LMS/ILMC 2011

[Rob]

ORECA-Matmut enters Intercontinental Le Mans Cup
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ JANUARY 30, 2011

For its first year of partnership with Peugeot, the Team ORECA-Matmut has the championship titles to show for it: Le Mans Series driver, team and constructor champions with the French manufacturer. The team, under the watchful eye of Hugues de Chaunac, will tackle the 2011 season with the same ride, the 908 HDi FAP, driven by Nicolas Lapierre and Loi?c Duval in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

Before the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Team ORECA-Matmut will begin its season at the 12 Hours of Sebring – also the first round of the ILMC, organized by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest comprising seven races. The team will be making its return to Florida after last competing in the 2000 edition when it took a 1-2 victory in the GTS class with their Vipers! The Team ORECA-Matmut made its American comeback during the 2009 Petit Le Mans where it finished fifth overall, ahead of Honda-Acura.

“It’s always with great pleasure that we cross the Atlantic,” said Hugues de Chaunac. “We especially appreciate the American way of racing and we are excited to once again enjoy the special, even legendary, atmosphere of Sebring. Everyone knows that this event is a trying one! It will certainly be an enriching experience, with a race that promises to be hard-fought.”

For this international campaign, the Team ORECA-Matmut decided to continue with what works: the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. The package is proven and the team knows the prototype inside and out. This means they can hit the ground running, as the drivers are also very comfortable with the Lion: as proven by the fastest race lap during the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours and their performance in the Le Mans Series. Consequently, the team will arrive at the 12 Hours of Sebring at full throttle.

“A new car would have meant a later delivery date,” adds David Floury, Technical Director. “To arrive at Sebring under the best conditions, we are conducting several tests in 2011 configuration, with the new restrictors and boost pressure. As for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the change in regulations (smaller restrictors) we are aiming for reliability more so than pure performance.”

Rendez-vous March 16-19 for the 59th 12 Hours of Sebring marking the launch of the 2011 season for the Team ORECA-Matmut.

[Rob]

looking forward to Sebring just as much as Bahrain, Sebring hell of a track and race.

[Rob]

24 HOURS OF LE MANS

Peugeot Sport launches new Peugeot 908
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Peugeot Sport is poised to embark on a busy motorsport programme in both circuit racing and rallying in 2011. The overall objective is to secure further titles and individual event wins, while Team Peugeot Total’s endurance racing programme will be spearheaded by a brand new car. Once again, the Le Mans 24 Hours stands out as the highlight of the squad’s 2011 calendar.

Objectifs 2011

The 2011 campaign kicked off in the finest way imaginable with victory for Peugeot on the recent Rallye Monte-Carlo. The centenary edition of the famous rally saw Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri and their Peugeot France-backed 207 Super 2000 show the way forward for the rest of the year. At the same time, Peugeot Sport will continue to work actively with its subsidiaries and customers in a long list of national rally championships, as well as in the Intercontinental Rallye Challenge. Peugeot’s sporting division will also continue to organise its highly popular one-make series in rallying and circuit racing in order to cater for the passion of amateur competitors, budding champions and fans of the brand.

Meanwhile, Peugeot Sport’s energy will focus chiefly on its official endurance racing programme. After a strong season in 2011, which saw it claim the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) title, Peugeot Sport will be looking to defend its crown, although the highlight of its season will again be the Le Mans 24 Hours (June 11-12). The calendar of this year’s ILMC features seven races, including Le Mans which will count for double points. This year’s visit to La Sarthe is especially eagerly awaited inasmuch as it will be the first since recent changes to the technical regulations gave rise to a new generation of cars.

From the 90X to 908

The 908 HDi FAP helped Peugeot build up an enviable record of world class successes, including the title in the 2007 Le Mans Series, a one-two finish at Le Mans in 2009 and the inaugural ILMC crown in 2010. “We have chosen 908 as the name of the new car in order to build on the wave of success with which it is associated,” says Peugeot’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Xavier Peugeot.

“At the same time, this car fits perfectly with the brand’s modern calling. It mirrors the modernity that is dialled into the 408, which is in the process of being launched in Latin America, the 508, which is beginning to arrive in the dealerships, and the new 308, about which we will be going into a little further detail over the coming days. It also echoes the modernity expressed by our first ever diesel hybrid model, the 3008 HYbrid4. At Peugeot, we have always sought to associate our commitment to motorsport with the real world and with our model range. The name 908 consequently stood out as the obvious choice.“ Following in the wake of the 905 and the 908 HDi FAP, the 908 is the third car to have been developed by Peugeot Sport for endurance racing. And, like its forebears, its mission will be to extend Peugeot’s winning record at Le Mans which already features three wins, in 1992, 1993 and 2009. The 908 complies with the latest technical regulations and notably features a so-called shark’s fin engine-cover appendix. It is a closed-cockpit car, with four identical wheels, and is powered by a 550-horsepower, 3.7-litre V8 HDi FAP diesel engine. It means Peugeot Sport will be competing in endurance racing for the fifth year running with a diesel engine equipped with a particulate filter (FAP/Filtre à Particules). Since 1998, more than seven million HDi engines have been sold worldwide, helping Peugeot to earn a reputation as one of the biggest players in the realm of clean diesel power.

The 908 packs the same technologies as those employed for Peugeot’s road cars, while there has been close collaboration between the group’s engineers and specialists and their counterparts at Peugeot Sport to ensure that expertise in domains like fuel efficiency, respect for the environment and performance is shared between road cars and motorsport.

The technical solutions chosen for Peugeot Sport’s latest endurance racing challenger

Immediately after the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours, Peugeot Sport’s engineers started to put pen to paper to design a new car destined to comply with the new, upcoming technical regulations. They sought to profit from the lessons learned with the 908 HDi FAP: “The regulations have evolved a great deal but we didn’t start from a clean sheet,” notes Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport’s Technical Director. “The experience we have gained over the past four years helped to steer the decision-making process and our technical choices, although the only component which has been carried over at the end of the day is the windscreen wiper! One of the principal difficulties we faced was having to design an all-new car while continuing to race another at the same time. We also needed to set ourselves sound objectives with a view to obtaining the best possible package with regard to engine performance, aerodynamics and weight distribution. We will only find out how successful we have been when we start racing the new car…”

A closed-cockpit car: “We knew from previous testing work that there is little significant difference between open- and closed-cockpit cars in terms of their aerodynamic performance. At the same time, despite the added constraints they bring when working on them at races, closed-cockpit cars provide additional safety for the drivers. We therefore decided to stay with the same solution.”

Engine: “We have also made full of our experience with the V12. We ultimately decided to opt for a turbocharged diesel V8, the characteristics of which are very similar to those of the V12. The angle of the ’vee’ is 90 degrees (compared with 100 degrees in the case of the V12) for balance reasons. The cubic capacity is 3.7 litres and the new V8 HDi FAP boasts peak power of 550hp. We ran it for the first time on the dyno on January 25, 2010.”

Four identical wheels: “Today’s LMP cars have a shortcoming with regard to front-end road holding performance. The logical way to cure this was to increase the size of the contact patch between the tyres and the track, which entailed running bigger front wheels, within the limits specified by the regulations. This aspect of the car’s development was carried out in close collaboration with our partner Michelin.”

Aerodynamics: “Given the big reduction in engine power resulting from the 2011 regulations (a fall of approximately 150hp), we had to take a fresh look at the trade-off between aerodynamics, drag and downforce. The latter has been significantly reduced in order to maintain a reasonably high top speed.”

The new car made its track debut on July 27, 2010. “This was the deadline we set ourselves, although we knew we would almost certainly run into teething trouble given that this was an all-new car. We did indeed have problems but we succeeded in resolving them one by one as we got more and more kilometres on the clock. One of the very positive points we found was that the car’s handling lived up to our expectations out of the box. With regard to its other strengths and weaknesses, we will need to wait until the first races to see how we compare with our rivals. That said, we continue to work without worrying about what our opponents are doing; we are simply focusing on our own objectives. Between the car’s track debut in 2010 and the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours, we will have completed 12 tests in all, at a number of different circuits,” concludes Bruno Famin.

The full championship

The Intercontinental Le Mans Cup has expanded from three rounds in 2010 to a seven-round calendar this season, including two races in the USA (Sebring and Petit Le Mans Road/Atlanta), three in Europe (Spa-Francorchamps, Imola and Silverstone) and one in China, plus the bill-topping Le Mans 24 Hours. “We clearly want to defend our ILMC title,” underlines Olivier Quesnel, the Director of Peugeot Sport. “We won all three rounds of the series in 2010, but there is one round we are especially targeting this year, and that is Le Mans.

This legendary event has now been incorporated into the championship, a move we believed was necessary – indispensable even. Including Le Mans will be very beneficial for the championship and will put an even bigger spotlight on endurance racing which is a discipline that permits carmakers like Peugeot to showcase their knowhow and technology in extreme conditions. We have consequently submitted entries for two cars to the ACO for every round, with the exception of Spa-Francorchamps where we will take three cars to use it as a full- scale dress rehearsal ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours.”

Outstanding drivers

This season sees the introduction of a more balanced calendar, a shift in the technical regulations and the arrival of a new car, but the people who make up the team are just the same. “At our debrief after the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours at our base in Vélizy, I told all our drivers that I had every confidence in them for 2011,” concludes Olivier Quesnel. “They are true professionals, every one of them. We have nine world class drivers who count among the discipline’s very best. We have everything to gain from sticking to the same line-up.”

The three crews for Le Mans:
- N°7 908: Alexander Wurz / Anthony Davidson / Marc Gené
- N°8 908: Franck Montagny / Nicolas Minassian / Stéphane Sarrazin
- N°9 908: Sébastien Bourdais / Pedro Lamy / Simon Pagenaud

[Rob]

24 HOURS OF LE MANS

Peugeot Sport launches new Peugeot 908
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Peugeot Sport is poised to embark on a busy motorsport programme in both circuit racing and rallying in 2011. The overall objective is to secure further titles and individual event wins, while Team Peugeot Total’s endurance racing programme will be spearheaded by a brand new car. Once again, the Le Mans 24 Hours stands out as the highlight of the squad’s 2011 calendar.

Objectifs 2011

The 2011 campaign kicked off in the finest way imaginable with victory for Peugeot on the recent Rallye Monte-Carlo. The centenary edition of the famous rally saw Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri and their Peugeot France-backed 207 Super 2000 show the way forward for the rest of the year. At the same time, Peugeot Sport will continue to work actively with its subsidiaries and customers in a long list of national rally championships, as well as in the Intercontinental Rallye Challenge. Peugeot’s sporting division will also continue to organise its highly popular one-make series in rallying and circuit racing in order to cater for the passion of amateur competitors, budding champions and fans of the brand.

Meanwhile, Peugeot Sport’s energy will focus chiefly on its official endurance racing programme. After a strong season in 2011, which saw it claim the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) title, Peugeot Sport will be looking to defend its crown, although the highlight of its season will again be the Le Mans 24 Hours (June 11-12). The calendar of this year’s ILMC features seven races, including Le Mans which will count for double points. This year’s visit to La Sarthe is especially eagerly awaited inasmuch as it will be the first since recent changes to the technical regulations gave rise to a new generation of cars.

From the 90X to 908

The 908 HDi FAP helped Peugeot build up an enviable record of world class successes, including the title in the 2007 Le Mans Series, a one-two finish at Le Mans in 2009 and the inaugural ILMC crown in 2010. “We have chosen 908 as the name of the new car in order to build on the wave of success with which it is associated,” says Peugeot’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Xavier Peugeot.

“At the same time, this car fits perfectly with the brand’s modern calling. It mirrors the modernity that is dialled into the 408, which is in the process of being launched in Latin America, the 508, which is beginning to arrive in the dealerships, and the new 308, about which we will be going into a little further detail over the coming days. It also echoes the modernity expressed by our first ever diesel hybrid model, the 3008 HYbrid4. At Peugeot, we have always sought to associate our commitment to motorsport with the real world and with our model range. The name 908 consequently stood out as the obvious choice.“ Following in the wake of the 905 and the 908 HDi FAP, the 908 is the third car to have been developed by Peugeot Sport for endurance racing. And, like its forebears, its mission will be to extend Peugeot’s winning record at Le Mans which already features three wins, in 1992, 1993 and 2009. The 908 complies with the latest technical regulations and notably features a so-called shark’s fin engine-cover appendix. It is a closed-cockpit car, with four identical wheels, and is powered by a 550-horsepower, 3.7-litre V8 HDi FAP diesel engine. It means Peugeot Sport will be competing in endurance racing for the fifth year running with a diesel engine equipped with a particulate filter (FAP/Filtre à Particules). Since 1998, more than seven million HDi engines have been sold worldwide, helping Peugeot to earn a reputation as one of the biggest players in the realm of clean diesel power.

The 908 packs the same technologies as those employed for Peugeot’s road cars, while there has been close collaboration between the group’s engineers and specialists and their counterparts at Peugeot Sport to ensure that expertise in domains like fuel efficiency, respect for the environment and performance is shared between road cars and motorsport.

The technical solutions chosen for Peugeot Sport’s latest endurance racing challenger

Immediately after the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours, Peugeot Sport’s engineers started to put pen to paper to design a new car destined to comply with the new, upcoming technical regulations. They sought to profit from the lessons learned with the 908 HDi FAP: “The regulations have evolved a great deal but we didn’t start from a clean sheet,” notes Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport’s Technical Director. “The experience we have gained over the past four years helped to steer the decision-making process and our technical choices, although the only component which has been carried over at the end of the day is the windscreen wiper! One of the principal difficulties we faced was having to design an all-new car while continuing to race another at the same time. We also needed to set ourselves sound objectives with a view to obtaining the best possible package with regard to engine performance, aerodynamics and weight distribution. We will only find out how successful we have been when we start racing the new car…”

A closed-cockpit car: “We knew from previous testing work that there is little significant difference between open- and closed-cockpit cars in terms of their aerodynamic performance. At the same time, despite the added constraints they bring when working on them at races, closed-cockpit cars provide additional safety for the drivers. We therefore decided to stay with the same solution.”

Engine: “We have also made full of our experience with the V12. We ultimately decided to opt for a turbocharged diesel V8, the characteristics of which are very similar to those of the V12. The angle of the ’vee’ is 90 degrees (compared with 100 degrees in the case of the V12) for balance reasons. The cubic capacity is 3.7 litres and the new V8 HDi FAP boasts peak power of 550hp. We ran it for the first time on the dyno on January 25, 2010.”

Four identical wheels: “Today’s LMP cars have a shortcoming with regard to front-end road holding performance. The logical way to cure this was to increase the size of the contact patch between the tyres and the track, which entailed running bigger front wheels, within the limits specified by the regulations. This aspect of the car’s development was carried out in close collaboration with our partner Michelin.”

Aerodynamics: “Given the big reduction in engine power resulting from the 2011 regulations (a fall of approximately 150hp), we had to take a fresh look at the trade-off between aerodynamics, drag and downforce. The latter has been significantly reduced in order to maintain a reasonably high top speed.”

The new car made its track debut on July 27, 2010. “This was the deadline we set ourselves, although we knew we would almost certainly run into teething trouble given that this was an all-new car. We did indeed have problems but we succeeded in resolving them one by one as we got more and more kilometres on the clock. One of the very positive points we found was that the car’s handling lived up to our expectations out of the box. With regard to its other strengths and weaknesses, we will need to wait until the first races to see how we compare with our rivals. That said, we continue to work without worrying about what our opponents are doing; we are simply focusing on our own objectives. Between the car’s track debut in 2010 and the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours, we will have completed 12 tests in all, at a number of different circuits,” concludes Bruno Famin.

The full championship

The Intercontinental Le Mans Cup has expanded from three rounds in 2010 to a seven-round calendar this season, including two races in the USA (Sebring and Petit Le Mans Road/Atlanta), three in Europe (Spa-Francorchamps, Imola and Silverstone) and one in China, plus the bill-topping Le Mans 24 Hours. “We clearly want to defend our ILMC title,” underlines Olivier Quesnel, the Director of Peugeot Sport. “We won all three rounds of the series in 2010, but there is one round we are especially targeting this year, and that is Le Mans.

This legendary event has now been incorporated into the championship, a move we believed was necessary – indispensable even. Including Le Mans will be very beneficial for the championship and will put an even bigger spotlight on endurance racing which is a discipline that permits carmakers like Peugeot to showcase their knowhow and technology in extreme conditions. We have consequently submitted entries for two cars to the ACO for every round, with the exception of Spa-Francorchamps where we will take three cars to use it as a full- scale dress rehearsal ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours.”

Outstanding drivers

This season sees the introduction of a more balanced calendar, a shift in the technical regulations and the arrival of a new car, but the people who make up the team are just the same. “At our debrief after the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours at our base in Vélizy, I told all our drivers that I had every confidence in them for 2011,” concludes Olivier Quesnel. “They are true professionals, every one of them. We have nine world class drivers who count among the discipline’s very best. We have everything to gain from sticking to the same line-up.”

The three crews for Le Mans:
- N°7 908: Alexander Wurz / Anthony Davidson / Marc Gené
- N°8 908: Franck Montagny / Nicolas Minassian / Stéphane Sarrazin
- N°9 908: Sébastien Bourdais / Pedro Lamy / Simon Pagenaud

[Rob]

here few pictures of the new 908..

[Rob]

24 HOURS OF LE MANS

The ACO releases the 2011 Le Mans 24 entry list
FEBRUARY 9, 2011
Here are all the invited teams and the registered drivers.

LM P1

1 – Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R18 – Timo Bernhard
2 – Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R18 – Marcel Fassler
3 – Audi Sport North America – Audi R18 – Tom Kristensen
5 – Hope Racing – Oreca 01 Hybrid – Steve Zacchia
7 – Peugeot Sport Total – Peugeot 908 – Sebastien Bourdais
8 – Peugeot Sport Total – Peugeot 908 – Stephane Sarrazin
9 – Team Peugeot Total – Peugeot 908 – Anthony Davidson
10 – Team Oreca Matmut – Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – Nicolas Lapierre
12 – Rebellion Racing – Lola B10/60 Toyota – Nicolas Prost
13 – Rebellion Racing – Lola B10/60 Toyota – Andrea Belicchi
15 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 – Matthieu Lahaye
16 – Pescarolo Team – Pescarolo 01 Judd – Emmanuel Collard
19 – Highcroft Racing – HPD ARX-01e – David Brabham
20 – Quifel ASM Team – Zytek 09SC – Miguel Amaral
24 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 – Richard Hein
007 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin AMR ONE – Stefan Mucke
009 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin AMR ONE – Harold Primat

LM P2

26 – SignaTech Nissan – Oreca 03 – Franck Mailleux
27 – SignaTech Nissan – Oreca 03 – Tiago Monteiro
33 – Level 5 Motorsports – Lola Coupe HPD – Scott Tucker
35 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 – Frederic Da Rocha
36 – RML – HPD ARX-01d – Mike Newton
39 – Pecom Racing – Lola B11/40 Judd BMW – Luis Perez-Companc
40 – Race Performance – Oreca 03 Judd BMW – Michael Frey
41 – Greaves Motorsport – Zytek Z11SN – Karim Ojjeh
42 – Strakka Racing – HPD ARX-01d – Nick Leventis
48 – Team Oreca Matmut – Oreca 03 – Soheil Ayari
49 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 – Andrea Barlesi

LMP Reserves
Extreme Limite – Norma M200P – Judd BMW – Fabien Rosier
Kronos Racing – Lola Aston Martin – Vanina Ickx
Rangoni Motorsports – Zytek Hybrid – Fernandino Geri
Boutsen Energy Racing – Oreca 03 Nissan – Dominik Kraihamer
Pegasus Racing – Courage-Oreca LC75 HPD – Julien Schell

LM GTE PRO

51 – AF Corse – Ferrari F458 Italia – Giancarlo Fisichella
55 – BMW Motorsport – BMW M3 – Augusto Farfus
56 – BMW Motorsport – BMW M3 – Andy Priaulx
58 – Luxury Racing – Ferrari F458 Italia – Stephane Ortelli
59 – Luxury Racing – Ferrari F458 Italia – Anthony Beltoise
64 – Lotus Jetalliance – Lotus Evora – Lukas Lichtner Hoyer
65 – Lotus Jetalliance – Lotus Evora – Vitus Eckert
66 – JMW Motorsport – Ferrari F458 Italia – Rob Bell
71 – AF Corse – Ferrari F458 – Rob Kauffman
73 – Corvette Racing – Corvette C6.R – Oliver Gavin
74 – Corvette Racing – Corvette C6.R – Olivier Beretta
75 – ProSpeed Competition – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Marc Goossens
76 – IMSA Performance Matmut – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Raymond Narac
77 – Team Felbermayr-Proton – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Marc Lieb
79 – JOTA – Aston Martin Vantage – Sam Hancock
80 – Flying Lizard Motorsport – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Jorg Bergmeister
88 – Team Felbermayr-Proton – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Lucas Luhr
89 – Hankook-Team Farnbacher – Ferrari F458 Italia – Dominik Farnbacher

LM GTE AM

50 – Larbre Competition – Chevrolet Corvette C6.R – Patrick Bornhauser
57 – Krohn Racing – Ferrari F430 GT2 – Tracy Krohn
60 – Gulf AMR Middle East – Aston Martin Vantage – Fabien Giroix
61 – AF Corse – Ferrari F430 GT2 – Piergiuseppe Perazzini
62 – CRS Racing – Ferrari F430 GT2 – Pierre Ehret
63 – Proton Competition – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Horst Felbermayr
68 – Robertson Racing – Doran Ford GT – David Robertson
70 – Larbre Competiton – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
81 – Flying Lizard Motorsport – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Seth Neiman
83 – JMB Racing – Ferrari F430 GT2 – Manuel Rodrigues

LM GTE Reserves
Robertson Racing – Doran Ford GT
Tolimit Arabia – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
ProSpeed Competition – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
Young Driver AMR – Aston Martin Vantage
BMS Scuderia Italia – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR

http://www.planetlemans.com/2011/02/...#comment-11867

[Rob]

im gutted, no Risi Competizione this year or ESM. As what ive heard is Risi said they will not be going. Perhaps wants to concentrate on the hardest GT class in world, the ALMS GT title. Shame.

[Rob]

INTERCONTINENTAL CUP

The 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup entries

BY MARCEL TEN CAAT ⋅ FEBRUARY 9, 2011
Here are all the teams and drivers that were announced today in Paris as part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup full season entry list.

LM P1

1 – Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R18 TDI – Timo Bernhard/Marcel Fässler
2 – Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R18 TDI – Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish
5 – Hope Racing – Oreca SwissHyTech Hybrid – Steve Zacchia/Olivier Lombard
7 – Peugeot Sport Total – Peugeot 908 – Anthony Davidson/TBA
8 – Peugeot Sport Total – Peugeot 908 – Stéphane Sarrazin/Franck Montagny
10 – Team Oreca Matmut – Peugeot 908 HDi FAP – Nicolas Lapierre/Loïc Duval
12 – Rebellion Racing – Lola B10/60 Toyota – Nicolas Prost/Neel Jani
15 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 – Matthieu Lahaye/Guillaume Moreau
24 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 – Richard Hein/Jacques Nicolet
007 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin AMR ONE – Stefan Mücke/Darren Turner

LM P2
26 – SignaTech Nissan – Oreca 03 Nissan – Franck Mailleux/TBA
33 – Level 5 Motorsports – Lola Coupe HPD – Scott Tucker/Christophe Bouchut
35 – OAK Racing – Pescarolo 01 – Frederic Da Rocha/Patrice Lafargue

LM GTE PRO

51 – AF Corse – Ferrari F458 Italia – Giancarlo Fisichella/Gianmaria Bruni
55 – BMW Motorsport – BMW M3 – Augusto Farfus/TBA
56 – BMW Motorsport – BMW M3 – Andy Priaulx/TBA
58 – Luxury Racing – Ferrari F458 Italia – François Jakubowski/Anthony Beltoise
59 – Luxury Racing – Ferrari F458 Italia – Stéphane Ortelli/Frédéric Makowiecki
64 – Lotus Jetalliance – Lotus Evora – Vitus Eckert/TBA
65 – Lotus Jetalliance – Lotus Evora – Lukas Lichtner Hoyer/TBA

LM GTE AM

50 – Larbre Competition – Chevrolet Corvette C6.R – Patrick Bornhauser/Julien Canal
57 – Krohn Racing – Ferrari F430 GT2 – Tracy Krohn/Niclas Jönsson
60 – Gulf AMR Middle East – Aston Martin Vantage – Fabien Giroix/Roald Goethe
61 – AF Corse – Ferrari F430 GT2 – Piergiuseppe Perazzini/Marco Cioci
62 – CRS Racing – Ferrari F430 GT2 – Pierre Ehret/Shaun Lynn
63 – Proton Competition – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR – Richard Lietz/Horst Felbermayr

[epiclyaddicted]

im gutted, no Risi Competizione this year or ESM. As what ive heard is Risi said they will not be going. Perhaps wants to concentrate on the hardest GT class in world, the ALMS GT title. Shame.

What?! Risi not participating in the Le Mans 24 hours??

[Rob]

AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES

Four out of four for Muscle Milk AMR at Sebring Test
BY MARCEL TEN CAAT ⋅ FEBRUARY 10, 2011

Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing completed the Sebring Winter Test as the fastest team on track. The Greg Pickett owned team had its Lola Aston Martin on top of the time sheets in all four sessions today and yesterday. In the final session today the #6 car was once again quickest, beating the Dyson Racing Lola by 0.208 seconds.

The session started on a wet track with standing water on some parts of the track. But as the track started to dry more teams went out and soon the lap times started to drop.

Dyson Racing was quickest for a while, just under half a second quicker than Muscle Milk AMR. But after Lucas Luhr got behind the wheel of the Lola Aston Martin the #6 eventually passed the #16 Lola Mazda. Luhr stopped the clocks in 1:49.997, the first driver this test to quicker than 1:50.

In the final hour the track conditions really improved and lap times dropped in the GT categories as well. Corvette Racing had been first and second in GT for a while, but as the track improved the Flying Lizards improved the fastest GT time and Bergmeister moved up into first place, a 2:02.373 vs a 2:02.404 for Magnussen. But both the #45 Porsche and #4 Corvette were pushed down the order when the #3 Corvette ZR1 of Olivier Beretta went even faster and posted a 2:02.186.

In LMPC the Genoa Racing cars battled it out with the #36 eventually posting the fastest time of the fourth session – a 1:55.721. The #63 car was second quickest at 0.748 seconds, with the #05 another 0.763 seconds behind in third.

In the GTC category the battle for first place in the final session was close until the end of the session. Craig Stanton’s Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup finished in first place on the timing sheets after setting a 2:06.980. Dion Von Moltke was second fastest at 0.301 seconds and the GMG Racing Porsche finished third at 0.475 seconds from the Magnus Porsche.

On his final lap Klaus Graf posted a 1.49.999, almost matching the fastest lap time set by his team mate and showing that the Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing team is one to watch in 2011.

Next official event: the Sebring 12 Hours!

[Rob]

What?! Risi not participating in the Le Mans 24 hours??

no it doesnt seem that way. I hoping it may change, but Hope find out more today, then let you know.

[epiclyaddicted]

no it doesnt seem that way. I hoping it may change, but Hope find out more today, then let you know.

Damn, I really wanted to see Risi storm the GT class at the LM24h in the gorgeous 458s!

[Rob]

Damn, I really wanted to see Risi storm the GT class at the LM24h in the gorgeous 458s!

same here, AF Corse will be going, with Fisi. No other drivers named yet, but as they drove for them last year in LMS wouldnt be surprised if Melo&Bruni driver for them, well that is if Risi do not go (emailled friend this morning if they could put any light on Risi situation, if going or it is a big no no, nothing yet)

[Nova]

No Risi, thats a drag, especially as there be 458's running this year..I really cant wait to see those in action...Hope they kik it..

Want to add the new Audi and Peugot are beautiful...

Does anyone now if the Masers are going to run the FIA GT this year?

[Rob]

No Risi, thats a drag, especially as there be 458's running this year..I really cant wait to see those in action...Hope they kik it..

Want to add the new Audi and Peugot are beautiful...

Does anyone now if the Masers are going to run the FIA GT this year?

yeah they will be running. Hopefully another GT crown masser mc-12

just read that they may being pulling the plug!!

[Rob]

PASTORELLI BULLISH ON WEST, LAMBORGHINI OUTLOOK

Sebring will be a challenge but program continues to progress
2011-02-16

Nicky Pastorelli is well aware that developing West Racing’s Lamborghini LP560 will require a series of steps instead of leaps. But that’s OK and expected, the Dutch driver said.

“Every week we make big steps,” said Pastorelli, who will team with Dominik Schwager for the full American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón season. “At the Sebring Winter Test we made gains in suspension and tire wear. Everything is getting better the more we test. We are starting at zero with a car that has never run in GT-spec. It has never competed at the same level of our competitors. But we accept that as a challenge.”

The West Racing effort is a partnership between the team and tire partner Yokohama. Pastorelli and Schwager tested the car at Sebring two weeks before the Winter Test, and the team would like to get in another test before the 2011 season opens with the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. Like any experienced racer, Pastorelli is aware that Sebring can pose challenges for the most veteran drivers and teams.

“It is good to make steps,” said Pastorelli, whose other ALMS experience came with VICI Racing in a Porsche GT2 car. “Getting any car sorted at Sebring is difficult because of the track’s nature. The first race here will be a challenge for sure but one that we are ready for.”

The 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida is set for 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 19. The race will be shown live and in its entirety on ESPN3.com and americanlemans.com starting at 10 a.m. ET. ABC will provide coverage from 12:30 to 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 20. Visit the American Le Mans Series’ schedule page for information on tickets and area accommodations.

[epiclyaddicted]

Rob, do you happen to know the UK tv schedule for the Sebring 12 hrs?

Thanks mate

[Rob]

Rob, do you happen to know the UK tv schedule for the Sebring 12 hrs?

Thanks mate

its on motors tv live. Checked the listings and dont go that far ahead.

[epiclyaddicted]

its on motors tv live. Checked the listings and dont go that far ahead.

Oh cool. I wonder if Motors tv is broadcasting the full race live, or only intermittently?

[Rob]

Oh cool. I wonder if Motors tv is broadcasting the full race live, or only intermittently?

it has been fully for the 6 years i been watching it. Some times it is the full Speed coverage, i mean having their commentators, but for couple years now been the radio le mans guys. They are also broadcasting on the track radio. Can be abit annoying as Speed cut to interviews with drivers, we see them but cannt hear what being said. But the radio le mans guys are really good.

John Hindhaugh is main man. They had Johnny Mowlem join them at Sebring and through out the year. He is really good, plus great driver too, plus they joined by other drivers too.

[epiclyaddicted]

it has been fully for the 6 years i been watching it. Some times it is the full Speed coverage, i mean having their commentators, but for couple years now been the radio le mans guys. They are also broadcasting on the track radio. Can be abit annoying as Speed cut to interviews with drivers, we see them but cannt hear what being said. But the radio le mans guys are really good.

John Hindhaugh is main man. They had Johnny Mowlem join them at Sebring and through out the year. He is really good, plus great driver too, plus they joined by other drivers too.

Awesome, I hope to be able to watch most of it live this year!

[Rob]

AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES

WRO all set for 12 Hours of Sebring
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ FEBRUARY 21, 2011

British motor racing team, WRO will be taking their place on the grid at one of the biggest events in motorsport, when they head to America for the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring next month.

Over the last six months there has been much speculation regarding WRO’s entry this year, however the team can now confirm they will be lining up on the grid at Sebring in just one month time in the LMPC class.

Having had their entry confirmed for the prestigious endurance event, the team are ecstatic to have achieved the first goal of their Sebring experience. Their next goal comes in the form of a race finish.

In terms of who will be piloting the car, the team signed Luca Moro in January this year. Luca’s team-mates are yet to be announced, however WRO hope to announce their full driver listing very soon.

Commenting on the announcement, Team Owner Daniel Woodard said: “It’s great to get an entry into the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, which was our first goal. Our next goal is to finish the race. We would like to say thank you to all of our partners – Iconick Energy Drinks, Dirtball Fashion and Rhino Stainless USA, for getting us this far.”

As the 12 Hours of Sebring edges closer, WRO’s timetable is coming together. Their first port of call is the two day test session at the beginning of the week, with practice, qualifying and then the main event following just a few days later.

More news of our driver line-up will be announced in due course.

[Rob]

No Risi, thats a drag, especially as there be 458's running this year..I really cant wait to see those in action...Hope they kik it..

Want to add the new Audi and Peugot are beautiful...

Does anyone now if the Masers are going to run the FIA GT this year?

looking abit rocky atmo for the Masser MC12s The GT1 rules state, that there must be 2 teams of the same car. Bit Maserati, can not find another team to run 2 more cars.

[Rob]

Aston Martin Racing launches new AMR-One
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ MARCH 2, 2011

© Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing announces today its plans for the new season including the unveiling of a new ground-up developed LMP1 race car, the AMR-One, as well as confirming the driver line-up and planned race programme.

The Gulf Liveried Aston Martin AMR-One is a new open-top LMP1 race car featuring a 2.0 litre turbocharged six cylinder direct injection petrol engine which has been developed for a new bespoke carbon fibre chassis designed and manufactured by Aston Martin Racing.

Based on the new regulations for 2011 instigated by the Le Mans governing body; the ACO, Aston Martin Racing has chosen to change tack this year in designing an open cockpit car. In line with the new 2011 rules, the AMR-One features the new blade-fin and has a significantly down-sized engine in keeping with the championship’s efficiency focused regulations. Power is fed to the rear wheels via a six-speed transverse semi automatic pneumatic shift, Xtrac racing gearbox.

A total of six AMR-Ones will be built, with the factory team running one car in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) which includes the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and two cars at selected events. The AMR-One is linked to Aston Martin’s ultimate design and engineering showcase; the road going One-77; both of which share similar philosophies featuring carbon fibre monocoques. Aston Martin’s in-house design team worked closely with the engineers at Aston Martin Racing to find the optimum balance between aesthetics and aerodynamics.

Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr. Ulrich Bez said: “Aston Martin’s heritage is deeply rooted in endurance sports car racing, so in 2011, we take the next step demonstrating that a small team using advanced design and engineering intelligence will be agile and competitive.”


© Aston Martin Racing
The driver line up for 2011 will consist of Darren Turner (GB) Stefan Mücke (D) and another driver yet to be announced, who will join the team piloting the 007 car. Adrian Fernandez (MX), Andy Meyrick (GB) and Harold Primat (CH) will be teaming up to drive the 009 car.

Aston Martin Racing Chairman, David Richards said: “George and the team have been extremely busy over the winter months and they have been working day and night to produce what is not only a stunningly beautiful race car but one which will use the new ACO regulations to best effect.

“Just like the road cars, the AMR-One has been elegantly engineered where simplicity runs throughout to produce what we expect to be a competitive and reliable endurance racer.”

Team Principal George Howard-Chappell said: “We have chosen to run with a six cylinder turbocharged engine because we believe this offers the best potential within the petrol engine regulations. With the ACO’s commitment to effectively balance the performance of petrol and diesel Le Mans entrants – our hopes are high that we’ll see the closest racing yet in the premiere LMP1 category.

It is expected that Aston Martin Racing will contend selected races in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with rounds in the United States (Petit Le Mans), Belgium (Spa), France (Le Mans), Italy (Imola), England (Silverstone) and China (TBC) and make its debut at Paul Ricard on the 1-3 April 2011.

The AMR-One is expected to test for the first time in early March.

Aston Martin AMR-ONE LMP1 Car Technical Specification

Chassis – Aston Martin Carbon Fibre Monocoque ‘open’ style construction, load bearing engine with steel frame to help rigidity.

Configuration – Mid engine rear wheel drive

Engine – In line 6 cylinder, direct injected, turbocharged and intercooled DOHC Petrol engine, 4 valves per cylinder. Approx 540bhp, 6 speed Xtrac

Gearbox – Bespoke 6 speed, transverse, semi automatic pneumatic shift, Xtrac racing gearbox

Suspension – All round double wishbone, push-rod activated Koni dampers with third spring/damper, front and rear. Front Anti roll bar

Steering – Rack and Pinion with electrical power assistance

Aerodynamics – to current LMP1 regulations developed via CFD in conjunction with Totalsim, including latest regulation fin.

Electronics – Full Cosworth electronics systems including engine ECU, data system and telemetry. Full military spec wiring harness and connectors.

Wheels and Tyres – Michelin tyres, 36/71 x 18 front and 37/71 x 18 rear mounted on TWS forged magnesium wheels.

Brakes – Brembo six pot calipers fitted front and rear, Carbon 380mm diameter front and 355mm diameter rear discs with carbon pads

Dimensions:
Length 4640mm
Width 1990mm
Wheelbase 2930mm
Minimum weight 900Kg

[Rob]

Peugeot plans to test hybrid 908

Tuesday, March 1st 2011, 16:44 GMT

Peugeot is planning to test a diesel-hybrid version of its 908 sportscar ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours this year.

Although the French car maker opted for a diesel power unit for its latest challenger, it has announced that it is planning to run the hybrid version at the official pre-Le Mans 24 Hours test day at the French circuit on April 24.

"Achieving this ambitious objective will depend on how well the team's preparations for Le Mans go with the new 908, and also on how the 908 HYbrid4 performs during its maiden track test at the end of March," Peugeot said in a statement.

The system used by the 908 HYbrid4 recovers and stores the kinetic energy generated under braking and it provides a power boost of 60kW (80hp) during the seconds that follow its redelivery.

The hybrid car will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89689

[Rob]

did read some where that they wanted to run the 908 hybrid at this years race. But after the failures last year of all 908s they opted not to. Go for the win with the diesel 908.

Will make no difference mind you, as Audi will win again.

[epiclyaddicted]

did read some where that they wanted to run the 908 hybrid at this years race. But after the failures last year of all 908s they opted not to. Go for the win with the diesel 908.

Will make no difference mind you, as Audi will win again.

I hope so! A diesel Peugeot winning Le Mans just doesn't work!

[Rob]

Quifel ASM Team shows ambitions for 2011
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ MARCH 4, 2011


Betting on stability – the same pilots (Miguel Pais do Amaral and Olivier Pla), the same brand (Zytek), the same brand tires (Dunlop) and the same technicians – Quifel ASM Team will race in 2011 in the queen class (LMP1) of Le Mans Series in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a natural promotion for an ambitious team that took first in the LMP2 class in 2009.

“It didn’t make much sense to continue competing in the LMP2 class, both for economic reasons and those regarding the sport”, said António Simões, the Director of the Quifel ASM Team. The team presented the organizational structure and the competitive program for the season of 2011 at its headquarters in Lisbon this afternoon.

“It is financially more productive to modify the car to adhere to the new regulations of the LMP1 class, than to those of LMP2 class, mainly because we have already taken first in this class. We’d like to take the opportunity to pursue a more ambitious project”, adds António Simões, justifying this action of moving Zytek to the main class this year, in conjunction with major changes in regulations for prototypes.

Having clinched its invitation to participate in the next event of the 24 hours of Le Mans in June, the Portuguese team bets on the stability of its structure and in the improvement of organizational processes and of technological sophistication.

Maintaining a connection to Zytek, with which it has been closely working to prepare the car for the LMP1 class, the Quifel ASM Team stands by its pair of pilots, the French Olivier Pla and Miguel Pais do Amaral, the “gentleman driver.” The team continues to enjoy the priviledge of being Dunlop’s partner in technical development and it cultivates the loyalty of its team of technicians and engineers that have been doing a great job.

“We would like to get to the last race of the championship that is to be held in September, in the Autodrome of Estoril, in a position of being able to discuss the title in the Le Mans Series, which would make the Portuguese public extremely happy”, continues Miguel Pais do Amaral, who strives to achieve its best classification in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

After having carried out two sessions of tests with the Zytek modified for the LMP1 class – in October, in the Autodrome of Portimão, and in the beginning of February, in the Italian race track of Vallelunga – the Portuguese team is preparing for a last series in the official tests at the French circuit of Paul Ricard, where the Le Mans Series 2011 will take place in the first weekend of April.

“The results of the trainings have been great because we have been competing at the same level with the most prominent non-official teams of the main class, and our car has still a margin of progression”, stresses António Simões.

In fact, Zytek of Quifel ASM Team received a set of new equipment and mechanical parts that have allowed it to gain approximately one second per lap when compared to the previous version. The team’s engineers believe that the efficiency of the vehicle might be further developed with new solutions.

Some of the most important changes introduced to Zytek include an increase of 75 kg, an engine with 40 to 50 additional CV, new tires and bigger brakes. There is plenty of room, however, for improvements in several areas, such as suspension, aerodynamics, the gear box, differential and electronics.

“We bet on the reliability of the car, in the consistance of the pilots and in the competence of the technical team to rapidly develop and to be positioned for the fight for the first places among the non-official teams. Because the other teams, like Peugeot and Audi, when they will come to compete, they will naturally be on a higher level”, concluded António Simões.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2011/03/...ions-for-2011/

[Rob]

AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES

Mowlem and Lombard complete WRO line-up
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ MARCH 6, 2011

After recently announcing the confirmation of their entry into the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring next month, British motor racing team WRO are now able to reveal their full driver line-up for the prestigious event.

It was revealed recently that WRO had signed Luca Moro for their participation in the LMPC class. Johnny Mowlem and Olivier Lombard will now be joining Luca in the team.

Johnny is very well known on the international sportscar scene, in particular in the American Le Mans Series, where he has raced in both LMP and GT machinery. He has competed in LMPC before, setting a new pole position record at Laguna Seca in 2010 and he is a previous Sebring 12 hour winner in the 2007 GT class, having contested the 12 hour classic nine times, amassing 5 podiums.

Johnny Mowlem is currently a factory driver for Lotus Motorsport, but has been allowed by the factory to compete at Sebring for WRO. Johnny said: “I am very grateful to the heads of Lotus Motorsport for allowing me to race with WRO at Sebring. When it became clear recently that the GT2 Lotus Evora would not be racing at Sebring, I wanted to be able to still compete at the race, as I believe the 2011 race will be epic! I’m delighted that Daniel Woodard at WRO has given me that opportunity and I will do everything I can to make WRO’s ALMS debut a success.”

Olivier Lombard has a number of racing events to his name, including the Formula Le Mans Series, which he contested in 2010. Commenting on joining WRO for the 12 Hours of Sebring, Olivier said: “I think that it is a great opportunity for me to be able to race in the 12 Hours of Sebring. I’m looking forward to working with everyone at WRO as I believe we have a very strong line up; it goes without saying I’ll do my best to help the team move forward.”

This will be Olivier’s first 12 hour race experience, and one he will relish. “I have been preparing myself mentally and physically all winter, in order to be on top form for Sebring. It is going to be my first 12 hour race and on a very difficult circuit. However, at WRO I will be racing with experienced drivers, which is going to help me a lot,” he added.

Team Owner Daniel Woodard added: “I’m very pleased to have Johnny and Olivier join Luca in the team. Our goal still remains the same, to finish the 12 Hours of Sebring race, which we know is a very tough race. And with the blend of talent and experience in the Team we have
every expectation of doing well”

http://www.planetlemans.com/2011/03/...e-wro-line-up/

[Rob]

BRABHAM BACK FOR HIGHCROFT RACING'S SEBRING ASSAULT

2011-03-08

Two-time American Le Mans Series champion David Brabham is set to again hit the track in Highcroft Racing colors for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in next week.

The popular Australian ex-Formula 1 driver and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner is the first of three drivers confirmed for Highcroft as the team continues its 10-day countdown to the opening round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron.

Brabham has played a key role in the development of the new HPD ARX-01e LMP1 machine, completing miles aboard the Wirth Research simulator in the UK in preparation for the Sebring race which doubles as the opening round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

Brabham joined Highcroft Racing in 2007 with the launch of the factory Acura LMP2 team and has been the mainstay of the squad – leading the Duncan Dayton-owned organization to 11 class victories and championship wins in 2009 and 2010.

“It will be great to get out there and start running and from what I have seen so far, the HPD ARX-01e has enormous potential,” Brabham said.

“I have driven the car on the simulator and been very impressed, but until we get it out there on the track we really won’t know for sure.

“Obviously we would have preferred to have had more testing miles under our belt prior to the Sebring race but if there is one thing I know about the guys at Highcroft Racing is that they respond to pressure in the best possible way and do an outstanding job.”

The ARX-01e will hit the track at Sebring later this week before completing more testing miles on Monday and Tuesday (March 14/15). Official practice for Sebring begins on Thursday, March 17.

Brabham is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to return to the track to ascertain how the new-for-2011 rules package balances out the competition between the dominant diesel-powered prototypes and the 3.4 liter petrol-powered Honda Performance Development package.

“Audi and Peugeot have had their cars out there earlier than anybody so they will be better prepared than anyone,” he said.

“Our goal is to fast track the development of the 01e and Sebring is the perfect environment for that. Sebring is a great place to test a car in what really is a violent environment – it is certainly the toughest race in the world on equipment.

“It has been a real pleasure to be involved with these development programs from the first LMP2 car through to the ARX-02a which we won the championship with in 2009. And now to have a newly designed LMP1 version ready to compete at Sebring is very exciting.”

“I’m really looking forward to continuing that process with the new car.”

Brabham’s teammates aboard the Highcroft machine will be unveiled later this week.

Team boss Duncan Dayton is looking forward to having Brabham back aboard the Highcroft car with the aim of continuing their great history of success.

“David has been the linchpin of the Highcroft program since we first kicked things off with Acura and HPD in 2007,” Dayton said.

“He has been in the car for every one of our 11 victories and helped us to back-to-back championship victories. We’re looking forward to adding a few more chapters to the David Brabham/Highcroft Racing story.”

The new HPD ARX-01e is a further development of last year’s championship-winning LMP2 car. The revised package has been heavily redesigned over the off-season to bring the car up to LMP1 specifications.

“David has been heavily involved in all the development work throughout the history of the ARX package all the way through to two championship victories,” Dayton said.

“He has done the majority of the simulator work with Wirth Research in the UK. His wealth of experience in the development and progression of this car has been invaluable and we are delighted to have him back again.

“That work will help us ascertain a great starting point on the set-up before we have even finished bolting it together.

“Our entire driver line-up will be doing miles this week on the simulator so we should be in a great position to hit the ground running when the car hits the track at Sebring.”