two hours without problem. The team is also delighted to welcome Richard Divila to its ranks, the development and race engineer bringing his support and experience to help Pierre-Alain Bouhet, OAK Racing’s technical manager since 2008. Davila, who, for many years, has enjoyed success in F1, GT and endurance racing, will concentrate mainly on the #35 car.

François Sicard, Team Manager:

“We are very satisfied with our first shakedown. The drivers’ feedback was positive and they were able to feel an improved level of power and driveability from the engine and chassis. It was a small dress rehearsal ahead of the Portimao tests where we have been invited by Dunlop to test and develop tyres for the season. Jacques, Matthieu and Guillaume will share the #35 car, as Richard is absent due to work commitments and the #24 car is being assembled at Magny-Cours. The objective is to have both cars ready for the official tests at Paul Ricard.”

Guillaume Moreau, driver:

“The first shakedown at Magny-Cours was like a dream, I had a very good feeling in the car. I am delighted to be rejoining OAK Racing. I have excellent memories of the team both on the sporting and personal level. OAK Racing and I see things the same way, we have the same mind and spirit. I wanted to continue in endurance racing and to build something for the long term and OAK Racing’s plans are similar to mine. The team has put all of its efforts into developing the technical side and its structures. The Pescarolo-Judd is a weapon that will allow us to shoot for the top of the classification regularly and challenge for the title. The standard of the LMP2 entry is quite high and this is a great challenge for the team, but we know we have the means to meet our objectives. On paper all the elements are in place for us to achieve great things!”

Matthieu Lahaye, driver:

“I am delighted that the new season is starting. Things are looking good on all fronts and it was evident after the shakedown that we have a very good, proven package. It was great to be able to run for two hours without any problems and with a reliable engine, and it bodes well for the new season. The arrival of Guillaume is also positive news. We’ve known each other since 2003 and I know what he is worth to the team! This will be my third year with OAK Racing and they have become part of my family.”

Richard Hein, driver:

“When you get the chance to join an ambitious team which is competent and extremely professional in its technical approach, which has the means to achieve the best possible results and where your team-mates, be they pros or gentlemen drivers, support you non-stop and allow you to grow into an endurance-racing family, then why not continue that adventure? I am very happy to have been invited back. After an introduction year in 2008 and a learning season in 2009, Jacques Nicolet and I are ready to face all the challenges that the 2010 season is going to bring.”

Jacques Nicolet, driver and President of OAK Racing:

“I am delighted to be signing again with OAK Racing, it is a great team! I would like to thank all the drivers and the Team Manager for continuing to give me their trust, although it is true to say that the new regulations have helped me by imposing one gentleman driver on each crew!!! Now is the time that winter stops and we start to get on with the real work. I am delighted that Richard Hein and Matthieu Lahaye will continue to race with us and that Guillaume Moreau joins the team full-time this year. The four of us are going to be the ‘driver structure’ of the team. We are in accordance with the new regulations and looking good for the season.”

[Rob]

ProSpeed Competition Le Mans 24H lineup known
February 16, 2010


To the surprise of many ProSpeed Competition had Dutchman Paul van Splunteren confirmed when the 55 entries for the Le Mans 24 Hours in June were confirmed. Van Splunteren, owner of Porsche Centre Eindhoven and GT3.nl, will make his debut at Le Mans in the Belgian Porsche 997 GT3 RSR.

Van Splunteren was asked by ProSpeed Competition team owner Rudi Penders and did not hesitate to say yes. Joining Van Splunteren will be joined at Le Mans by another Dutchman, Niek Hommerson, and Louis Machiels from Belgium.

According to Van Splunteren Penders asked the three drivers because of their result in the 2009 Total 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. In that race the three drivers, joined by Raymond Coronel, finished ahead of the team’s lead car with its pro-drivers. “The invitation was a direct result of our successful performance in the Belgian classic. Back then we managed to finish ahead of the team’s factory car and finished fourth in class”, says Van Splunteren. (The team was eventually excluded from the results after using engines with steel sleeves, which did not conform with the FIA homologation papers.)

While all three drivers will make their debut at the Circuit de la Sarthe their aim is clear: “To finish the race and take a top five finish in our class.”

In order to prepare for the 24 Hours of Le Mans ProSpeed is likely to enter a Porsche 997 GT3 RSR for Van Splunteren, Hommerson and Machiels in the Le Mans Series 1000 KM of Spa-Francorchamps in May, before setting off for France.

[Rob]

Gavin and Salo to race for Mad Croc Racing
February 17, 2010


For weeks the names of Oliver Gavin and Mika Salo have been linked to a seat at Mad Croc Racing in the new FIA GT1 World Championship. And now both names can indeed be added to the team’s lineup, albeit not together in the same car.

The former Formula 1 driver and the works Corvette driver will both race in the Mad Croc Racing Corvette C6.R, sharing it with another Finn, Pertti Kuismanen. Kuismanen raced an SRT and PSI Experience Corvette C5-R in a few FIA GT Championship races in 2006 and 2007 as well as a Chrysler Viper GTS-R back in 2003.

For 2010 Kuismanen will be racing in all ten race weekends, taking part in all twenty races on the FIA GT1 World Championship calendar. Oliver Gavin, from Northamptonshire, England, will join Kuismanen in the Mad Croc Racing Corvette C6.R on eight of the ten races, according to Kuismanen. Gavin would miss the opening round of the season at Yas Marina as that race clashes with the Long Beach Grand Prix in which Gavin will race for Corvette Racing. Gavin is also set to miss the Nürburgring event, as the American Le Mans Series will be racing at Mosport that weekend.

Competing in eight out of ten races would indicate that the British driver will race at the Brno round of the GT1 World Championship, even though the American Le Mans Series is will have its six hour race at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca that same weekend. Clarification will most likely follow shortly.

As a result Mika Salo and Pertti Kuismanen will form a 100% Finnish entry for the season opener. “I wanted the best possible drivers and I am pleased that Mika is involved. He is an experienced and great driver”, said Kuismanen to the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation YLE.

“ The GT1 Championship is a very strong championship and I know that the Corvette C6.R is a really competitive car. My calendar was empty and it was such an interesting opportunity that I will really look forward to it”, said Mika Salo to YLE.

[Rob]

40 entries for Le Mans Series Official Test Days
February 18, 2010

After a long winter break the Le Mans Series teams will be back in action at Paul Ricard for the Official Test Days on March 7 and 8. After the entry deadline closed on February 12th a record number of 40 cars had been entered for the opening test weekend of the Le Mans Series 2010 season.

Eight LM P1s, fifteen LMP2/FLMs, six GT1s and eleven GT2s are currently on the Le Mans Series Official Test Days entry list.

LM P1:
In LM P1 eight cars will make the trip to the Southern France. Peugeot and Audi will not be testing their factory cars, but will be present with the customer teams Team Oreca Matmut and Kolles. Kolles will only bring one Audi R10 TDI. Being confirmed for the first races of the season Aston Martin Racing will bring one works car for Primat, Buncombe and Fernandez will also supporting the Signature Plus privateer entry. Beechdean Mansell Motorsport will have former F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell testing alongside his sons. Rebellion Racing will continue its pre-season testing at Paul Ricard with both cars, while Oreca will also bring its Oreca 01 AIM.

LM P1 entries
008 // Signature Plus // Lola Aston Martin // Pierre Ragues – Franck Mailleux
009 // Aston Martin Racing // Lola Aston Martin // Harold Primat – Chris Buncombe – Adrian Fernandez
4 // Team Oreca Matmut // Peugeot 908 HDi FAP // Olivier Panis – Nicolas Lapierre
5 // Beechdean Mansell Motorsport // Ginetta-Zytek 09S // Nigel Mansell – Leo Mansell – Greg Mansell
6 // Team Oreca Matmut // Oreca 01 AIM // Soheil Ayari
12 // Rebellion Racing // Lola B10/60 Rebellion // Nicolas Prost – Neel Jani
13 // Rebellion Racing // Lola B10/60 Rebellion // Andrea Belicchi – Jean-Christophe Boullion
14 // Kolles // Audi R10 TDI // TBA

LM P2
Officially being named LM P2 there will be five Formula Le Mans cars among the fifteen cars entered for the test days. OAK Racing will most likely have both cars ready for testing , with Nicolet-Hein entered in the #24 and Lahaye-Moreau in the #35. Four Lola’s are currently on the list, three of them coupés. Andy Wallace will join Erdos and Newton at RML, while Racing Box has yet to confirm the exact line-up of its two cars for the test. The fourth Lola is the KSM entry. KSM regular De Pourtales will be joined by Renault Mégane Trophy vice-champion Jonathan Hirschi and Belgian Stephane Lemeret. Quifel-ASM and Team Bruichladdich will bring their Ginetta-Zyteks and Race Performance will be getting the first chance to test against the LMS rivals. Strakka Racing’s confirmed line-up will be in place to give the HPD ARX-01c its European debut.
In the Formula Le Mans sub-class there is no sign of Boutsen Energy Racing. DAMS, Hope PoleVision Racing will both bring two cars, with Applewood Seven entering one.

LM P2 entries
24 // OAK Racing // Pescarolo 01 Judd // Jacques Nicolet – Richard Hein
25 // RML // Lola B08/80 HPD // Tommy Erdos – Mike Newton – Andy Wallace
27 // Race Performance // Radical SR9 Judd // Michel Frey – Ralph Meichtry
29 // Racing Box // Lola B09/80 Judd // TBA
30 // Racing Box // Lola B09/80 Judd // TBA
35 // OAK Racing // Pescarolo 01 Judd // Mathieu Lahaye – Guillaume Moreau
39 // KSM // Lola B08/47 Judd // Jean de Pourtales – Jonathan Hirschi – Stéphane Lemeret
40 // Quifel-ASM Team // Ginetta-Zytek 09S // Miguel Amaral – Olivier Pla
41 // Team Bruichladdich // Ginetta-Zytek 09S // Karim Ojjeh – Jacob Greaves – Thor-Christian Ebbesvik
42 // Strakka Racing // HPD ARX-01c // Nick Leventis – Danny Watts – Jonny Kane
43 // DAMS // FLM 09 // Gary Chalandon – Andrea Barlesi – Alessandro Cicognani
44 // DAMS // FLM 09 // Guillaume Bermond – Nelson Pantiatici
47 // Hope PoleVision Racing // FLM09 // Steve Zacchia
48 // Hope PoleVision Racing // FLM09 // Mathias Becche – Christophe Pillon
49 // Applewood Seven // FLM09 // Damien Toulemonde

LM GT1
Six GT1s have been entered, missing is the ATLAS eFX Team Full Speed Saleen. Larbre Competition will be there however, with Spaniard Antonio Garcia set to share the Saleen S7R with Patrice Goueslard. Four FIA GT1 World Championship cars will also be present at Paul Ricard. Young Driver AMR will enter its Aston Martin DBR9 for its Le Mans drivers Enge, Nygaard and Kox, while Matech Competition will enter one Ford GT and Marc VDS Racing two. Completing LM GT1 is the Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R, so far without a confirmed driver.

LM GT1 entries
50 // Larbre Competition // Saleen S7R // Antonio Garcia – Patrice Goueslard
52 // Young Driver AMR // Aston Martin DBR9 // Tomas Enge – Christoffer Nygaard – Peter Kox
61 // Matech Competition // Ford GT // Thomas Mutsch – Natacha Gachnang – Cindy Alleman
68 // Marc VDS Racing // Ford GT // Renaud Kuppens – Markus Palttala
70 // Marc VDS Racing // Ford GT // Bas Leinders – Maxime Martin – Eric de Doncker
72 // Luc Alphand Aventures // Corvette C6.R // TBA

LM GT2
Eleven GT2s are on the entry list. Over fifty percent of them are Ferrari F430 GT2s, six in total. AF Corse will bring all three cars to France. Christopher Brück is the only unfamiliar name in the AF Corse line-up. CRS Racing will bring its two cars with the full season LMS drivers joined by the already confirmed Pierre Kaffer as well as Nicola Larini. Hankook-Team Farnbacher is the final Ferrari team, with Farnbacher and Simonsen testing for the German team.
IMSA Performance Matmut will again bring two cars to Paul Ricard, one for Narac-Pilet and one for Balandras-Gibon-Bourret. Team Felbermayr-Proton will only have one car, for Lieb-Lietz. That makes three Porsches 997 GT3 RSR. The final two cars are the works BMW M3 for Müller and Werner and the JMW Motorsport Vantage for Rob Bell. Modena Group Racing, Spyker Squadron, JMB Racing and JWA Racing will not be taking part in the test.

LM GT2 entries
75 // IMSA Performance Matmut // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Richard Balandras – Pascal Gibon – Christophe Bourret
76 // IMSA Performance Matmut // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Raymond Narac – Patrick Pilet
77 // Team Felbermayr-Proton // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Marc Lieb – Richard Lietz
78 // BMW Team Schnitzer // BMW E92 M3 // Jörg Müller – Dirk Werner
89 // Hankook-Team Farnbacher // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Dominik Farnbacher – Allan Simonsen
90 // CRS Racing // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Pierre Ehret – Phil Quaife – Pierre Kaffer
91 // CRS Racing // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Andrew Kirkaldy – Tim Mullen – Nicola Larini
92 // JMW Motorsport // Aston Martin Vantage GT2 // Rob Bell
94 // AF Corse // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Luis Perez Companc – Matias Russo
95 // AF Corse // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Giancarlo Fisichella – Toni Vilander – Jean Alesi
96 // AF Corse // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Christopher Brück – Jaime Melo

On Sunday morning, March 7, 9.30 the track will go green for the first session. All cars will be able to go out for four hours. After a lunch at the panoramic restaurant and a pit walk for the VIP guests the track will re-open for the afternoon session. For teams not running the night test the day will end at 18.30, teams that will run into the darkness will have a third session starting at 19.00 and ending at mid night.

Day two of testing will start on Monday at 9.00, with another four hours of testing on the 5.791 solution 1A track. During the lunch break the annual Le Mans Series pre-season press conference will take place in the Grand Prix Hall. At 14.00 the last, three-hour long session will start…and then it’s still one month before the season kicks off with round 1 at the same circuit.

[Rob]

Mansells shake down new Ginetta

Thursday, February 18th 2010, 16:42 GMT


Nigel Mansell and his sons Leo and Greg completed a successful shakedown of the Ginetta Zytek GZ09S LMP1 they will race in this season's Le Mans 24 Hours at the Autodromo do Algarve in Portugal this week.

The Mansells spent the first day shaking down the car and working with the Beechdean Mansell Motorsport engineers to find a set-up all three drivers could work with. Nigel spent the majority of the first day behind the wheel, before handing over to Leo. Greg completed the day's running in wet conditions.

Leo and Greg shared the majority of the driving duties on day two, before their 1992 Formula 1 world champion father completed a few laps of dry running in the afternoon. The majority of the test, during which Le Mans Series race-winning squad ORECA also appeared, was affected by torrential rain.

Nigel Mansell said: "It's truly brilliant when you can draw breath and say that the test has surpassed every expectation.

"The Zytek-powered car worked pretty flawlessly; I'm so proud of Leo and Greg, the times they got down to in a very short window were very competitive.

"To gel a team in just three and a half months is fantastic and while we know we have a huge challenge ahead, we are so pleased with what has been accomplished here

[Rob]

KSM prepares for the 2010 LMS season
By Team Update ⋅ February 19, 2010


KSM, the LMP2 team from Siegburg, Germany, will start its 3rd Le Mans Series season, and the team is on the LMS full season entry list. 16 teams have entered LMP2 cars for the new season; the competition in this class will once again be fierce. After a rather disappointing 2009, which saw the team finishing the season early because of ongoing technical problems and discrepancies, KSM has put a new package together for 2010.

The biggest change will be the new partnership with Engine Developments Ltd: this year a 3.4 litre V8 aspirated Judd engine will be fitted in the back of the KSM Lola. The necessary modification to the chassis has already been made at the Lola factory in Huntingdon in the UK.

Another new partner is Althaus Engineering, which will support KSM in the area of material control, testing and quality assurance. Other, well proven partnerships will continue, and once again the KSM Lola will be equipped with Dunlop tyres throughout the season.

Apart from the modifications which were necessary to accommodate the new engine, other changes needed to be implemented in line with the new technical reglement. A first roll-out with a functional test will happen soon. After that the team plans to test with several drivers at the official LMS test on the 7th and 8th of March at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in France. The goal is to start with a 3-driver squad in the new season and in accordance with the new regulations there will be at least one gentleman driver at the wheel of the KSM Lola B08/47.

On 4th February 2010 the A.C.O announced the 55 entries for the 78th edition of the 24h of Le Mans. Compared to 2009 and 2008, when 12 LMP2 cars were given entries, for 2010 the organizers reduced the LMP2 class to 9 entries only – thus leaving quite a few teams utterly disappointed, among them KSM. The team was hoping for its 3rd consecutive entry at Le Mans, but ended up in 3rd place on the prototype reserve list instead. This means that a participation in this event is still possible and Hardy Schiller and Kai Kruse have decided to keep their place on the reserve list until the very last moment.

[Rob]

Westbrook and Sugden join JMW Motorsport
By Team Update ⋅ February 20, 2010


JMW Motorsport are pleased to welcome reigning FIA GT2 Champion, Richard Westbrook as their second driver in the 2010 Le Mans Series. Richard will partner fellow Brit, Rob Bell as JMW Motorsport begin their three year LMS campaign with the Aston Martin Vantage GT2.

Richard seals the team as an amazing British entity for the Le Mans Series with JMW Motorsport, Aston Martin, Dunlop and now two of Britain’s finest sportscar drivers joining forces for this most competitive of Championships.

“I am very excited about joining JMW Motorsport” said Richard, “and am looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the Aston Martin. The whole project has a very special British feel to it. It is an important project for all concerned and to work with Aston Martin and Dunlop on development is a challenge I look forward to being part of. ”

Richard was also quick to praise his new team-mate. “I am a big fan of Rob and the chance to drive alongside him certainly swayed my mind. We will be looking to make the Aston Martin as competitive as possible from the outset and I am sure we can. We will be working very hard.”

Richard will also be part of the JMW Motorsport Le Mans 24 Hour squad, when he and Rob will be joined by Tim Sugden as the team’s third driver for the prestigious race.

“Le Mans 24 Hour this year is such an exciting prospect. Tim has an amazing knowledge of the race and is such an asset to the driver line up. It is a very special event and one I look forward to being a part of. I am sure the British fans who make the journey will spur us on!”

Whilst Tim Sugden will be on driver duty in June, for the remainder of the season he is JMW Motorsport Team Manager and he is more than pleased with their new recruit.

“I have known Richard for many years and as we’ve all seen, whatever he turns his hand to he is brilliant” said Tim. “Richard is an amazing driver and a fantastic asset to the team. He and Rob will make an enviable driver pairing of that we are sure”.

The JMW Motorsport team have recently returned from a very positive Dunlop tyre test in Portugal with the test Aston Martin Vantage GT2, where they were comfortably on pace. In the coming days the team take delivery of the new racecar for preparation ahead of the official LMS test at Paul Ricard on March.

The first Le Mans Series race takes place on 11 April 2010 at Paul Ricard.

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]

Marco Andretti joins REBELLION Racing for LM24
February 21, 2010


It was a busy week for Le Mans Series team REBELLION Racing this week. On Monday it announced that Guy Smith would join the team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June and the team went to the Iberian peninsula to test at the Portimao circuit on Wednesday and Thursday as well as the Monteblanco circuit on Saturday and Sunday. And then on Sunday the sixth driver for Le Mans was confirmed as Marco Andretti.

After having announced that the team had signed Guy Smith on Monday it was time for the first private test session for the team’s two Lola B10/60 Rebellions in its new livery on the Portuguese track. Unfortunately for REBELLION Racing the track conditions were far from good on Wednesday as there was some light rain in the morning and the team could only do a few laps. During the afternoon, on a dry track, the team was finally able to do what they had come for and started to work on the cars, the team ended its test at night time. Despite heavy rain on Thursday the team was able to work on wet-weather setups and traction control.

Team Manager Bart Hayden: “These tests were very positive despite the weather, we made good progress in the understanding of our new Lola B10/60s and we experienced no problems with new Rebellion engines. Of course, we would have liked to have had more dry running but we are satisfied with the work done on the cars and the data we have collected.”

The weather Hayden was hoping for was found at the Monteblanco Circuit near Sevilla, Spain. On Saturday and Sunday the Swiss team tested at the track that advertises wit the fact that it’s offering good weather conditions all year round.

And today Alexandre Pesci confirmed that Marco Andretti will join REBELLION Racing at the Le Mans 24 Hours as well as the official test days at Paul Ricard. Pesci announced signing the American driver during the ‘Motors’ radio show of French broadcaster RMC. After his father and grandfather took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans years ago, Marco Andretti will make his debut in France in June, just over two years after making his sportscar debut with the Andretti Green Racing Acura in the 2008 American Le Mans Series.

[Rob]

Peugeot confident in upgraded 908

Monday, February 22nd 2010, 16:00 GMT


Peugeot is expecting its battle with Audi to be closer at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours than it was in 2009, as its 908 enters its fourth and final season.

The French manufacturer took its first win with the diesel 908 last year, at the third attempt, while the race was the debut for Audi's R15 TDi.

Peugeot Sport technical director Bruno Famin says the car has been updated for 2010 and expects a close race.

"Last year we believed we might be fractionally behind our main rival in terms of performance, but in reality it was quite the opposite and the 908 was still one step ahead," he said.

"It is quite clear that our rivals have responded and made significant progress with a car that is still only two years old. In terms of raw performance it wouldn't surprise me if we were very fractionally behind - and that will set things up nicely for a 24-hour sprint race at Le Mans."

Peugeot has been forced to make alterations to its engine cover and front diffuser 908 to comply with the 2010 aero regulations. The Le Mans organiser, the ACO, has continued its efforts bring the performance of petrol and diesel cars closer together, so the air restrictor has been reduced from 38.3mm to 37.8mm and the maximum turbo pressure lowered from 2.75 bar to 2.59 bar, resulting in an expected decrease of 40bhp.

But the team has continued to develop the power unit and other areas of the car.

"Engine developments have continued and we have upgraded the engine," said Famin. "We have particularly focused on the reduction of frictional losses thanks to groundwork ont he lubricants, improved volumetric effeciency for inlet and exhaust and enhanced combustion.

"We have also worked on a serious weight reduction programme. The target was to make sure the car was no heavier this year, despite the various changes that have been made in terms of both reliability and the latest bodywork regulations.

"Reliability was an important consideration, even though we've had only one retirement since 2007 - we've completed 191 of a possible 192 racing hours [at Le Mans]. It was important to maintain this tradition, so we began with a major overhaul of all the elements that caused us problems in 2009: gearbox, clutch and transmission, brake wear, wheel assemblies and air-conditioning.

"Finally, we have worked closely with Michelin on a completely new range of tyres for dry, intermediate and wet conditions."

[Rob]

Peugeot Sport confirms 2010 program
⋅ February 22, 2010

Peugeot Sport announced its long awaited plans for the 2010 season this afternoon. After winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year the mission for this season is clear: another win at Le Mans. For the final year of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP the French manufacturer has improved the car once again and a series of test sessions and races are planned to accomplish that mission.

In order to be fully ready for the 78th 24 Hours of Le Mans Peugeot has chosen eleven drivers to be part of the 2010 Peugeot Sport team that is aiming for a new victory at Le Mans.

For Le Mans the three Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs will have a brand new livery and will be wearing race numbers 1, 2 and 3 for the first time. 2009 Le Mans winners Marc Gené, Alexander Wurz will share the #1 car with Anthony Davidson. For Gené and Wurz it will be their fourth Le Mans, for Davidson it will be his third Le Mans race. The Briton, who raced for Aston Martin Racing in 2009, tested a Peugeot 908 HDi FAP however back in 2008 at Paul Ricard.

The #2 car will be 100% French. Nicolas Minassian, Franck Montagny and Stéphane Sarrazin. Car #3 will be entered for Sébastien Bourdais, Simon Pagenaud and Pedro Lamy. Christian Klien, who finished sixth with Peugeot in 2009 and third in 2008, will not be racing at Le Mans for Peugeot this year. The Austrian will be the reserve driver for Team Peugeot Total, while 2009 THP Spider Cup winner Gregory Guilvert will be taking on the role as official Peugeot test driver, after impressing in a test session.

But before heading to Le Mans Peugeot will first do two other races. Next month Peugeot will race Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs in the Sebring 12 Hours. In the United States the #07 will be driven by Anthony Davidson, Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz, while the #08 will be driven by Sébastien Bourdais, Pedro Lamy and Nicolas Minassian. The team will also be testing at Sebring the weekend before the race, as well as two days after the race.
After Sebring Peugeot will fly its cars back to Europe and three cars will be entered in the Le Mans Series 1000 KM of Spa-Francorchamps, the dress-rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Even though it was expected that Peugeot would start its work on the 2011 car after Le Mans and would not be entering any other rounds, the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP is still set to race in two more rounds. In September Peugeot will take part in the 1000 KM of Silverstone and - depending on confirmation by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest - Peugeot will also enter the Le Mans Intercontinental Cup race planned in Shanghai, China. In the meantime the engineers at the Peugeot Sport HQ will start working on the new car according to the 2011 regulations.

[Rob]

Fisichella content with first GT test

Friday February 26th 2010, 17:59 GMT

Giancarlo Fisichella was pleased with his first test in the Ferrari GT2 car he will race in this year's Le Mans Series, but feels he needs more time to get confident in the sportscar.

The Ferrari Formula 1 reserve driver will share the AF Corse machine with fellow ex-F1 racer Jean Alesi and Ferrari GT regular Toni Vilander. Fisichella tried the car for the first time at Vallelunga today.

"It went well, this is an honest car, easy to drive, but I need to gain more confidence to find the limit," he said.

He added that he was really looking forward to his switch to sportscar racing, and to sharing a car for the first time.

"This is a great experience and I'm honoured that I can fight together with Jean and Toni to defend the colours of Ferrari in GT2," said Fisichella.

Alesi shared Fisichella's excitement about the project.

"I'm really happy to be back in the Ferrari family, having such a great adventure ahead, sharing the car with other drivers, something I've never done," he said.

Double FIA GT2 champion Vilander said it will be an honour to help Alesi and Fisichella get up to speed in endurance racing.

"It will be nice to pass on my experience to two drivers of their level," he said. "Although we just started working I'm sure that this will be an emotional season."

[Rob]

Hughes joins ASM for Le Mans

Monday, March 1st 2010, 11:05 GMT

Warren Hughes will drive for Portuguese team ASM in the LMP2 class of this year's Le Mans 24 Hours.

The 41-year-old Britain has raced in the LMP2 class between 2005 and 2008, twice with ASM in 2006 and '07.

He will partner Olivier Pla and Miguel Amaral in the team's Ginetta-Zytek and will also contest the Le Mans Series opener at Paul Ricard.

"This is brilliant news for me," said Hughes. "I've wanted to return to ASM for quite a while and now the opportunity has arisen. This is one of the most sought after drives, certainly in LMP2. I'm joining them on the back of a very successful season, in a car they understand very well.

"I know the team well and I'll also be working again with Alan Mugglestone, one of the very best engineers and strategists I've worked with. Olivier, I know a little bit, but he is a big talent. Miguel, I know from '06 and '07 and he just keeps getting better. I can't wait."

[Rob]

Spyker Squadron announces 2010 motorsport plans
By Team Update March 2, 2010


The Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R in its 2009 livery
Following last year’s fifth place in the Le Mans-GT2 category, Spyker Squadron, the factory race team of Spyker Cars, has received an invitation from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 12 and 13 June 2010.

In addition to competing in one of the most gruelling and famous races on the international motorsports calendar, the Dutch team, with Convers Group as its principal sponsor, will also campaign in the 2010 Le Mans Series championship (LMS). The team will look to build on its most successful campaign in 2009, where it achieved second places at the Nürburgring and Silverstone rounds and finished third in the overall constructor standings.

For 2010, the five-round LMS replaces visits to Spain and Germany in favour of an 8 hour opening round at one of Europe’s most beautiful tracks, Paul Ricard in France, and a 1000 km race at the Hungaroring.

Scotsman Peter Dumbreck will drive the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R in all rounds of the Le Mans Series. At Spa, the Hungaroring and Silverstone he will be partnered by Dutchman Tom Coronel. Another Dutchman, Jeroen Bleekemolen will accompany Peter in the LMS opening round at Paul Ricard and in Portugal. The trio will share the car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Peter van Erp, Managing Director of Spyker Squadron explains: “We have decided to race with a familiar driver line-up for both the Le Mans Series races and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After an impressive 2009 season, we anticipate extreme competition this year and inviting Tom, Jeroen and Peter to drive the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R brings a huge advantage as they are very familiar with the Series, team and the car.

“At the same time we know exactly what our drivers are capable of as a trio of top-flight, highly-regarded racers. Peter Dumbreck is competing in the FIA GT1 world-cup schedule, Jeroen Bleekemolen in both the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the Porsche Super Cup, and Tom Coronel in the WTCC. We will undoubtedly benefit from them competing in other world class series.”

Peter continues: “We are planning to use the same strategy as at Le Mans last year. We are not seeking a steady pace just to finish races, as we did in our first few years of competition, but instead to give 100% in every race to achieve podium finishes. Of course we will be able to improve our pace this year, and despite BMW, Jaguar and Corvette joining us in the field of Aston Martins, Porsches and Ferraris in the GT2 class, our aim is to emulate last year’s results.”

Victor R. Muller, CEO Spyker Cars:”With the Saab acquisition under our belt we return to the race arena in 2010, both at Le Mans as well as in the LMS. For Spyker racing is a pivotal element of our strategy, which we pursuit with vigour. We will endeavour to improve on the excellent results of Peter van Erp and his team and strive for a podium place at Le Mans after our fifth in class finish last year. Also in the LMS we did well last year. This year the competition is more intense than ever before and we have to fight to improve upon last year’s performance. This we will do. I wish the team and drivers a very good race season”.

Tom Coronel said: “We performed really well in the last two Le Mans Series races of last year and I am looking forward to an even more competitive season. I know my team mates very well; they have a lot of Le Mans experience and know how the team works. Spyker could not ask for a better team to meet the increased competition in GT2.”

Peter Dumbreck said: “It is great to be part of the Spyker family again. Spyker Squadron made big steps in 2009 finishing fifth at Le Mans and twice on the podium in the Le Mans Series. This season will most certainly be the most competitive season in the history of the Le Mans Series and it will be exciting to be part of the Spyker team aiming to upset the big manufacturers.”

Jeroen Bleekemolen said: “This is my third season with Spyker Squadron and I am looking forward to driving in GT2 again this year in what will surely be an incredibly exciting season. After finishing fifth at Le Mans with the team last year I think we’re all striving to match that great result. It will be especially tough as other manufacturers such as BMW and Corvette have joined and raised the bar in the GT2 class, which looks like it will be the most competitive at Le Mans.”

Key Dates in 2010 for Spyker Squadron
April 11, LMS R1 8 hours of Le Castellet, Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France
May 9, LMS R2 1000 km of Spa, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
June 12-13, Le Mans 24 Hours, Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France
July 17, LMS R3 1000 km of the Algarve, Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão, Portugal
August 21, LMS R4 1000 km of the Hungaroring, Hungaroring, Hungary
September 12, LMS R5 Autosport 1000 km of Silverstone, Silverstone, United Kingdom

[Rob]

FIA GT1 World Championship officially launched
March 1, 2010

The FIA GT1 World Championship was officially launched this afternoon at the Automobile Club de France in the Place de la Concorde. FIA President Jean Todt and SRO Motorsport Group CEO Stephane Ratel joined with numerous members of the press, the teams and other guests to unveil the new FIA World Championship.

At the press conference Jean Todt was very happy to be launching the FIA GT1 World Championship and was content with the new addition to the range of FIA World Championships. “It’s a big privilege for me to be here to share this important moment with Stephane Ratel, whose determination and patience has brought together all the different elements to form the FIA GT1 World Championship”, said Todt. “I like the way the 10 GT1 World Championship races are divided geographically. It is a good balance. The championship also features very talented drivers and six great brands. I’m sure it will be very spectacular. You can be sure that me as president and my colleagues at the FIA will do everything to ensure that it succeeds.”

In announcing the revamped FIA GT1 World Championship format, Stephane Ratel said: “We now have a clear product which has only been achieved before by Formula One. Sports car racing has always been a bit messy. Finally, after 15 years of effort, we do have 24 cars, we have two-car teams only, we have two teams per brand, two, one-hour races, and I think for the spectator it will be very easy to follow and appreciate.”

Ratel also made it clear that the FIA GT1 World Championship will do anything to reach out to the fans. “We are also want to make full use of 21st century media. We will use HD television production and we have appointed Sport 5 of the Legardere Group for the distribution of our TV rights. We have also launched GT1World.com which is aimed directly at our fans.”

“GT racing is about the iconic, prestigious brands which are filled with history. Our ambition is to regenerate GT racing and transform it from a championship which was aiming at a specialized, somewhat limited and ageing audience and bring it to a far larger and younger fan base.”

After the press conference 12 of the GT1 cars were unveiled at the Place Vendôme.

[Rob]

Loïc Duval completes ORECA Peugeot line-up
By Team Update ⋅ March 2, 2010


Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre, winners of last year’s Silverstone 1000kms, have raced together in the Team ORECA-Matmut for two years. In 2010, they will drive the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in the Le Mans Series. In the Le Mans 24 Hours they will be backed up by Loïc Duval who will also join them for the Le Castellet 8-Hour race.

Loïc knows the team like the back of his hand as he has already competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours with them. That was in 2008, and he won the Jean Rondeau Prize awarded to the best young driver. Since then the man from Chartres has made his mark in Japan in Super GT, and in Formula Nippon winning the 2009 championship. At the end of 2009, he drove for the Team ORECA-Matmut again in the Asian Le Mans Series scoring two podium finishes.

This choice was the result of a group decision as Hugues de Chaunac explains: “After drawing up a short list we put forward a name to our partners as well as Peugeot: it was Loïc’s. He’s built up a great set of results and we know him well. The engineers appreciate him and he always does a very good job – especially at Okayama, which was a test for him but he didn’t know it! He fits into a team without problems and he’s already worked with Olivier and Nicolas. That’s what tipped the scales in his favour.”

“When Hugues de Chaunac said to me that I’d be doing Le Mans, I was delighted but I though it would be in the ORECA 01,” admits Duval. “Then when he told me I’d be driving the Peugeot, I felt over the moon! You can spend your whole career waiting for an opportunity like this. I know just how important this programme is for the whole team and it’s a real sign of confidence in me. Even though there are a whole lot of special factors to cope with I can’t wait to drive the beast. I’m also looking forward to meeting up with some of my rivals from the Super GT who’ll be in the opposite camp!”

Loïc will have his first taste of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP with Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre in the Le Mans Series official test session this weekend on the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit.

[Rob]

Audi launches “race experience”
Team Update ⋅ March 4, 2010

The Audi driving experience is expanding its portfolio by offering an opportunity that is unique in the world: effective immediately, Audi customers with sporting ambitions can book exclusive racing commitments with the Audi R8 LMS. Audi is making its Le Mans-winning team available for this purpose.

“For the first time, the Audi race experience offers customers the opportunity to participate in a race with a professional Audi ‘factory’ team without having to enter into a long-term commitment or to make a high financial investment,” explains Klaus Demel, who is in charge of the Audi driving experience. “I’m very happy that we’ve been able to win Audi Sport and Reinhold Joest’s team as a partners for this project.”

The Audi R8 LMS that has been specifically developed for use in customer sport and was the GT3 car to be beaten last year right in its first racing season provides the base for the new Audi race experience. In addition, as many as 120 customers had the opportunity of an active driving experience with the 386-kW mid-engine sports car at the end of October 2009 during the Audi sportscar experience.

The Audi race experience now marks the next stage. It offers customers the opportunity to contest races with the Audi R8 LMS themselves – on request even together with professional race drivers. The vehicles will be prepared and fielded by one of the world’s most successful sports car teams: the squad of Reinhold Joest that has won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans as many as six times for Audi and that will again compete in the French endurance classic on June 12/13 with the latest-specification Audi R15 TDI.

“Actually, the idea of letting customers contest races with a high-caliber sports car like the R8 LMS could only have come from Audi,” says Ralf Jüttner, Managing Director of Joest Racing GmbH. “Although this is an unusual task for us it is, no doubt, a very interesting one as well. We’re proud to have been selected as the race team.”

The Audi race experience team Joest is planning a total of six races for the 2010 season, fielding two cars each as part of the “Langstreckenmeisterschaft” (VLN) on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, starting with the race on April 24. In addition, there are plans for events with the Audi R8 LMS on race tracks and at the Groß Dölln driver training facility at which the customers will be trained and can also obtain the required racing license.

“As far as I know, Audi is the first automobile manufacturer in the world to offer such a program,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “This shows yet again how innovative and progressive the Audi brand is. Our colleagues from the Audi driving experience and Reinhold Joest’s squad with whom we’ve been successfully working together since twelve years will provide our customers with an exclusive and unforgettable motorsport experience. And the Audi R8 LMS, which, according to our “factory” drivers, is a very forgiving GT3 car is perfectly suited for this project which we fully support on the part of Audi Sport.”

[Rob]

No FIA GT2 Championship For 2010
March 5, 2010


There will be no FIA GT2 European Championship in 2010. The news, which was already expected by many teams and media, was announced on Thursday in a statement sent out by the SRO (Stéphane Ratel Organisation).

“A proposition has been made to FIA, which will be heard by the FIA World Motor Sport Council on Thursday 11 March, to postpone the introduction of the GT2 European Championship, to be relaunched once the future orientation of the GT2 class has been agreed with a minimum of four manufacturers, possibly around the introduction of Hybrid technologies in GT racing”, said Ratel.

The cancellation of the FIA GT2 European Championship does not automatically mean the end of FIA GT2 racing in Europe. For the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps the SRO has revealed its idea of running this event as the FIA GT2 European Cup. “SRO has proposed to the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium (RACB), promoters of the 24 Hours of Spa, to concentrate its GT2 effort on the blue ribbon event with a FIA GT2 European Cup to be awarded to the best placed GT2 car at the event. The similar performances of the GT2 and GT3 categories promise an epic competition between many different brands.”

It remains to be seen if the FIA GT2 European Championship will relive in 2011 but SRO is still very positive about its future in the press release. “SRO has a long and successful history of revitalising championships and we are working hard with everyone involved to relaunch GT2 as a full championship as soon as possible.”

[Rob]

Paul Ricard Test Days – Pre-Testing Roundup
March 5, 2010


The traditional Paul Ricard test weekend is right around the corner, time for a quick roundup of the latest pre-season testing news.

As expected ORECA will bring its Peugeot 908 HDi FAP and the Oreca 01 AIM to Le Castellet for the Test Days. The Oreca 01 AIM will be run in a completely black livery, out of respect to Hiro Kaneda. The Japanese engineer who died in January was responsible for the V10 Judd and he was also one of the moving forces behind the AIM engine. In order to prepare the car for next month’s race Soheil Ayari will be testing.

The team’s Peugeot will be in its 2010 livery at the Paul Ricard test and will have all three drivers onboard. “These tests are the continuation of our apprenticeship phase of the 908 HDi FAP, which began last week in private testing on the HTTT circuit,” explains David Floury. “Olivier and Nicolas have to finalise their driving positions and familiarise themselves with how the car works. It’s the same thing for the mechanics. We wanted to test in all kinds of conditions and we completed our programme; we were able to run on a wet track, a drying one and finally one that was completely dry. That gave us a fair amount of information: now it’s time to move on to the next stage of our programme.”

Aston Martin Racing will enter its LMP1 coupe for Primat, Buncombe, Fernandez, Mücke and Turner. After a successful test in Sebring, despite the crash at the end, the team is now heading over to France for more pre-season preparation. Harold Primat explains: “In France, the objectives are slightly different. Sure, we’ll prepare for the eight-hour race there in April, but it’s also important to conduct some specific Le Mans set-up work which we couldn’t at Sebring. The track is certainly more suitable than in Florida which is very bumpy and not particularly quick.”

AF Corse will be present with three cars; one for Perez Companc and Russo, one for Fisichella, Alesi and Vilander and one for Bruni and Melo. Priority for the team is practice. Alesi, Fisichella will join Nigel Mansell for questions from the press on Sunday at the annual Le Mans Series press conference.

Two days before the start of the test the Applewood Seven FLM09 has been withdrawn from the entry list, reducing the number of cars taking part on Sunday and Monday to 40. The full entry list can be found here.

More to come this weekend as Planetlemans will be covering the event live from France. If you are in the area, the test days at Paul Ricard are open for spectators!

Rendez-vous on Sunday!

[Rob]

ORECA-Matmut unveils 908 HDi FAP livery
March 6, 2010

On the day before the Le Mans Series Official Test, the team ORECA-Matmut has unveiled its Peugeot 908 HDi FAP’s livery on the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit at Le Castellet. The team has retained its own visual identity in the spirit of the Dutch painter, Piet Mondrian, a pioneer in the field of abstract art.

While the overall concept is in keeping with the visual identity, Hugues de Chaunac’s men wanted to innovate by modernising it, and came up with a graphic evolution based around the chrome roof for this livery, which provides an interpretation of Mondrian’s work worthy of the 21st century.

In 2010, the Team ORECA-Matmut can count on its faithful partners – Matmut, Araldite, DOC and Plus - as well as its official suppliers, all of whom have been present since the launch of the Le Mans Endurance Challenge. In addition, the team has received new backers for a season full of challenges:
- In pride of place TOTAL, Peugeot’s title sponsor, which has associated itself with our challenge,
- And also the Nike Company which, through its Nike Race Programme, will accompany the Team ORECA-Matmut on the run-up to the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Peugeot 908 HDi FAP will run in its new colours for the first time tomorrow at 09h30 when Olivier Panis, Nicolas Lapierre and Loïc Duval, making his debut at the wheel of the team’s new car, will relay one another for two days’ testing.

[Rob]

Paul Ricard Test Days - Sunday morning report
March 7, 2010

Nearly six months after the end of the 2009 Le Mans Series season the 2010 season got underway at the Circuit Paul Ricard HTTT. From all over Europe 41 teams made their way to Southern France to find out where they are compared to rival teams. At 9.30 am the track went green and the cars went out for their first four hours of testing.

Richard Westbrook joined Marco Holzer in the ProSpeed Porsche 997 GT3 RSR this morning. The demise of the FIA GT2 European Championship meant that ProSpeed will move into the Le Mans Series, taking Westbrook with them. For JMW Motorsport it means only Sugden and Bell are testing here at Paul Ricard. Uwe Alzen joined BMW Team Schnitzer on their BMW M3 while the AIM-Team ORECA #6 car saw Soheil Ayari getting company from Andy Meyrick and Didier André.

Despite a rather chilly atmosphere, lots of wind and a light drizzle at the start of the first test session most teams opted to go out and make the best of it. One hour into the session 33 cars had set a lap time. Just before a red flag briefly halted the session.

At 11 o’clock, with the rain still coming down but clear skies and the sun visible over the mountain it was the Oreca 01 AIM of Ayari/Meyrick/André that had set the fastest lap time in 1:44.954. The Team ORECA Matmut Peugeot 908 HDi FAP (#4) was second fastest in 1:47.128, with the Beechdean Mansell Motorsport Ginetta-Zytek 09S third fastest in 1:47.970.
Quifel-ASM Team was fastest in LMP2 (1:49.042), the #61 Matech Competition Ford GT set the fastest time in GT1 (1:59.582) and in GT2 it was the #96 AF Corse Ferrari F430 GT of Bruni/Melo that was quickest.

An hour and a half and another brief red flag later the time set by the Oreca 01 AIM was still the fastest on the timing screens. By now the Rebellion Racing Lola B10/60 Rebellion had moved into second place, despite several spins in the session, just a tenth behind the Oreca. And at 12:40 the session was again interrupted for a few minutes as the flatbed transporters were sent out to pick up another car.

Soon after the track went green again the cars went out again for the final thirty minutes. Even though at the front positions did not change the times throughout the field were improving. Interesting to note is that the majority of the GT2 cars finished this session in front of the new specification GT1 cars.

One thing could be crucial for this year again…tyres. Straight out the factory, one small shakedown and on Dunlop tyres the JMW Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage was fastest in GT2, the quickest car on the track was on Dunlops and so were the fourth and fifth placed LMP1 cars. In fact the Signature Plus Aston Martin LMP1, on Dunlops, beat the works car, on Michelin tyres.

Here are all the times of the Sunday morning session:

#6 - AIM Team Oreca - Oreca 01 AIM– 1:44.954
#13 - Rebellion Racing - Lola B10/60 Rebellion – 1:45.069
#4 - Team Oreca Matmut - Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – 1:45.280
#5 - Beechdean Mansell Motorsport - Ginetta-Zytek 09S – 1:45.662
#008 - Signature Plus - Lola Aston Martin – 1:46.713
#009 – Aston Martin Racing - Lola Aston Martin - 1:46.901
#42 – Strakka Racing - HPD Acura ARX01c - 1:47.378
#40 – Quifel-ASM Team - Ginetta-Zytek 09S - 1:47.984
#25 – RML - Lola B08/80 HPD - 1:48.958
#35 – OAK Racing - Pescarolo 01 Judd - 1:50.283
#41 – Team Bruichladdich - Ginetta-Zytek 09S - 1:51.074
#12 - Rebellion Racing - Lola B10/60 Rebellion – 1:51.359
#30 – Racing Box - Lola B09/80 Judd - 1:52.526
#24 – OAK Racing - Pescarolo 01 Judd - 1:53.042
#29 – Racing Box - Lola B09/80 Judd – 1:54.301
#45 – Boutsen Energy Racing - FLM09 - 1:54.352
#39 – KSM - Lola B08/47 Judd - 1:55.765
#49 – Applewood Seven - FLM09 - 1:56.065
#27 – Race Performance - Radical SR9 Judd - 1:56.478
#61 – Matech Competition - Ford GT - 1:59.582
#92 – JMW Motorsport - Aston Martin V8 Vantage - 1:59.649
#70 – Marc VDS Racing Team - Ford GT - 1:59.817
#52 - Young Driver AMR - Aston Martin DBR9 - 1:59.853
#96 - AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 1:59.901
#43 – DAMS - FLM09 - 1:59.919
#89 - Hankook Team Farnbacher - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.175
#95 – AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.243
#91 – CRS Racing - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.594
#50 - Larbre Competition - Saleen S7R - 2:00.667
#76 – IMSA Performance Matmut - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 2:00.806
#94 – AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.884
#75 – Prospeed Competition - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 2:01.150
#68 – Marc VDS Racing Team - Ford GT - 2:01.376
#77 - Team Felbermayr Proton - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 2:01.709
#90 – CRS Racing - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:02.263
#78 – BMW Team Schnitzer - 2:02.813
#46 - JMB Racing - FLM09 - 2:03.663
#87 – IMSA Performance Matmut - 2:04.763

[Rob]

Paul Ricard Test Days - Sunday afternoon report
March 7, 2010

The afternoon session of the Paul Ricard Test Days started as it had ended, light drizzle and strong winds making it a rather unpleasant place to be at. And for the first half an hour only a handful of cars lapped the track.

After one hour only fourteen cars had set a lap time yet, with the #4 Team ORECA Matmut Peugeot 908 HDi FAP on top in 1:44.309. Aston Martin Racing’s #009 Lola Aston Martin was second fastest with the Quifel-ASM Team Ginetta-Zytek 09S in third overall.

Fifteen minutes later the session was red flagged when the #27 Race Performance Radical SR9 Judd of Michel Frey and Ralph Meichtry went off and hit the barrier, knocking off the rear wing and damaging the right rear wheel and suspension. The car was brought back to the pit on a flatbed transporter.

More and more cars took to the track after the session was restarted, but it soon went to a red track state again when the BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M3 stopped. Shortly after it was recovered and the German team had started working on the GT2 car the track went green again.

Two hours into the session it was still the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in first place, ahead of the #12 Rebellion Racing Lola B10/60. The Peugeot improved its time to 1:44.292, but not much later the team’s Oreca 01 AIM set an even faster lap time, 1:43.259.

As the sun started to set positions down the field changed every now and then but at the front it the two Oreca cars were still standing strong. Rebellion Racing got its two cars into third and fourth, the #12 leading the #13 with the works Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin in fifth.

Just minutes before the end of the second session the #13 took over third place, still far away from the time set by the Oreca 01 AIM.

Quifel ASM Team finished the session almost four tenths of a second clear of the Strakka Racing HPD ARX-01c. The RML Lola HPD clocked the third fastest time of the session in 1:47.555.

The Young Driver AMR Aston Martin DBR9 was quickest in GT1 in 1:57.390. A full seven tenths of a second slower was the Marc VDS Racing Team Ford GT #70 and the Marc VDS #68 entry was third fastest. Fastest in the GT2 category was the #96 AF Corse SRL Ferrari F430 GT of Gianmaria Bruni and Jaime Melo. The Italian-Brazilian duo managed to get in between the two Marc VDS Racing Team Ford GTs.
JMW Motorsport’s Tim Sugden and Rob Bell took second place in GT2, albeit over half a second away from the fast Ferrari. Team Felbermayr Proton finished the session in third place.

For most GT cars the flag meant the end of the day. Several LMP1 and LMP2 cars and a handful of GT1, GT2 and Formula Le Mans cars will continue later with the night session.

Sunday afternoon’s times.

#6 - AIM Team Oreca - Oreca 01 AIM– 43.259
#4 - Team Oreca Matmut - Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – 1:44.292
#13 - Rebellion Racing - Lola B10/60 Rebellion – 1:45.171
#12 - Rebellion Racing - Lola B10/60 Rebellion – 1:45.272
#009 – Aston Martin Racing - Lola Aston Martin - 1:46.177
#5 - Beechdean Mansell Motorsport - Ginetta-Zytek 09S – 1:46.700
#40 – Quifel-ASM Team - Ginetta-Zytek 09S - 1:47.072
#42 – Strakka Racing - HPD Acura ARX01c - 1:47.450
#008 - Signature Plus - Lola Aston Martin – 1:47.505
#25 – RML - Lola B08/80 HPD - 1:47.555
#35 – OAK Racing - Pescarolo 01 Judd - 1:49.340
#41 – Team Bruichladdich - Ginetta-Zytek 09S - 1:50.063
#30 – Racing Box - Lola B09/80 Judd - 1:50.697
#29 – Racing Box - Lola B09/80 Judd – 1:51.678
#24 – OAK Racing - Pescarolo 01 Judd - 1:52.182
#39 – KSM - Lola B08/47 Judd - 1:52.901
#27 – Race Performance - Radical SR9 Judd - 1:53.798
#43 – DAMS - FLM09 - 1:55.092
#45 – Boutsen Energy Racing - FLM09 - 1:55.453
#49 – Applewood Seven - FLM09 - 1:56.051
#46 - JMB Racing - FLM09 – 1:57.280
#52 - Young Driver AMR - Aston Martin DBR9 - 1:57.390
#70 – Marc VDS Racing Team - Ford GT - 1:58.132
#96 - AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 1:59.391
#68 – Marc VDS Racing Team - Ford GT – 1:59.517
#50 - Larbre Competition - Saleen S7R – 1:59.546
#61 – Matech Competition - Ford GT - 1:59.915
#92 – JMW Motorsport - Aston Martin V8 Vantage - 1:59.962
#77 - Team Felbermayr Proton - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – 2:00.215
#76 – IMSA Performance Matmut - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 2:00.381
#94 – AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.488
#75 – Prospeed Competition - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 2:00:570
#91 – CRS Racing - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.632
#95 – AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.667
#89 - Hankook Team Farnbacher - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.784
#78 – BMW Team Schnitzer - BMW M3 - 2:01.441
#90 – CRS Racing - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:01.750
#87 – IMSA Performance Matmut - 2:05.287

[Rob]

Paul Ricard Test Days - Sunday evening report
March 7, 2010

Just after seven o’clock fifteen teams were allowed to get back on the track for the night test session. BMW Team Schnitzer with their BMW M3 and the Matech Competition Ford GT were the first ones out on track, and it took a while before they were joined.

One hour into the session just 10 cars had completed laps. The #4 Team ORECA Matmut Peugeot 908 HDi FAP was quickest, followed by the #008 AMR Lola and the #13 Rebellion. But just after the clock had shown 20:00:00 it was the Rebellion Racing #13 that moved up into second place and one lap later it set the fastest session time. Shortly afterwards the Lola came back into the pit.

Most cars came in and only a few cars were lapping at the same time. At 20:30 only 3 cars were out on the track, the Strakka Racing HPD ARX-01c, the #35 OAK Racing Pescarolo Judd and the BMW. Best lap by then was an 1:45.908 set by the #008 Lola Aston Martin. Gap between 1st and 2nd was only 0.061s.

At 20:45 the Young Driver AMR Aston Martin DBR9 went out, making it eleven teams that had been out on track out of fifteen that planned this session. With only a few cars on the track there was silence for the first time in hours.

Times at 21:15

#008 - Signature Plus - Lola Aston Martin – 1:45.908
#13 - Rebellion Racing - Lola B10/60 Rebellion – 1:45.969
#4 - Team Oreca Matmut - Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – 1:46.113
#42 – Strakka Racing - HPD Acura ARX01c – 1:50.345
#35 – OAK Racing - Pescarolo 01 Judd – 1:52.363
#24 – OAK Racing - Pescarolo 01 Judd – 1:54.523
#45 – Boutsen Energy Racing - FLM09 – 55.986
#61 – Matech Competition - Ford GT – 00.134
#39 – KSM - Lola B08/47 Judd – 01.322
#78 – BMW Team Schnitzer - BMW M3 – 02.042
#52 - Young Driver AMR - Aston Martin DBR9 – 02.466
#12 - Rebellion Racing - Lola B10/60 Rebellion - no time

*Only the #008 Signature Plus Lola Aston Martin at the back of the track right now and the #12 Rebellion Racing Lola joining the track, making it twelve from fifteen. Session continues, we’re off to the hotel. Back tomorrow!*

[Rob]

Paul Ricard Test Days - Monday morning report
March 8, 2010

Heavy snowfall hit the South West France but fortunately the Paul Ricard area was not affected by the bad weather and continued this morning at 9:00. Clouded skies and a cold wind greeted the teams again today as the cars went out on the track.

One hour into the session the Team Oreca Matmut Peugeot 908 HDi FAP had posted the fastest lap time, a 1:44.468. The Rebellion Racing Lola was second fastest, a second and a half behind the Peugeot. Third quickest was the Beechdean Mansell Motorsport Zytek, almost four tenths of a second behind the Swiss Lola.

Quickest in LMP2 was the Strakka Racing HPD ARX-01c, while the #43 DAMS was the fastest Formula Le Mans car. The #70 Marc VDS Racing Team Ford GT and the #95 AF Corse Ferrari were the fastest cars in the two GT classes.

In the following hour and a half the lap times kept dropping and at 11:30 the quickest time had been set by the Oreca 01 AIM. In its 50th lap it set a 1:43.310. Just under half a second behind was the second Oreca entry, the Peugeot, which set a fastest lap time of 1:43.756.

At noon the top three was still unchanged with Oreca leading, but the LMP1 cars now made up the top six with the Strakka Racing in seventh place overall being the best LMP2 car. The second fastest LMP2 car was another Honda Performance Development powered car, the RML Lola. Quifel-ASM Team completed the top three in LMP2, with DAMS setting the fastest FLM lap time.
In GT2 the battle kept going between the #95 AF Corse and #89 Hankook Team Farnbacher. Two tenths of a second separated the two Ferrari F430 GTs, with the #94 AF Corse Ferrari in third another tenth of a second behind.

At 13:00 the session came to an end and nothing had changed at the front - further down the list the Ferrari’s were beaten in the end by the ProSpeed Porsche, setting the fastest GT2 lap time of the weekend so far.

The BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M3 that was supposed to run today as well did not take part in the session. Engine related problems that appeared yesterday were deemed to serious and the German team decided to call it a day and return to Germany to check out and fix the problem.

Monday morning results

6 – 1:43.310
4 – 1:43.756
5 – 1:44.633
008 – 1:44.998
13 – 1:45.247
12 – 1:45.307
42 – 1:46.174
009 – 1:46.469
25 – 1:47.808
40 – 1:48.790
35 – 1:49.061
24 – 1:49.715
30 – 1:50.345
29 – 1:50.858
41 – 1:51.706
39 – 1:53.094
44 – 1:54.432
49 – 1:56.009
48 – 1:56.030
47 – 1:56.931
43 – 1:57.011
70 – 1:57.711
61 – 1:58.111
68 - 1:58.597
52 – 1:59.132
75 – 1:59.213
95 – 1:59.651
89 – 1:59.865
94 – 1:59.898
92 - 1:59.922
96 – 2:00.089
46 – 2:00.250
77 – 2:00.530
76 – 2:00.553
91 – 2:00.589
90 – 2:00.825
87 – 2:02.176

[Rob]

Darren Turner joins JMW Motorsport in LMS
By Team Update ⋅ March 8, 2010

Darren Turner is all set for a busy year after it was announced today that he has joined JMW Motorsport for a full-season assault on the Le Mans Series. The British driver teams up with Rob Bell to race the No.92 Aston Martin Vantage for Jim McWhirter’s championship-winning team.

The Le Mans Series season fits in neatly around Darren’s drive in the FIA GT1 World Championship for the Young Driver AMR Team and, of course, the Le Mans 24 Hours, which will see him back behind the wheel of the Aston Martin LMP1 car.

“We are delighted to announce that, with the support of Aston Martin Racing, we have secured the services of Darren Turner for the full five-race LMS championship,” said McWhirter. “This underlines our commitment to this championship and adds yet another strength to our very motivated team ethos. Darren brings a wealth of experience to the team as well as a working knowledge of the Vantage V8 GT2.”

“I’m very happy to be joining JMW Motorsport for 2010,” said Turner. “The team has already won the LMS GT2 title twice, outlining their winning capabilities. It’s good to be teaming up with Rob again as we have won together before. I’m also looking forward to working with Dunlop who have a very competitive tyre in GT2 and have already achieved great success with JMW.”

The first race in the 2010 Le Mans Series takes place at Paul Ricard on 11 April.

(Darren Turner press release)

[Rob]

Marc VDS Racing Team confirms Le Mans drivers
By Team Update ⋅ March 8, 2010

Bas Leinders, Eric De Doncker and Markus Palttala have been confirmed as the three drivers that will contest this year’s 24 Heures du Mans, at the wheel of the Marc VDS Racing Team’s Ford GT40.

One of only eight GT1 cars to secure an entry for this prestigious event, the appearance of the distinctive silver and bordeaux GT40 on the grid at Le Mans will mark not just the debut of the Marc VDS Racing Team in this world famous race, but also of all three drivers, none of whom have contested the 24 Heures du Mans previously.

In preparation for the endurance races at Le Mans and Spa Francorchamps, the Marc VDS Racing Team successfully completed today the Le Mans Series official test at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Southern France.

The two-day test provided a perfect opportunity to improve the set-up of the team’s two GT40 machines, to better suit the characteristics of the Michelin endurance specification tyres that the team will run at both the 24 Heures du Mans and the 1000km of Spa.

The Marc VDS Racing Team head back to base tonight, to prepare equipment to be shipped out to the Middle East this week, ready for the opening round of the GT1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi, which takes place on 17th April 2010.

The official launch of the Marc VDS Racing Team, which this year will contest the FIA GT3 European Championship, Rally Raid and the FIM Moto2 World Championship in addition to the FIA GT1 World Championship, will take place on 18th March at the team’s base in Gosselies, Belgium.

Bas Leinders: Driver/Sporting Manager
“For all three drivers this will be our first experience of the 24 Heures du Mans, but it is a challenge we’re all looking forward to, especially after a successful two-day test here at Paul Ricard. The focus during the test has been on refining the set-up of the car to better suit the Michelin endurance specification tyres that we will use at both the 1000km of Spa and 24 Heures du Mans. The weather hasn’t been ideal but we’ve made significant progress, finding a good balance on the car and also an overall set-up that minimises tyre wear, which will be critical in these endurance races. We’ve confirmed the set-up with some long runs on track and our lap times with all five drivers have been consistent throughout the test. We’re in a strong position compared to the other GT1 teams and I’m confident we’ll be on the pace from the start when we arrive at Le Mans in June for the big race.”

Marc van der Straten: President - Marc VDS Racing Team
“It is an honour to have been chosen by ACO as one of the eight GT1 teams that will contest this year’s 24 Heures du Mans, one of the greatest motorsport events in the world. The whole team has worked extremely hard to ensure we are ready to face this new challenge, with the result that we’ve been one of the strongest GT1 teams at this Paul Ricard test. None of our three drivers have ever contested the 24 Heures du Mans before, but all are experienced 24 hour racers and I’m confident, especially after the solid performance we’ve witnessed during the past two days, that they are more than capable of securing a strong result for the Marc VDS Racing Team. Now we must focus on the opening three rounds of the GT1 World Championship, before turning our attention once more to Le Mans.”

[Rob]

Paul Ricard Test Days - Monday afternoon report
March 8, 2010

At 14:00 the final session of the Le Mans Series Official Test Days at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track got underway. One of the first cars out on the track was the #008 Signature Plus Lola Aston Martin, setting its fastest time on the first lap.

45 minutes into the session the Lola Aston Martin LMP1s were first and second, but the works car still unable to beat the customer car, chassis B09/60 HU03S (DBR1 – 2/3) for the sportscar purists. The Peugeot 908 HDi FAP had not been out on the track yet at that point.

After a brief red flag period (at 15:20) the track went green again and the Melo/Bruni AF Corse Ferrari F430 GT and Oreca 01 AIM of Ayari/Meyrick/André were the first cars to go out, almost as soon as the light went green again.

In the following minutes the fastest lap time was improved twice. First by the #13 Rebellion Racing Lola, improving it to 1:44.264 and almost instantly by the #6 Oreca 01 AIM again to 1:44.171.

While the cars were still out on the track news broke that Darren Turner had signed with JMW Motorsport for the full Le Mans Series season. Out on the track times were slowly improving, but mainly in the GT category.

At the front the Oreca 01 AIM kept lapping until 16:25 when the red flag came out again after the Matech Competition Ford GT came to a halt on the track; its undertray separated from the car. A few minutes later the stranded car was pulled onto a flatbed transporter and moved to safety.

As the track reopened lots of cars went out again, including the Oreca Peugeot. On one of its first flying laps the 908 HDi FAP already moved into fifth place, but after 10 laps it Nicolas Lapierre stopped the car. It was towed back to the paddock after the session.

The other Oreca car set the fastest lap time of the weekend on its 66th lap of the session. A 1:42.963 was enough to secure the top position of the test weekend.

Just after 17:00 the session ended…and all teams started to pack. Next stop: Paul Ricard again in one month for the opening round of the series.

(Special thanks to Jeff Carter for bringing Beechdean Farmhouse Dairy Ice Cream into the media centre towards the end of the session. Despite the chilly temperatures outside it was a welcome snack in the media centre)

#6 - AIM Team Oreca - Oreca 01 AIM– 1:42.963
#12 - Rebellion Racing - Lola B10/60 Rebellion – 1:44.025
#13 - Rebellion Racing - Lola B10/60 Rebellion – 1:44.264
#008 - Signature Plus - Lola Aston Martin – 1:44.502
#4 - Team Oreca Matmut - Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – 1:44.594
#009 – Aston Martin Racing - Lola Aston Martin - 1:45.342
#40 – Quifel-ASM Team - Ginetta-Zytek 09S - 1:46.584
#42 – Strakka Racing - HPD Acura ARX01c - 1:47.239
#25 – RML - Lola B08/80 HPD - 1:47.313
#30 – Racing Box - Lola B09/80 Judd - 1:49.063
#29 – Racing Box - Lola B09/80 Judd – 1:49.335
#35 – OAK Racing - Pescarolo 01 Judd - 1:49.769
#24 – OAK Racing - Pescarolo 01 Judd - 1:50.233
#41 – Team Bruichladdich - Ginetta-Zytek 09S - 1:50.403
#5 - Beechdean Mansell Motorsport - Ginetta-Zytek 09S – 1:51.431
#39 – KSM - Lola B08/47 Judd - 1:52.198
#48 – Hope Polevision Racing – FLM09 – 1:54.253
#44 – DAMS - FLM09 - 1:55.085
#49 – Applewood Seven - FLM09 - 1:55.643
#41 – Team Bruichladdich – Ginetta-Zytek – 1:56.075
#46 - JMB Racing - FLM09 – 1:56.578
#47 – Hope Polevision Racing – FLM09 – 1:57.243
#61 – Matech Competition - Ford GT - 1:58.243
#52 - Young Driver AMR - Aston Martin DBR9 - 1:58.819
#91 – CRS Racing - Ferrari F430 GT – 1:59.272
#96 - AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 1:59.754
#68 – Marc VDS Racing Team - Ford GT – 1:59.842
#94 – AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT – 1:59.907
#77 - Team Felbermayr Proton - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – 1:59.976
#75 – Prospeed Competition - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 2:00:247
#92 – JMW Motorsport - Aston Martin V8 Vantage – 2:00.525
#95 – AF Corse - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:00.862
#76 – IMSA Performance Matmut - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 2:01.509
#90 – CRS Racing - Ferrari F430 GT - 2:02.209

[Rob]

Bouchut, Tucker and Rodrigues join Kolles
March 17, 2010

Christophe Bouchut will be the lead driver on the #15 Kolles Audi R10 TDI at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The French driver confirmed his plans and also confirmed that he will be joined by fellow Frenchman Manu Rodrigues and Bouchut’s American Le Mans Series team mate Scott Tucker.

Bouchut and Tucker will compete in the LMP Challenge class of the American Le Mans Series this season, and the opportunity to race for Kolles in the legendary French race was too good to pass.

“On paper, the choice of the Audi may seem a little crazy given the limited experience of Scott and Manu in sports prototypes”, said Christophe Bouchut. “My philosophy is not to ask them for pure performance. The important thing for them is to get used to the car.

Tucker, Bouchut and Rodrigues will not be racing the Audi R10 TDI in the Le Mans Series races at Paul Ricard or Spa-Francorchamps. “Our respective programs will not allow us to participate in a race preparation, but we will implement a testing program with Team Kolles to be ready for Le Mans”, said Bouchut.

Bouchut is happy to return to Le Mans with the Audi R10 TDI, even though he knows that the R10 will be no match for the Audi R15 and Peugeot 908. “It is a super car, myself I can not wait to get behind the wheel. I think a top 10 is within our reach, if we don’t make any mistakes on the track. ”

Scott Tucker: “Christophe has done a fantastic job and I am delighted that this project can be realized. I am also very happy to make my debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans at his side, in continuation of our joint commitment to compete in the United States. ”

Manu Rodrigues: “I had a great experience in 2009 by participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Christopher, and am honored that he asked me to ride with him again this year. This is a big challenge for me, but I adapted to the traffic with a GT2, I think still be able to avoid the pitfalls through the advice of Christopher. ”

The line-up of the #14 Kolles Audi R10 TDI is yet to be announced, but it is still possible that Bakkerud will move there as - per ACO regulations - a team can swap drivers within a team.

[Rob]

Sumo Power GT driver update
By Team Update ⋅ March 22, 2010

The Sumo Power GT team has this week appointed a second pair of drivers for its 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship campaign: Warren Hughes and Jamie Campbell-Walter. They will join Michael Krumm and Peter Dumbreck, who were confirmed in February, in the second of the team’s two Nissan GT-Rs – car number 22.

Warren Hughes has spent the past nine seasons in either GT or Touring cars and has contested the legendary Le Mans 24-hours six times, winning the LMP2 Class and breaking the lap record in the process. He is therefore delighted to be joining Sumo Power GT for a full World Championship campaign:

“When I first heard about the FIA GT1 World Championship and the venues it visits I immediately wanted to be involved”, said Hughes. “Once I had been invited to test with the Sumo Power GT team I was really hoping that I would be offered a seat, so to finally secure a drive is a fantastic opportunity.”

Jamie Campbell-Walter is another driver to have raced at Le Mans, his five visits to the French classic backed-up with campaigns in the Le Mans, FIA and British GT Championships over the past 13 years. On hearing the news that he was confirmed as one of the team’s four drivers he said:

“I’m over the moon to be get the drive with Sumo Power GT this season and it’s great to be involved with a new championship and a new team right from the start. I’m looking forward to being back in a GT Championship, especially one which visits so many good circuits in so many different countries.”

Both Hughes and Campbell-Walter drove one of the team’s Nissan GTRs in a test at Snetterton this week and were impressed, each driver reporting on the excellent delivery of power from the engine and agreeing that the car has great potential.

Commenting on this latest appointment of drivers, Team Manager Allen Orchard said: “We have been making such good progress with the performance of the cars we felt we needed to have a strong pairing of drivers in our second GT-R. We therefore opted for Warren and Jamie, instead of two drivers who are there because of the budget they bring with them. I’m delighted that we now have one of the best driver line-ups on the grid.”

The team is scheduled to test its two Nissans next week at Silverstone. It will then begin preparations for the cars’ departure to Abu Dhabi for the first race of the season, which takes place on 17th April.

[Rob]

Latest LMS 8 Heures Du Castellet entry list updates:
•March 24 - Provisional 8 Heures Du Castellet entry list added
The LMS 8 Heures Du Castellet entries:
LM P1
team and car drivers tires
008 . Signature Plus
Lola Aston Martin . Pierre Ragues .
. Frank Mailleux
. To be announced
009 . Aston Martin Racing
Lola Aston Martin . Harold Primat .
. Adrian Fernandez
. To be announced
4 . Team ORECA Matmut
Peugeot 908 HDi FAP . Nicolas Lapierre .
. Olivier Panis
. Loïc Duval
5 . Beechdean Mansell Motorsport
Ginetta-Zytek Z09R . Greg Mansell .
. Leo Mansell
. Nigel Mansell
6 . AIM Team Oreca
Oreca 01 AIM . Soheil Ayari .
. To be announced
. To be announced
7 . Audi Sport Team Joest
Audi R15 TDI . Dindo Capello .
. Tom Kristensen
. Allan McNish
12 . REBELLION Racing
Lola B10/60 REBELLION . Neel Jani .
. Nicolas Prost
13 . REBELLION Racing
Lola B10/60 REBELLION . Andrea Belicchi .
. Jean-Christophe Boullion
. Guy Smith
LM P2
team and car drivers tires
24 . OAK Racing
Pescarolo Judd . Jacques Nicolet .
. Mathieu Lahaye
25 . RML
Lola B08/80 HPD . Thomas Erdos .
. Mike Newton
. Andy Wallace
27 . Race Performance
Radical SR9 Judd . Michel Frey .
. Ralph Meichtry
. Tyler Dueck
29 . Racing Box
Lola B08/80 Judd . Piergiuseppe Perazzini .
. Marco Cioci
. Luca Pirri
30 . Racing Box
Lola B08/80 Judd . Ferdinando Geri .
. Andrea Piccini
. Giacomo Piccini
35 . OAK Racing
Pescarolo Judd . Richard Hein .
. Guillaume Moreau
36 . Pegasus Racing
Courage-Oreca LC75 AER . Julien Schell .
. Jean-Christophe Metz
. Frederic Da Rocha
37 . WR / Salini
WR Zytek . Philippe Salini .
. Stéphane Salini
. Tristan Gommendy
39 . KSM
Lola B08/47 Judd . Jean de Pourtales .
. Hideki Noda
. To be announced
40 . Quifel - ASM Team
Ginetta-Zytek 09S Zytek . Miguel Amaral .
. Olivier Pla
. Warren Hughes
41 . Team Bruichladdich
Zytek 07S Zytek . Karim Ojjeh .
. Tim Greaves
. Thor-Christian Ebbesvik
42 . Strakka Racing
HPD ARX-01c . Danny Watts .
. Nick Leventis
. Jonny Kane
43 . DAMS
ORECA FLM 09 . Alessandro Cicognani .
. Andrea Barlesi
. Gary Chalandon
44 . DAMS
ORECA FLM 09 . Guillaume Bermond .
. Nelson Pantiatici
. To be announced
45 . Boutsen Energy Racing
ORECA FLM 09 . Dominik Kraihamer .
. Nicolas de Crem
. Bernard Delhez
46 . JMB Racing
ORECA FLM 09 . Peter Kutemann .
. Maurice Basso
. To be announced
47 . Hope PoleVision Racing
ORECA FLM 09 . Steve Zacchia .
. To be announced
. To be announced
48 . Hope PoleVision Racing
ORECA FLM 09 . Mathias Beche .
. Christophe Pillon
. To be announced
49 . Applewood Seven
ORECA FLM 09 . Damien Toulemonde .
. David Zollinger
. Ross Zampatti
LM GT1
team and car drivers tires
50 . Larbre Competition
Saleen S7R . Gabriele Gardel .
. Patrice Goueslard
. Julien Canal
66 . Atlas eFX Team Full Speed
Saleen S7R . Carlo van Dam .
. To be announced
. To be announced
LM GT2
team and car drivers tires
75 . ProSpeed Competition
Porsche 997 GT3 RSR . Marco Holzer .
. Richard Westbrook
76 . IMSA Performance Matmut
Porsche 997 GT3 RSR . Raymond Narac .
. Patrick Pilet
77 . Team Felbermayr Proton
Porsche 997 GT3 RSR . Marc Lieb .
. Richard Lietz
78 . BMW Team Schnitzer
BMW M3 E92 . Jörg Müller .
. Dirk Werner
84 . Modena Group Racing
Ferrari F430 GT2 . Roman Rusinov .
. Stéphane Daoudi
85 . Spyker Squadron
Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R . Peter Dumbreck .
. Jeroen Bleekemolen
88 . Team Felbermayr Proton
Porsche 997 GT3 RSR . Martin Ragginger .
. Christian Ried
. Patrick Long
89 . Hankook Team Farnbacher
Ferrari 430 GT2 . Doninik Farnbacher .
. Allan Simonsen
90 . CRS Racing
Ferrari 430 GT2 . Phil Quaife .
. Pierre Ehret
. Pierre Kaffer
91 . CRS Racing
Ferrari 430 GT2 . Andrew Kirkaldy .
. Tim Mullen
92 . JMW Motorsport
Aston Martin Vantage GT2 . Rob Bell .
. Darren Turner
94 . AF Corse
Ferrari 430 GT2 . Luís Pérez Companc .
. Matías Russo
95 . AF Corse
Ferrari 430 GT2 . Giancarlo Fisichella .
. Toni Vilander
. Jean Alesi
96 . AF Corse
Ferrari 430 GT2 . Jaime Melo .
. Gianmaria Bruni