Le Mans Series, Volume 9

Volume 9

December 2009, Volume 9, No. 12

News in Brief - 30 December:
Today we look into news from Grand Am, Le Mans Series and what a bunch of ALMS drivers are up to.
News Aplenty from Aston Martin:
JMW Motorsport have announced that they will race an Aston Martin Vantage GT2 in 2010. This was the first of a number of announcements from Aston Martin just before Christmas.
Kolles Commits to Le Mans Series:
Team Kolles will be back in the Le Mans Series in 2010 racing the Audi R10 TDI. The team also aims to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Le Mans Intercontinental Cup.
Strakka Confirms Switch to Acura for 2010:
Strakka Racing has confirmed its move to Acura for the 2010 Le Mans Series. The team will compete in an Acura ARX-01 LMP2 sports prototype.
News in Brief for 21 December :
WTCC, PK Carsport, Porsche and their RS Spyder, Racing Box and Spyker makes up today's news in brief
News in Brief - 19 December:
News today includes major Signature-Plus news, de Ferran and Grand Am updates!
Its True - Oreca to Race a Peugeot in 2010:
After months of speculation, it has been confirmed by Peugeot and Oreca that the two French companies will work together in 2010.
News in Brief - 17 December - pt 1:
Rumours about Peugeot and Porsche make today's news, plus Oliver Pla and Grand Am announce good news.
News in Brief - 17 December - pt 2:
ALMS rumours and an expectation from JWM are in today's second helping of news!
OAK Racing Takes Control of Pescarolo the Manufacturer:
French Le Mans Series team, OAK Racing has taken over the manufacturer and marketing of the Pescarolo prototype P1 and P2 cars.

OAK Racing will also develop the car and ensure its continued adherence to the ACO rules.
News in Brief for 08 December:
News in Brief for 08 December
ACO Releases Full Regulations for 2010:
The ACO has released the Le Mans branded races regulations for 2010. Items of note include revised front and rear body work. While most cars would have been effected, Pescarolo LMP1/P2, ORECA LMP1, Lola LMP1/LMP2 and Acura ARX-01C LMP2 have been given waivers.
BMW Announce Their 2010 Sportscar Programs:
BMW has announced their 2010 plans which include a number of exciting sportscar programs. Firstly, they plan to contest the 2010 ALMS Championship with Rahal Letterman Racing. They will have an unchanged lineup of Dirk Muller, Tommy Milner, Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand.
Le Mans Series Confirms 2010 Calendar:
At the same time as the past season is officially declared over and many guests are gathered at the Le Mans circuit for the 2009 prize giving ceremony, the complete 2010 calendar is finally disclosed. Five races for this seventh season, including some novelties.
Speedy Racing Team Sebah Turn Into Rebellion Racing:
Speedy Racing Team Sebah have announced today a rebranding of their team for the 2010 season. The Anglo/Swiss team will now be known as Rebellion Racing in deference to their main partner, Rebellion time pieces and race two Lola LMP1 Coupes in 2010.
Loeb Closer to a Ride with Peugeot:
Last week saw Peugeot Sport organise a test session with the 908 HDi FAP at the new Motorland circuit in Aragon, Spain. The drivers present at this test were Sébastien Bourdais, Marc Gené, Franck Montagny, Alexander Wurz and Sébastien Loeb.
News in Brief for 02 December:
On the brief today is - will Abu Dhabi be part of the Le Mans Series Calendar, will Eco Racing race, VdeV and Porshce GT3 Challenge race updates.

November 2009, Volume 9, No. 11

News on Highcroft, Wurz and Callaway!:
News on Highcroft, Wurz and Callaway!
A News Update from the USA and Europe:
The Formula Le Mans Champ tests for Oreca, Grand Am could-be drivers looking around, Kolles and a Peugeot update makes up today's news.
The Le Mans Series Announces Evolved Regulations:
Motor sport racing advances thanks to regulations which are alive and change as years go by, adapting to new technologies and enforcing others. Just like the backbone of an organism which grows and changes with the years, with the times.
Sportscar News from Around the World:
News from all round the world today, including Trans Am, ALMS, LMS and Porsche racing from Australia.
A News Update on Le Mans and the Le Mans Series:
Today we have a new addition to the 2010 Le Mans Series field, changes in TV for the ACO, and more!
The Weekend's Racing Round Up:
More from the weekend in sports and touring car racing events including Australian V8 Supercars, Classic Adelaide, Formula Le Mans Winter Series and the Vallelunga 6 Hours.
29 Auto Selections for the 2010, 24 Hours of Le Mans:
The Le Mans 24 Hours, the Petit Le Mans, the Le Mans Series in the United States, Europe and Asia and the winner of the Michelin Green X Challenge make up the races, championships and trophies, which give an official selection for next year's Le Mans 24 Hours. As all the 2009 season's championships throughout the world have now finished, here follows the official list of the 29 teams invited.
A Deal Imminent on a Private Peugeot???:
Feedmesportscars has received some new information on who might be running the private Peugeot 908 this year at Le Mans.
News from the LMS, GT Racing in the UK and Testing:
News today from the Le Mans Series, GT racing from the UK and testing from Portugal.
Good News for Sportscars on the Way? + More!:
Today we catch up with some driver movements, plus more from from the world of ACO racing!
Formula Le Mans to Race with LMS in 2010:
FORMULA LE MANS is a genuine racing nursery and the "first step" towards endurance racing as such the Automobile Club de l'Ouest hold it dear and has granted the entrance to the "LE MANS SERIES" endurance races.
The Latest Manufacturers News and Rumour!:
In the latest round of gossip and 2010 plans, we can update you on what BMW, Toyota and Peugeot may do, along with a strange piece of news from Porsche.
JAS To Compaign 2 Acura LMP2 Cars in Europe:
Thanks to a well-established relationship with Honda Performance Development, Honda America's motorsport department, JAS Motorsport is developing a programme to contest the European Le Mans Series with one or two ACURA ARX-01b LMP2 sportscars next year. The programme will culminate with the most prestigious race in the world: the Le Mans 24 Hours.
New Cars, Awards and an Annual all on Offer!:
It's time to get your Christmas shopping done (or just a gift for yourself!) underway with some great gifts. Plus a new car and an award in today's article!
Aston Martins, Speedy Racing, A Green Match and More:
It seems that the ACO world is keeping up with the news as we head towards the end of the year. Here is a selection of the news and opinion from the last few days.
The Internet Rumour Roundup:
It has been a while since we updated you on all the rumour and gossip as to what could be happening in 2010 and beyond. So here is a quick update. You can decide what is fact and what is not...

October 2009, Volume 9, No. 10

The 2010 Le Mans Series Calendar Begins to take Shape:
The 2010 season is taking shape. As of today, we can announce three dates and three circuits:
Danny Watts Signs Long Term Deal with Strakka:
The Aylesbury-born driver joined Strakka at the beginning of 2009, and has raced for the squad in this season's Le Mans Series and Le Mans 24 Hours. His debut for the team at Barcelona in April included a stunning pole position start to Round 1, and he has consistently been one of the fastest drivers in the championship.
The Changes in Detail to the 2010 ACO Rules:
As planned, the ACO is being more specific about its 2010 regulations, regarding the aerodynamics of the LMPs, and more particularly, the front bodywork.

On the occasion of the 2009 “24 Heures du Mans”, the ACO promised to meet the constructors at regular intervals before proposing its regulations.
ACO Clarifies LMP and GT 2010 Regulations:
On Tuesday, 6th October, the ACO held a meeting in Paris to which were invited those constructors involved, or who could become involved in the 24 Heures du Mans, and in the series which are run under the same rules (ALMS, LMS, Asian Le Mans Series).

September 2009, Volume 9, No. 9

Group C Manufacturer, Tiga is up for Sale!:
http://RacecarsDirect.com are offering the unique opportunity
to acquire the entire business, including manufacturing rights,
etc, of Tiga Race Cars Ltd.
Silverstone: Aston Claim Titles after a Solid Home Race:
Silverstone, 13 September, 2009. Aston Martin Racing is crowned the 2009 Le Mans Series champion claiming the Team and Driver titles 50 years on from Aston Martin winning the World Sportscar Championship in 1959 with the DBR1.
Silverstone: A Debut Win for the Oreca 01:
The Team ORECA-Matmut-AIM has scored that elusive victory! For the first time, the ORECA 01 took the chequered flag in first place only 5 months after its initial shakedown. Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre were on the pace straight away, and put on a superb show to overcome strong opposition led by Aston Martin. After setting pole, and thanks to a flexible strategy decided by the technical team, the 2 drivers scored their maiden win in the Le Mans Series after a suspense-filled race. It is ORECA's first victory as a constructor, and is great preparation for the Petit Le Mans - and the future !
Silverstone: Great Driving but Bad Luck for Pescarolo Duo:
What Jean-Christophe Boullion did at the wheel of the Pescarolo-Judd during the 1000 km of Silverstone will remain as a milestone in the history of endurance racing. The problem was basically simple : in order to win the Le Mans Series championship, it was necessarry for the Pescarolo-Judd to win the race whereas for the Aston Martin, leading the championship after the Nurburgring, to finish no better than sixth. Still, on the starting grid, the Aston was on the front row meanwhile the Pescarolo was on the last one ! 40 cars were in between Jean-Christophe Boullion and Stephan Mucke on a circuit where overtakings are difficult.
Silverstone: Another Podium for Spyker to End the Year:
Although the team started this morning from ninth position on the fourteen car GT2 grid, both Jarek Janis and Tom Coronel fought their way to the front of the field to finish in a strong second place. It is the second time in a row that SNORAS Spyker Squadron finishes on the podium. In the previous round, the 1000 km of the Nurburgring, the team also finished in second place.
Silverstone: RML Ends a Tough Season on a High:
RML AD Group has endured the most difficult season in a seven-year sportscar racing programme, but 2009 has ended on a high after Thomas Erdos, Mike Newton and the team's Lola Mazda recorded a long overdue podium in the final round of the Le Mans Series at Silverstone.
Silverstone: A Very Good Weekend for Speedy/Sebah:
The weather was mild all weekend long in England for the last round of the 2009 Le Mans Series at Silverstone, and even though clouds appeared in the sky on Sunday morning, they didn't prevent SPEEDY RACING TEAM SEBAH from standing on the podium for both of their cars.
Le Mans Series Final Championship Standings:
Le Mans Series Final Championship Standings
Sivlerstone: Oreca Wins the Battle, Aston Martin Wins the War:
The race has been tough and exciting till the end, but there was no dramatic reversal of the standings in the final round this year, whatever the classes, as all the favorites clinched the title.
Silverstone: Race Results:
Silverstone: Race Results
Silverstone: Warm Up Times:
Silverstone: Warm Up Times
Silverstone: Oreca Takes Pole as Pescarolo Crashes:
Team Oreca-Matmut AIM made a strong come back and posted the best time. The French team had decided not to enter the race at Nürburgring and so lost all chances for the title, but would like to end the season on a high note as a reward for the hard team work, as Nicolas Lapierre explained: “The practice sessions went well and the balance was getting better and better. Our package works well here and we want to finish the race tomorrow. It would be good for us to take the victory because we have been trying to win since the beginning of the season, but traffic and reliability will be key factors tomorrow.”
Silverstone: Qualifying Times:
Silverstone: Qualifying Times
Silverstone: Practice 3 Times:
Silverstone: Practice 3 Times
Silverstone: Practice 2 Times:
Silverstone: Practice 2 Times
Silverstone: Practice 1 Times:
Silverstone: Practice 1 Times
Silverstone: Entry List:
Silverstone: Entry List
Silverstone: The Final Round Brings the Title Decider:
Only a few contenders can still clinch the title after the race at Nürburgring, and even if the gap has increased between the competitors, Audi demonstrated last season that you have to fight till the end and that a happy ending can sometimes happen.
'Red 5' Returns to Motorsport!:
Motorsport fans are in a frenzy of excitement ahead of this weekend's Le Mans Series finale, '1000km of Silverstone', when F1 legend and UK World Champion Nigel Mansell will return to the competitive arena to race a Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S.

August 2009, Volume 9, No. 8

Nurburgring: Spyker Return to the Podium:
SNORAS Spyker Squadron took a brilliant second place in the 1000 km of the Nurburgring this afternoon. Despite starting from the back of the grid Spyker regular drivers Jarek Janis (CZE) and Tom Coronel (NLD) secured for the second time a podium place in the German Le Mans Series round.
Nurburgring: A Podium Lockout for Aston Martin:
The 007 Gulf liveried LMP1 car of Jan Charouz (CZ), Toma' Enge (CZ) and Stefan Mucke (DE) finished first, recording their second win of the season and fourth podium finish from four races.
Nurburgring: Quifel ASM Take P2 Victory:
Miguel Pais do Amaral and teammate, France's Olivier Pla, today won a clear victory in the 1,000 Km race at Nurburgring, at the wheel of Portugal's Quifel ASM Team Ginetta-Zytek 09S, putting them just one point away from winning the title in the LMP2 category of the Le Mans Series Championship with just one more race to go, at Silverstone on 13th September.
Nurburgring: Pure Domination from Aston Martin:
Aston Martin Racing fully achieved its goal: the British team scored as many points as possible and could take the lead of the series thanks to today's victory. Indeed, the pre-race four-point gap could seem very hard to fill and victory was the only option today to keep the team chances alive for the title chase, and obviously, the team used the necessary resources to achieve its goal. No less than three cars raced this weekend and will race at Silverstone, the last round of the season, which shows how important the title is for Aston Martin Racing.
Nurburgring: Race Results:
Nurburgring: Race Results
Nurburgring: Warm Up Times:
Nurburgring: Warm Up Times
Nurburgring: Aston Martin Dominates Qualifying:
Three Lolas-Aston Martin will start from the first and second row tomorrow! The goal is clear for Aston Martin Racing this weekend: the Britons aim to secure as many points as possible in their championship chase. The team is currently second in both Drivers and Team standings, four points behind Pescarolo Sport. Had they not changed the engine after the qualifying session at Spa, the squad would only be short by two points, as the drivers of the # 007 Lola-Aston Martin climbed on the podium three times in a row, but only once on the first step.
Nurburgring: Qualifying Times:
Nurburgring: Qualifying Times
Nurburgring: Practice 3 Times:
Nurburgring: Practice 3 Times
ACO Announces Future Regulations:
In accordance with the undertakings given after this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, and to enable manufacturers to have more time to prepare for the coming season, the ACO, today, unveils the 2010 Le Mans regulations. An update inspired by two main criteria: stability and consultation.
Nurburgring: Practice 2 Times:
Nurburgring: Practice 2 Times
Nurburgring: Practice 1 Times:
Nurburgring: Practice 1 Times
A Lap of the Nurburgring with Stefan Mucke:
Nurburgring, 21 August, 2009. "The Nurburgring circuit is a pleasure to drive, I know the short version really well from my time in DTM and I tested here soon after the Le Mans 24 hour race with the Aston Martin LMP1 car.
Drayson Racing Moves to the Prototype Ranks:
LONDON - Paul, Lord Drayson and Elspeth, Lady Drayson proudly announce Drayson Racing's move to the pinnacle of motorsports; the Le Mans Prototype One (LMP1) division. Drayson Racing will debut its British built Judd V10-powered Lola B09/60 racing car - commonly known as the "Lola Coupe" - in the 12th Annual Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, 22-26 September, 2009. The move signifies Drayson Racing's serious motorsport intentions and focus on using the sport as a catalyst to advance environmental technologies.
Nigel Mansell to Return to the Cockpit at Silverstone:
British motor racing legend Nigel Mansell will return to the international motorsport arena next month, when he races a Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S in the Le Mans Series finale at Silverstone.
Nurburgring: Entry List:
Nurburgring: Entry List
Le Mans Series Points After Round 3:
Le Mans Series Points After Round 3
Algarve: Ginetta-Zytek Leads All LMP2 The Way In Portugal:
The Ginetta-Zytek entered by local team Quifel-ASM totally dominated the LMP2 class of the 1,000km do Algarve, which finished in the early hours of this morning. The 3.4-litre GZ09S driven by Olivier Pla and Miguel Amaral led the class virtually from start to finish and set fastest lap, having already been the quickest in qualifying and in three practice sessions. Rarely can there have been such a display of supremacy in endurance racing.
Algarve: JMW Take their First Class Victory:
JMW Motorsport fought with all their might after an early set back in the third round of the 2009 Le Mans Series at Portimao, Portugal to take their first ever team victory and the LMGT2 Championship lead.
Algarve: A Podium for Aston Martin:
Portugal, 2 August, 2009. The 007 Aston Martin LMP1 car of Jan Charouz (CZ), Tomas Enge (CZ) and Stefan Mucke (DE) finished second, securing a place on the podium at the Algarve 1000 kilometres in Portugal.
Algarve: Disappointing End in Great LMS 1000 km for Spyker:
Dutchman Tom Coronel started today's 1000 km race from the back of the grid as a result of missing the qualification yesterday. The team took their time to replace an engine that failed in the third and last free practice session and therefore missed qualifying. Although the SNORAS Spyker Squadron drivers Tom Coronel and Jarek Janis did really well in the race, less than an hour before the finish they had to give up due to an engine failure whilst running in fourth position and only 55 seconds behind the Ferrari F430 running in third.
Algarve: A Positive Race for RML:
RML AD Group racing in Algarve 1000 kms. Photo: Marcus Potts / CMC Several minor delays curtailed what was still RML AD Group's best result of the season in Round 3 of the Le Mans Series on Saturday night. Tommy Erdos drove a blistering opening stint to work through from 32nd on the grid to challenge for second in LMP2, but during Mike Newton's middle stint in the RML Lola Mazda the car picked up a strange vibration, and in the final stages of the race a coolant leak and electrical issues added to the time lost.
Algarve: Podium finish for the Team ORECA-Matmut-AIM:
After its excellent qualifying performance, the Team ORECA-Matmut's aim was to play a leading role in the Algarve 1000kms, and the team fought at the front during the race. At the wheel of no.10, Bruno Senna and Tiago Monteiro finished third giving the ORECA 01 its first podium. In no.11, Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre had the potential to win. They suffered a technical problem that cost them almost 4 laps, and then the two drivers made an incredible comeback and saw the flag in fourth place, 3 laps behind the leader.
Algarve: Pescarolo Shines in the Portuguese Night!:
The Portimao race track has all the character of an old British or American track. There are twists, turns and elevation changes everywhere, making this track alike a tarmac rollercoaster. All of the drivers heaped praise on the new circuit, and it brought us some brilliant racing.
Algarve: Race Results:
Algarve: Race Results
Algarve: Warm Up Times:
Algarve: Warm Up Times
Algarve: Oreca Takes Closely Fought Pole:
The brand-new circuit of Algarve was only completed late last year. Blind corner entries and abrupt changes of elevation are key elements of this track so drivers who could adapt quickly were at an advantage early on.
Algarve: Qualifying Times:
Algarve: Qualifying Times
Algarve: Practice 2 Times:
Algarve: Practice 2 Times
Algarve: Practice 1 Times:
Algarve: Practice 1 Times

July 2009, Volume 9, No. 7

Algarve: Entry List:
Algarve: Entry List
Jouanny to Race for WR in Portugal:
One Frenchman will replace another on WR/Salini's WR/Zytek. Indeed, Brunce Jouanny will reinforce the team formed of Philippe and Stephane Salini for the 1000 Km of Algarve, replacing Tristan Gommendy, held back by another race in England.
Luc Alphand Update:
The news is good, his back operation went well and « Lucho » was able to return home to Serre Chevalier 10 days ago to continue his convalescence. We are sure that his excellent physical condition will allow him to overcome this difficult phase with few after effects.
Fonsi Nieto with the Q8 Oils Hache Team in Algarve:
The Spanish motorbike driver, Alfonso Nieto, better known as Fonsi, is starting a new career this year in the Le Mans Series races. The ex-champion of Spain in 125cc and winner of many 250cc World Championship races (he was even vice-champion in 2002) is now taking on four wheeled machines!
Michelin Teams Top 100,000 Miles In 24 Hours Of Le Mans Race:
In the world of research and development, some days are more productive than others. Few, if any, days can match the scope of Michelin’s efforts in the world’s biggest race, the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 13-14, 2009) where the 41 Michelin technical partner entries in the 55-car starting field racked up a staggering 101,153 miles during the actual race.
RUMOUR; LM24 - Will Spyker Move to GT1???:
It has emerged that Spyker may move from GT2 to GT1 with the new rules and the 2010 GT1 World Championship.

June 2009, Volume 9, No. 6

Gallery: Memories of Corvette:
The Corvette factory reign in the top class of GT racing came to an end a couple weeks ago at Le Mans. While they will still have customer teams in GT1 and will race in GT2, we thought it was appropriate to remember the mighty C5.R and C6.R as run by the the General Motors factory via Pratt & Miller. The cars raced in the GTS category and the GT1 category, beginning in 1999. In 2000 Pratt & Miller took over the operation of the cars. The rest is history with the team winning
multiple ALMS titles, multiple Le Mans wins and an overall win at the Daytona 24
Luc Alphand Seriously Injured in Off Road Accident:
GT Racer, Luc Alphand has been injured while competing in the Rand'Auvergne motorcycle rally.
Peter Hardman to Hand Over the Reins of Strakka Racing:
Professional racing driver and entrepreneur Peter Hardman has confirmed that he is making plans to hand over the reins of Strakka Racing. Peter is in negotiations to sell Strakka Racing to an undisclosed buyer.
LM24: More Team and Driver Recaps:
LM24: More Team and Driver Recaps
Kolles Racing
Julian Jousse
Guillaume Moreau
Pierre Ehret
LM24: The Time Cars Spent in the Pit Lane:
LM24: The Time Cars Spent in the Pit Lane
LM24: Porsche Race Recap:
ATLANTA - June 13 -- While the Porsche RS Spyder is just a memory in North America, it was certainly alive earlier today at the checkered flag for the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the iconic LMP2 sports prototype captured its second Le Mans class win in two tries thanks to the Danish customer team of Casper Elgaard, Kristian Poulsen, and Porsche factory driver Emmanuel Collard.
LM24: Ferrari Race Recap:
An extraordinary result for the F430 GT at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: four Berlinette from Maranello on the first four places in the GT2 class at the end of the oldest and most prestigious endurance race in the world. Car number 82 from the Risi Competizione Team, driven by Jaime Melo, Mika Salo and Pierre Kaffer, was the first of the cars from Ferrari crossing the line -- this was the 18th overall position with 328 laps driven.
LM24: Teams Recaps pt2:
LM24: Teams Recaps pt2
Pescarolo
Oak
RML
Zytek
LM24: Teams Recaps pt1:
LM24: Teams Recaps pt1
Drayson
Team Modena
Michelin
Brembo
LM24: Driver Post Race Recaps pt3:
LM24: Driver Post Race Recaps pt3
Karim Ajlani
Yann Clairay
Marino Franchitti
Patrick Long
LM24: Benoit Treluyer Survives Massive Shunt:
It's shortly after 4am when Pescarolo Sport's Peugeot 908 HDI FAP is the victim of a serious accident on the run down towards La Chapelle, just before the S-bends of Tertre Rouge. The extremely violent impact leaves the car completely destroyed. Rescue teams are quickly on the scene and begin extracting Benoit from the cockpit, although the Frenchman has not lost consciousness. After being taken to the track's medical centre, he would be released two hours later miraculously unharmed, save for his bruised pride.
LM24: Dravid Brabham Race Report:
Sunday 14 June 2009, UK; David Brabham proudly took a place in the annals of Le Mans 24 Hours history with his first overall race and LMP1 victory, finally gifting Team Peugeot Total the coveted spoils on home soil and ending an era of Audi domination at Le Mans.
LM24: Driver Post Race Recaps pt2:
LM24: Driver Post Race Recaps pt2
Paolo Ruberti
Stuart Hall
Harold Primat
Olivier Pla
LM24: Driver Post Race Recaps pt1:
LM24: Driver Post Race Recaps pt1
Xavier Maassen
Darren Turner
Guy Smith
Oliver Gavin
LM24: The Strakka Race:
LM24: The Strakka Race
12 Hours
18 Hours
24 Hours
LM24: ALMS and LMS Reacps:
Corvette Racing, Risi Competizione and Patron Highcroft Racing's David Brabham were the big winners from the American Le Mans Series at the 77th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Corvette ended its GT1 reign with a sixth class win, Risi repeated in GT2 and took two podium spots, and Brabham scored a long-awaited overall victory in the world's greatest race.
LM24: Risi's GT2 Class Winning Race:
LM24: Risi's GT2 Class Winning Race
6 Hours
12 Hours
18 Hours
24 Hours
LM24: Oreca's Race:
LM24: Oreca's Race
12 Hours
18 Hours
24 Hours
Quotes
LM24: A Brief Race Recap:
One hour before the end of the 77th edition of Les 24 Heures du Mans there was just as much agitation, excitement and uncertainty as at the start of this legendary race that marked the end of Audi’s nine years of dominance.
LM24: A Pre-Race Gallery:
Practice and qualifying has been run and won at the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours. Normally we would have had a more of our Le Mans fix by now, however without the test day, we have had to wait longer. So here is just a sample of what has been going on at Le Mans so far...
LM24: Corvette's Last GT1 Hurrah:
LM24: Corvette's Last GT1 Hurrah
6 Hours
12 Hours
18 Hours
24 Hours
LM24: Tiago Monteiro's Race:
LM24: Tiago Monteiro's Race
1st stint
2nd stint
Race recap
LM24: IMSA Performance Matmut Race Recap:
LM24: IMSA Performance Matmut Race Recap
8 Hours
16 Hours
LM24: Flying Lizard Motorsports Race Recap:
LM24: Flying Lizard Motorsports Race Recap
6 Hours
12 Hours
15 Hours and Retirement
RUMOUR: LM24 - Is Renault on their Way Back???:
With the announcement of the new rules for ACO racing and the shenanigans in F1 at the moment, there are rumours that Renault could return to endurance racing.
LM24: Peugeot's Winning Story:
3 Hours
6 Hours
9 Hours
12 Hours
15 Hours
18 Hours
21 Hours
24 Hours
LM24: The Race According to Spyker:
LM24: The Race According to Spyker
5 Hours
19 Hours
24 Hours
LM24: Audi's Race Recap:
LM24: Audi's Race Recap
Post race recap
Post race quotes
#2 retirement notes
LM24: The Recap of Aston Martin's Return to the Top Flight:
LM24: The Recap of Aston Martin's Return to the Top Flight
3 Hours
6 Hours
9 Hours
12 Hours
15 Hours
18 Hours
21 Hours
009 Retires
24 Hours
LM24: Final Class Results:
LM24: Class Results
LM24: Final Results:
LM24: Final Results
LM24: After 24 Hours:
The situation after 24 hours
LM24: After 23 Hours:
The situation after 23 hours
LM24: After 22 Hours:
LM24: After 22 Hours
LM24: After 21 Hours:
The situation after 21 hours
LM24: After 20 Hours:
The situation after 20 Hours
LM24: After 19 Hours:
The state of play after 19 hours
LM24: Standings After 18 Hours:
LM24: Standings After 18 Hours
LM24: After 18 Hours:
The situation after 18 hours
LM24: After 17 Hours:
The situation after 17 hours
LM24: After 16 Hours:
The state of play after 16 hours
LM24: After 15 Hours:
The state of play after 15 hours
LM24: After 14 Hours:
The state of play after 14 hours
LM24: After 13 Hours:
The state of play after 13 Hours
LM24: Standings After 12 Hours:
LM24: Standings After 12 Hours
LM24: After 12 Hours:
The state of play after 12 hours
LM24: After 11 Hours:
LM24: After 11 Hours
LM24: After 10 Hours:
The state of play after 10 hours
LM24: After 9 Hours:
The situation after 9 hours
LM24: After 8 Hours:
The state of play after 8 hours
LM24: After 7 Hours:
The state of the race after 7 hours
LM24: Standings After 6 Hours:
LM24: Standings After 6 Hours
LM24: After 6 Hours:
The state of play after 6 hours
LM24: After 5 Hours
LM24: After 4 Hours:
LM24: After 4 Hours
LM24: After 3 Hours:
The state of the race after 3 hours
LM24: The Start in Detail:
The start at 3pm sharp under the official Rolex clock confirmed the strength of two Peugeots (Franck Montagny with the #8 car and Petro Lamy with the #7). Behind them, Allan McNish who was in front line along Franck for the start is now third. Five minutes after the start, three Peugeots pulled into the lead as Wurz managed to pass McNish, now in fourth.
LM24: The Second Hour:
The notable items from hour 2...
LM24: The First Hour:
A recap from the first hour...
LM24: Warm Up Times:
LM24: Warm Up Times
LM24: Outstanding Performance for Peugeot and Sarrazin:
Stéphane Sarrazin, driving the #8 Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP has qualified for a third consecutive pole position in the Le Mans 24 Hours. The Frenchman, gave a shining performance at the very end of tonight's session, after gaining pole position in 2007 and 2008.
LM24: Notes After Qualifying:
LM24: Notes After Qualifying
LM24: Post Qualifying Recaps pt2:
LM24: Post Qualifying Recaps pt2
Aston Martin
Oreca
David Brabham
Guy Smith
LM24: Post Qualifying Recaps pt3:
LM24: Post Qualifying Recaps pt3
Peugeot
Audi
Porsche
LM24: Post Qualifying Recaps pt1:
LM24: Post Qualifying Recaps pt1
Corvette
Flying Lizards
Risi
Drayson
LM24: Combined Qualifying Times:
LM24: Combined Qualifying Times
LM24: Qualifying 1 Times:
LM24: Qualifying 1 Times
LM24: Q&A With Romain Dumas:
Ingolstadt/Le Mans – Romain Dumas contests the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2001. On June 13 and 14 the Frenchman experiences a premiere in his ninth race: Dumas tackles the track for the first time in a diesel prototype on the Le Mans début of the Audi R15 TDI. In the interview the 31-year old Frenchman explains to what extent he must relearn the 13.629-kilometer track in the Audi and what is important.
LM24: Voices of Le Mans: David Brahbam and Marino Franchitti:
The listing of storied motorsport names at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year is a long one. David Brabham and Marino Franchitti are firmly entrenched among the most popular at Le Mans this year, particularly among the legions of British fans who annually attend the event. Brabham, driving a factory Peugeot 908 HDi, and Franchitti, in Drayson Racing's Aston Martin Vantage GT2, are well aware and appreciative of the significance and meaning of Le Mans in racing.
LM24: ACO Looking for Common Ground with Teams:
The ACO is organising a meeting with the entrants to find common ground
LM24: Practice 1 Team Recaps pt2:
LM24: Practice 1 Team Recaps pt2
Peugeot
Aston Martin
Zytek
LM24: Practice 1 Team Recaps pt1:
LM24: Practice 1 Team Recaps pt1
Corvette
Drayson
Risi
Flying Lizard
LM24: Audi Wins Appeal but Peugeot Protest:
Following the protest lodged by Team Peugeot Total, the Sporting Stewards of the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours have decided "not to uphold the protest". The team was notified of this decision at 23.33 on Wednesday, June 10.
LM24: Practice 1 Times:
LM24: Practice 1 Times
LM24: Practice Notes of Interest pt2:
LM24: Practice Notes of Interest pt2
Peugeot #9 blows a clutch
Joao Barbosa crashes the #16 Pescarolo
Rollcage problems for Luc Alphand
JLOC has issues
LM24: Practice Notes of Interest pt1:
Situation at 1 Hour
Situation at 2 Hours
Situation at 4 Hours
Situation at 5 Hours
LM24: Oak Preview:
12 months after finishing on the LMP2 podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the new look OAK Racing returns to the scene of its most famous result hoping for a similar outcome in 2009.
LM24: Peugeot Explain the Protest Against Audi:
At 10.35am today, Wednesday June 10, 2009, and in compliance with Article 29.2 of the specific regulations of the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours, Team Peugeot Total lodged a protest with the Race Director and the President of the Sporting Stewards of the Le Mans 24 Hours concerning the entrant Audi and the non-compliance of the three Audi prototypes with the ACO’s 2009 technical regulations.
LM24: Spyker Squadron Preview:
Last Friday the SNORAS Spyker Squadron exchanged their base in Holland for the ‘Circuit de la Sarthe’ just South of Le Mans, France, for their participation in the most gruelling races of all; the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Dutch team has been invited by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) to enter one Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R in the 24 hour race. The car will be driven by Spyker Squadron Le Mans Series-regulars Tom Coronel and Jarek Janis. The pair will be accompanied by 2009 LMP2 winner Jeroen Bleekemolen.
LM24: 2009 Promises to be an Action Packed Event:
Les 24 Heures du Mans is a thrilling 24-hour non-stop race that takes place at the 13.629 kilometre Circuit de la Sarthe, a track about twice the length of most F1 circuits that is located about 200 kilometres southwest of Paris. The annual race attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators and this year is likely to be no exception.
LM24: Q&A With Allan McNish:
No driver can appreciate the significance and drama of the 24 Hours of Le Mans more than Allan McNish. The ever-popular Scot and Audi Sport star returned to the top step of the famed podium last year after a decade of heartbreaks and near-misses. Only days before he attempts a repeat in tandem with Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello in the new Audi R15 TDI, McNish talks about the hype preceding this year’s race, going back a decade with Toyota and his lasting images of the 24 Hours.
LM24: Voices of Le Mans: Jorg Bergmeister and Seth Neiman:
Jörg Bergmeister and Seth Neiman are together again at Le Mans this weekend in Flying Lizard Motorsports’ Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. They are teaming with Darren Law in one of the deepest GT2 fields seen at Le Mans, nothing new for a team that won the American Le Mans Series GT2 title last year. Flying Lizard debuted at the 24 Hours in 2005 with a GT2 podium finish. Bergmeister and Neiman would like to get back there this year, preferably on the top step.
LM24: Voices of Le Mans: Dominik Farnbacher:
It has three years since Dominik Farnbacher burst onto the Le Mans scene with one of 2006's strongest performances on one hand but certainly the heartbreak of the year - all the same race. He was consistently the GT2 class' fastest driver in Farnbacher Racing's Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that suffered broken gearshift while leading in the race's final hour. Now a constant figure in the American Le Mans Series with Panoz Team PTG, the young German will pilot a Ferrari F430 GT for Hankook-Team Farnbacher in GT2.
LM24: Voices of Le Mans: Pierre Kaffer:
Already this year Pierre Kaffer has helped Risi Competizione recapture the GT2 championship at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Now can he help the Houston-based team do the same at the 24 Hours of Le Mans? Kaffer will rejoin Jaime Melo and Mika Salo in one of the team's two Ferrari F430 GTs in the world's most famous auto race, a year after the German finished third in GT2 as Ferrari swept the podium.
LM24: Drayson Preview:
LE MANS, FRANCE- The 24 Heures du Mans holds a poignant place in the heart and mind of even the most casual observer. It is a special race that transcends cars and drivers to reach mythical status; an event of which dreams are made. The dream will be realised 13-14 June as Drayson Racing makes its debut appearance in the grandfather of all sports car races. In an all-British driver line-up, teaming behind the wheel of the No. 87 Drayson Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT2 will be Paul Drayson (London/Gloucestershire, UK), Jonny Cocker (Guisborough, Yorks, UK) and Marino Franchitti (London/Edinburgh, UK). Dale White (Bozeman, MT, USA) will manage the Official Partner Team of Aston Martin Racing (AMR) to what he hopes will be his third LM GT2 class victory at Le Mans.
LM24: Record Breaking Ginetta-Zyteks at Le Mans:
The Ginetta-Zytek teams entered for this weekend's Le Mans 24-hour race
will be breaking records in more ways than one. As at last month's Spa
1,000km, no fewer than five Zytek prototypes will be on the grid, the
highest number of Repton-built cars ever to start the world's most
famous endurance race. Driving one of the two Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S LMP1s
will be Nigel Moore who, at 17 years 5 months old, will be the youngest
British driver ever to compete here.
LM24: Team Oreca Preview:
Shortly after the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours; Group ORECA began concentrating their efforts on the 2009 event with one objective: move up to the next level in the "Le Mans Endurance Challenge". In order to compete with the top manufacturers they developed the ORECA-01, the first prototype ever to be entirely developed in Signes!
LM24: Audi Looking for Victory Number 9:
Ingolstadt/Le Mans -- Logical lightweight construction, downsizing, efficiency and the best possible aerodynamics -- the same subjects which currently occupy the brains of the automobile industry development departments are also key elements in the 24 Hours of Le Mans held for the 77th time on the weekend of June 13/14.
LM24: Corvette Racing Aims for Sixth Le Mans Title in Final GT1 Race:
LE MANS, France, June 5, 2009 -- Corvette Racing has unfinished business at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The most successful team in American Le Mans Series history has won its class five times in the classic 24-hour French endurance race (2001-02, 2004-06), establishing Corvette as a global performance icon. Now after runner-up finishes in Le Mans in 2007 and 2008, Corvette Racing is focused on winning its sixth Le Mans title at the immense Circuit des 24 Heures on June 13-14.
LM24: Brabham Returns to LMP1 as he Attempts to Take Outright Honours:
David Brabham, two-time Le Mans GT1 winner, is aiming for his third consecutive class victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours, 12-14 June 2009. Brabham makes his return to LMP1 at the 8.4 mile Circuit de la Sarthe for first time since 2003, presenting the opportunity to capture his first win in the category at the wheel of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP.
LM24: Benoit Treluyer Preview (he's in a diesel!):
Frenchman Benoit Treluyer spends most of his year in Japan, racing in the Formula Nippon and Super GT series, but is now back on home ground and ready to drive the Pescarolo Sport Peugeot 908 HDi FAP at the Le Mans 24 Hours next week. He tested the car recently at Magny-Cours with his team-mates Jean-Christophe Boullion and Simon Pagenaud and the Normandy-based driver is now making his final preparations ahead of a race which has a very special place in his heart.
LM24: Stephane Gregoire Preview:
Paris, May 28th 2009 -- On June 13th and 14th 2009, Stephan Gregoire will be back at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a C6.R LM GT1 corvette with the Luc Alphand Aventures team. He has recently been selected to co-drive LAA car No. 72 with Luc Alphand and Patrice Goueslard at the 77th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
LM24: A-Z of Risi:
A...American Le Mans Series. Our racing home from home.
LM24: Voices of Le Mans: Chris Dyson:
The surroundings will be familiar even if the team is not for Chris Dyson next week at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For the first time since 2004, Dyson will drive in the world’s greatest auto race, this time with RML in a Mazda-powered Lola coupe - just as he does in the American Le Mans Series’ LMP2 class for his Dyson Racing team. Although he has participated at Le Mans once, Dyson is well aware of the significance and mystique it holds on both competitors and fans.
LM24: Voices of Le Mans: Wolf Henzler:
For the second consecutive year, Porsche factory driver Wolf Henzler will compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Team Felbermayr-Proton in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Like many Le Mans rookies, last year’s American Le Mans Series GT2 champion was swept up in the magnitude and scope of the world’s greatest auto race. A fifth-place GT2 finish made his first experience that much more memorable. This year, the Farnbacher Loles Racing regular will drive with Marc Lieb (the pair was second in class at Miller Motorsports Park) and Richard Lietz.
Audi and Peugeot - A Battle for the Ages:
Twice round the clock. The fight for victory will be between two manufacturers. Audi vs Peugeot.

One has a record and a reputation to uphold and one as the promise to fulfil – both are desperate and committed to victory.
LM24: Aston Martin Goes Back to the Future:
Gaydon, 4 June 2009. The 77th Le Mans 24 Hours marks a milestone in the history of Aston Martin as the iconic sports car manufacturer celebrates the 50th anniversary of its first win at Le Mans.
LM24: Saying Goodbye to Corvette GT1:
Just because he has competed in two American Le Mans Series events this year doesn’t mean things aren’t busy for Johnny O’Connell (and for that matter, anyone at Corvette Racing. On the contrary, it has been one of the more productive pre-Le Mans periods the team has undertaken in several years.
LM24: Guillaume Moreau Shifts to OAK Racing Team Mazda for Le Mans:
Guillaume Moreau will share the OAK Racing, Team Mazda France #35 LMP2 Pescarolo-Mazda with Matthieu Lahaye and Karim Ajlani at the Le Mans 24 Hours, in what will be his third participation in the iconic event at La Sarthe.
LM24: Stuart Moseley Joins Barazi Epsilon Zytek for Le Mans:
Stuart Moseley, (31, St Ives, Cambs , UK ) is set to drive the legendary Le Mans 24 Hour race in the same Barazi-Epsilon Zytek 07s as last year. This will be the Loughborough born driver’s fourth consecutive Le Mans assault. 2008 saw the team finish fifth in the LMP2 class, equalling Stuart’s previous best result. The team line up includes Juan Barazi, as last year, with French driver Roland Berville completing the line-up.
LM24: Peugeot Optimised for Le Mans Success:
After the disappointment which followed its unsuccessful bid to win the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours with the 908 HDi FAP, which stood out as endurance racing's best car, Peugeot Sport has not eased up in the slightest. Twelve months on, it returns to the French classic even stronger thanks to the invaluable additional experience it has gained during its build-up to this year's competition. Having been able to focus solely on the race, the team goes into the 2009 event feeling composed and confident. That said, surprises are always possible in such an unforgiving contest as Le Mans, an event with a unique blend of human emotion and technical prowess which all manufacturers dream of winning one day, and the legend of which has been forged by countless dramatic turnarounds.
LM24: Aston Martin Lines Up for a New Challenge:
Gaydon, 3 June 2009. Aston Martin's debut in the LMP1 class at Le Mans this year coincides with a number of rule changes -- posing another challenge to the British team as it gears up for its campaign at the La Sarthe circuit on the 13-14 June.
LM24: Darren Turner Preview:
The countdown has begun and the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours is now just ten days away. Darren Turner returns to the scene of his two class victories as part of Aston Martin's LMP1 squad, competing for the outright win in what is arguably the world's most famous motor race.
Preparation is the Key to Le Mans:
The numbers from Le Mans grow more and more staggering each year. On a circuit that measures 8.3 miles, the average lap speeds for prototypes are in excess of 150 mph. And the winning Audi R10 TDI raced for 381 laps and more than 3,220 miles in a 24-hour span. Yes, it’s the ultimate test of both man and machine.

May 2009, Volume 9, No. 5

Le Mans: Entry List:
Le Mans: Entry List
LM24: The Rolex Precis of the 24 Hours of Le Mans:
In just two weeks time the Circuit de la Sarthe, just south of Le Mans, France, will once again be overtaken by motorsport teams, media and fans in anticipation of the 24 Heures du Mans 2009. Considered to be the oldest endurance race in the world, this prestigious 24-hour non-stop automobile spectacle is set to begin this year on Saturday, 13 June at 15:00 CEST, regardless of weather conditions.
Gavin Prepares for the 24:
Northamptonshire’s Oliver Gavin has been a busy man over the last four weeks. A personal best time of 3 hours and 10 seconds in the London Marathon, a hectic test and development schedule for Corvette Racing’s new GT challenger in North America, and an appearance discussing jet lag on the recent BBC1 documentary “10 Things You Need To Know About Sleep”.
LM24: Audi Finalises Driver Combinations for Le Mans:
Ingolstadt – The three driver teams with which Audi Sport Team Joest will tackle the 77th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13/14 have been confirmed.
LM24: Creation Announces Driver Lineup:
The Villecresnes native joins the recently confirmed Jamie Campbell-Walter (Scotland) and Vanina Ickx (Belgium) completing the trio for the Anglo-American team, and will make his 4th start at La Sarthe circuit having previously campaigned the race in Courage LMP2 and Porsche GT3 machines.
LM24: LNT Ginetta Announce Driver Lineup:
Ginetta will be making its debut at Le Mans this June, driven by in-house squad Team LNT. The previous Le Mans GT2 winners are hoping to repeat their 2006 success with a three strong team of driving talent including Team Principal Lawrence Tomlinson and Ginetta Managing Director Richard Dean. The pair will be joined by rising Ginetta star Nigel Moore to race the Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S LMP1.
Le Mans 24: 24 Good Reasons To Be There!:
Out of the 82 entry forms received by the ACO 55 cars remain, many of which are contenders for outright victory, as well as for honours in each category: 20 LM P1s, 12 LM P2s, 6 LM GT1s, 17 LM GT2s. This is a spectacle not to be missed - for many good reasons!
Spyker In Pre Le Mans Test:
After a well deserved fourth place at Spa-Francorchamps the team immediately continues to work on their Le Mans 24 Hours preparations. With only three weeks to go before the most gruelling race starts the team grabs the opportunity to test the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R once more at Monza, Italy.
Le Mans: JMW Motorsport Announces Driver Lineup:
JMW Motorsport will be represented by one of the strongest driver line-ups at Le Mans this year with the announcement that regular driver Rob Bell will be joined by Andrew Kirkaldy and Tim Sugden for the prestigious 24 Hour race taking place on 13-14th June 2009.
ALMS Best and Brigthest Race to Le Mans:
With the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix now in the proverbial rear-view mirror, a select group of American Le Mans Series drivers and teams can now turn their attention to the pinnacle of motorsport – Le Mans.
Aston Martin Announces 3 Car Team and Additional Drivers:
Racing has recruited three new drivers to run a trio of Gulf-liveried LMP1 cars at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, which marks the 50th anniversary
of Aston Martin's first victory at La Sarthe in 1959.
IPB Spartak Withdrawals Entry:
Withdrawal of the IPB Spartak Racing team's Lamborghini Murcielago (LM GT1)
Spa: Race Recaps Pt4:
Spa: Race Recaps Pt4
Pescarolo
RML
Team Modena
Olivier Pla
Le Mans Series Points After Round 2:
Le Mans Series Points After Round 2
31 Entries for the Asian Le Mans Series:
The initial aim of 30 entries minimum has already been exceeded for the first two Asian Le Mans Series meetings in Okayama and Shanghai. The ACO is delighted about this, and the club is harvesting the fruits of its painstaking preparation.
Le Mans and Nurburgring 24 Hour Races offer New Prize:
For the first time in their history the two major endurance races in Europe have decided to join forces and have come up with an exceptional idea: the awarding of a new Trophy and a new double ticket priced at 99 euros to enable its buyers to attend the Nürburgring 24 Hours (23rd/25th May) and the Le Mans 24 Hours (13th/14th June).
Spa: Post Race Recaps pt3:
Spa: Post Race Recaps pt3
Peugeot
Aston Martin
Zytek
Darren Turner
Spa: Post Race Recaps pt2:
Spa: Post Race Recaps pt2
Strakka
Quifel ASM
OAK Racing
Guy Smith
Spa: Post Race Recaps pt1:
Spa: Post Race Recaps pt1
Spyker
Drayson
Simon Pagenaud
David Brabham
Spa: Peugeot and Porsche Come Back with a Bang:
With its mixture of long straights, fast corners and varying gradients, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit ranks as one of the most technically challenging circuits visited by the Le Mans Series but is a firm favorite with drivers, teams and fans alike.
Spa: Race Results:
Spa: Race Results
Spa: Warm Up Cancelled, but Sun Comes Out for the Race:
The warm up, initially scheduled at 8.30 this morning, is cancelled because of the frog.
Spa: Team Peugeot Total Springs into Life:
Unlike Barcelona, today's qualifying session did not result in a big surprise in the LMP1 class, as Team Peugeot Total snatched pole and second position under overcast weather conditions.
Spa: Qualifying Times:
Spa: Qualifying Times
Spa: Practice 2 Times:
Spa: Practice 2 Times
Spa: Brown and Simonsen Set the Qualifying Pace:
Seventeen-year-old Daniel Brown confounded his elders yet again at Spa-Francorchamps today, securing pole position for round three of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship with a virtuoso qualifying performance on the Belgian Grand Prix circuit.
RUMOUR: LM24 - A Ferrari Return???:
With F1 having a steely resolve to destroy themselves, rumours have emerged that Ferrari could be on their way back to the top flight of sportscar racing.
Spa: Within a Thousandth:
We promised you some surprises for the week-end…you know that we never lie! The proof is that, from the first free practice session, the results are…amazing. The Oreca AIM n°11, driven by Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre, scored the exact same time as the Peugeot n°9 (with Marc Gené, Alexander Wurz and David Brabham) in the thousandth near!
One moment with...Bruno Senna!:
This morning, while the teams were unpacking in the paddock of Spa-Francorchamps, we could spent some special time with Bruno Senna and talk to him about his commitment in the Le Mans Series, about him racing in Belgium this weekend and about his future. You will find selected extracts below.
Spa: Practice 1 Times:
Spa: Practice 1 Times
Spa: Entry List:
Spa: Entry List
Flying Lizards Reveal Le Mans Plans:
April 30, 2009 -- Sonoma, Calif. -- Flying Lizard will campaign the team's No. 80 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR for its fifth consecutive 24 Heures du Mans, June 13-14 at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France. The team received an invitation to compete in the historic event after winning the 2008 American Le Mans Series GT2 team championship.
Spa: Peugeot Prepares for Le Mans:
Peugeot has chosen the ultra-fast circuit of Spa-Francorchamps – where the best lap posted by the N°7 908 in 2008 represented an average speed of almost 210kph – to fine-tune its preparations for its prime objective of the 2009 season, the Le Mans 24 Hours.

April 2009, Volume 9, No. 4

Ayari and Monteiro Join Oreca for Le Mans:
Hugues de Chaunac now has his commando for the Le Mans Challenge! Bruno Senna and Stéphane Ortelli, the drivers of the no.10 ORECA 01, will team up with Tiago Monteiro for the Le Mans 24 Hours. Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre will be joined in no.11 by Soheil Ayari in the Sarthe. Tiago and Soheil are a couple of excellent recruits who will back up the usual Team ORECA-Matmut-AIM driver pairings this coming June.
Vitaphone Racing Withdraws from Le Mans:
The Vitaphone Racing Team has officialised its withdrawal, as it was unable to find an agreement with Porsche to run an RS Spyder in LM P2 in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours. Thus, the German team will not be present at the compulsory free practice session on 10th June.
Bugatti: Test Times:
Bugatti: Test Times
Bugatti: Day 2 Recap:
If yesterday looked like a warm-up session, today the teams have moved on to real business on the Bugatti circuit for the second day of testing, where the spectators could admire the rehearsing cars in bright sunshine.
Bugatti: Day 1 Recap:
Quality trumps quantity! This is certainly the case at today's test session on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans, a place so steeped in history that you can almost taste it in the air. Although only a few teams are participating, there has been no shortage of excitement on the track throughout the three classes.
An Interview with Patrick Dempsey:
Let's find the interview of Patrick Dempsey, the famous "Grey's Anatomy" Docteur Sheperd , who drove for ht very first time in Le Mans.

The actor was quite nervous but very happy of this experience. He explains how its role of motorsport driver is important in his life. Read the interview.
LNT Shakedown their New Zytek:
Yorkshire based Team LNT renewed their acquaintance with Ginetta-Zytek machinery today, running their new GZ09S for the first time at a sunny Snetterton. Team LNT have enjoyed considerable success with Zytek Engineering in the past, finishing 2nd in LMP2 at the 2007 Silverstone LMS round and enjoying a stint in the overall lead of the 2008 Petit Le Mans (PLM) before eventually finishing 4th in LMP1 at the American flagship event.
Bugatti: Entry List:
Bugatti: Entry List
Spa: Dempsey to Race, Changes at Kolles:
We just received the confirmation: Patrick Dempsey, famous for acting Dr Shepherd in the soap Grey's Anatomy, will participate this week-end in the official Le Mans Series Tests on the Bugatti Circuit, joining Don Kinch on the Ferrari F430GT no. 78 from the Team Seattle - AE.
Further Performance Restrictions for Diesel Cars:
Analysis of the performances of the diesel-engined and petrol-engined prototypes after the Sebring and Barcelona races showed that the diesel-engined cars still enjoyed an advantage. In order to guarantee the equivalence between the different engines, the ACO, in keeping with its undertakings, has decided to impose adjustments on diesel-engined prototypes from the Spa-Francorchamps race onwards
Catalunya: Podium for Simonsen to Kick Start his Season:
With all the talk of doom and gloom throughout the race industry, it was a wonderful relief for the Danish Aussie sportscar ace Allan Simonsen to finally get back into a serious championship – the 2009 Le Mans Series (GT2 Class).
RUMOUR: Le Mans - Verstappen to Race with Pescarolo???:
Rumours have emerged regarding Jos Verstappen's participation in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Spa: Peugeot to Enter 2 Cars:
Following March's 12 Hours of Sebring, Team Peugeot Total is continuing its preparations for the Le Mans 24 Hours and, as announced at the pre-season presentation in February, the second phase of the programme will take the squad to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
Drayson Racing Signs Marino Franchitti for Le Mans 24 Hours:
LE MANS, FRANCE - April 8, 2009 - Drayson Racing is leaving no stone unturned in its first year effort at the 24 Heures du Mans. The Official Partner Team of Aston Martin Racing has signed star sports car racer Marino Franchitti (Edinburgh/Windsor, UK) to anchor full-season drivers Paul Drayson (London/Gloucestershire, UK) and Jonny Cocker (Guisborough, Yorks, UK) in the No. 87 Drayson Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT2 for the sports car classic. Team Manager Dale White (Bozeman, MT, USA) and Aston Martin Racing (AMR) technical directors have also outlined a vigorous test and development schedule in advance of the 77th running of the French 24 hour event on 13-14 June.
Le Mans Series Points After Round 1:
Le Mans Series Points After Round 1
Catalunya: Team and Driver Race Recaps pt4:
Catalunya: Team and Driver Race Recaps pt4
Lola
Quifel-ASM
Strakka
Catalunya: Team and Driver Race Recaps pt3:
Catalunya: Team and Driver Race Recaps pt3
Aston Martin
Zytek
Speedy Racing Team Sebah
Catalunya: Team and Driver Race Recaps pt2:
Catalunya: Team and Driver Race Recaps pt2
Audi
Drayson
JMW
Catalunya: Team and Driver Race Recaps pt1:
Catalunya: Team and Driver Race Recaps pt1
Spyker Squadron
Darren Turner
Matteo Bobbi
Thomas Biagi
RML Revel their Charity for 2009:
RML Group is delighted to be able to announce a new partnership with international medical research charity Spinal Research. RML will work to help raise the charity’s profile and has pledged to help increase donations during the next 12 months.
Gallery: The Best Pictures from March:
March saw the Le Mans Series official tests and, importantly, the 12 Hours of Sebring. We saw a fantastic race between Peugeot, Audi and Acura and while some the diesel/petrol equivalency came under dispute yet again, we were witness to a great race, one where Audi showed its supremacy. We also saw the finale of GT1 category at the Sebring event. A small series in Australia also held its first round. iRace round 1 was held at Morgan Park and we got hold of a couple of pictures - just for something different.
Catalunya: Aston Martin Racing leads the Spanish Armada!:
No less than seven teams could have won the race in Spain today, emphasizing just how competitive the 2009 Le Mans Series season should be. IPB Spartak Racing returned to form, Aston Martin Racing was back on top, Racing Box scored their first victory in the class, and Team Felbermayr-Proton clinched their best result for a while.
Catalunya: Race Results:
Catalunya: Race Results
Catalunya: At 3 Hours:
The Pescarolo n°17 is leading the race, ahead the Aston Martin n°007 and the Courage-Oreca n°11 (driven by Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre) and which operated a spectacular recovery.
Catalunya: An Incredible First Hour!:
We are living some incredible developments here, since more than one hour: the Aston Martins shoot off ahead the Strakka which was in pole position, but at this time, the leader of the category is the Pescarolo n°16 driven by Jean-Christophe Boullion.
Catalunya: Warm Up Times:
Catalunya: Warm Up Times
Catalunya: Benjamin Leuenberger Swaps to Spyker for the Race:
SNORAS Spyker Squadron driver Tom Coronel will be joined by Benjamin Leuenberger in the 1000 km race tomorrow. Swiss driver Benjamin Leuenberger will replace Jarek Janis after he suffered from an old neck injury. Spyker Squadron team management decided it was better for Jarek not to drive.
Catalunya: Viva Strakka!:
You expected a big surprise? Here it is! The track record lap-time was not broken this afternoon, but the chase was really awesome. A brand new car and a brand new team are on pole and it seems that we are in for a tough and exciting race tomorrow.
Catalunya: Qualifying Times:
Catalunya: Qualifying Times
Catalunya: Practice 2 Times:
Catalunya: Practice 2 Times
Catalunya: Practice 1 Times:
Catalunya: Practice 1 Times
Catalunya: Friday Notes:
For the second time, the five-race Le Mans Series season kicks off at Barcelona. With 43 sportscars on the grid, the fight should be tough throughout the four classes.
Epsilon Euskadi Withdraw from Le Mans:
The Epsilon Euskadi-entered Epsilon Euskadi-Judd is the second withdrawal among the 55 cars invited to take part in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours, and will not be present at compulsory free practice on 10th June.
Catalunya: Bruno Senna to Kick Off Endurance Career:
Bruno Senna’s motor racing season will officially start this Friday when he get into the Courage-Oreca LC70 prototype for the Catalonian 1000 Km free practice. The Brazilian driver will line up for Oreca team along with veteran Stephane Ortelli in the opening round of the Le Mans Series. The 205-lap race is scheduled to Sunday.
Catalunya: Late Driver Changes Coming into Round 1:
Few changes in the Le Mans Series list of competitors. There have been a few recent changes in the llist of competitors of the 1000Km de Catalunya.
Audi Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans Lineup:
Ingolstadt/Stuttgart – The Audi driver lineup for the 24 Hours of Le Mans is complete: by signing Timo Bernhard (28/Germany) and Romain Dumas (31/France) Audi managed to engage two absolute endurance specialists for the most important sports car race of the year.

March 2009, Volume 9, No. 3

Gigawave Withdraw from 2009, 24 Hours of Le Mans:
The ACO has been notified of the first withdrawal among the 55 entrants invited to take part in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours. The Gigawave Motorsport Ltd Aston Martin DBR9 will not be present at free compulsory practice on 10th June. The British team has decided to concentrate all its energies on the homologation of the new Nissan GTR as well as its race programme.
Catalunya: Larbre Competition Confirms Driver Lineup:
Larbre Competition has announced Steve Zacchia, Roland Berville and Sébastien Dumez as its driver line-up for the Barcelona 1000kms on 5 April.
Catalunya: Spyker Ready for 2009 Season:
Spyker Squadron opens its Le Mans Series GT2 championship campaign at the F1 Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, this weekend. The 1000 km of Catalunya marks the first time the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R will race this season. Spyker will again compete in the five round Le Mans Series championship and, in June, in the famous and most gruelling race of all: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As announced earlier, Dutchman Tom Coronel will share the wheel with the Czech race talent Jarek Janis.
Calatunya: 46 Cars for Opening Round:
Le Mans Series come on strong for their second visit to the Catalan track, with no less than 12 LMP1s, 16 LMP2s, 4 LMGT1s and 14 LMGT2s!
Speedy Racing Team Sebah Test Summary:
SPEEDY RACING - TEAM SEBAH is taking part in a two day test on the Algarve circuit, home of the third round of the 2009 Le Mans Series.
Wonderful Debut for Biagi in Lola at Misano Test:
Misano, March 25th, 2009 - Team Racing Box halted its tests on Misano Adriatico's racing circuit yesterday. The stop came prematurely because of the rain. This session was set in preparation for the Les Mans Series's opening act, which will be held on April, 5th, in Barcelona.
Catalunya: Entry List:
Catalunya: Entry List
Pagenaud Joins Peugeot's Reserve List:
Having contested the ALMS with Acura since 2008, Poitiers-born Simon Pagenaud has joined Peugeot Sport's official line-up. His test programme will begin in the coming weeks with a view to him replacing Sebastien Bourdais alongside Montagny and Sarrazin for the 1,000km of Spa-Francorchamps (May 8-10). The same weekend, Bourdais will be taking part in the fifth round of the Formula One World Championship at Barcelona in Spain.
Senna Confirmed at Team Oreca:
Bruno Senna will mark his official start of this year's racing program with a new challenge. The Brazilian ace will compete in Catalonian 1000 Km, the opening round of the Le Mans Series scheduled for Montmelò circuit (Barcelona) on 3/4/5 April.
Bruce Jouanny to Drive for Pescarolo in 2009:
Bruce Jouanny has been awarded one of the coveted drives at Pescarolo Sport
for the 2009 Le Mans Series Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
PHOTOS: The Audi R15:
# Audi launches new LMP1 racing sports car
# New TDI engine and many innovative approaches
# Race debut on March 21 at Sebring (USA)
RUMOUR: LMS - Who Will Race for Kolles Audi???:
With the Le Mans Series official testing over and the first race is just around the corner, details about the Kolles Audi R10 effort are starting to emerge.
Aston Martin Racing Debuts new LMP1 Car at Paul Ricard Test:
Paul Ricard, 9 March 2009. Following weeks of intense preparation Aston Martin Racing ran its new LMP1 cars for the first time at the Le Mans Series test held at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France on 8/9 March.
Zytek Begins LMS Season in Impressive Style:
Quifel-ASM topped the LMP2 timesheets with its Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S/2 at the first Le Mans Series test of 2009, proving to be nearly a second faster than the next in class. The Portuguese team completed 1,500 kilometres of the Paul Ricard High Technology Test Track, whilst also performing a scheduled engine change on the first day.
RML Test Summary:
RML Lola-Mazda at Paul Ricard. Photo: Marcus Potts/CMC Following on from the confirmation on Friday (March 6th) that Chris Dyson would be the third driver in RML AD Group's Lola-Mazda Coupe for Le Mans 2009, the team took a very disciplined approach to the ACO's official Le Mans Series test at the Paul Ricard circuit.
Strakka Racing Upbeat after Paul Ricard Test:
Racing's trio of drivers, Peter Hardman, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts, came away from the official ACO Le Mans Series test at the Paul Ricard circuit feeling very positive about the outcome. The team's new Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S took part in four out of the five available sessions, and emerged consistently third or fourth fastest in LMP1.
Quifel ASM Team fastest team in LMP2 class:
9th March, 2009 -- The Ginetta-Zytek 09s of Portugal's Quifel ASM Team made its mark this weekend in the LMP2 class in the first two days of official tests of the Le Mans Series that took place on the Paul Ricard track in France.
Drayson Racing Makes Le Mans Series Debut at Paul Ricard Test:
LE CASTELLET, FRANCE, March 8, 2009 - Following a winter of preparation, Drayson Racing made its Le Mans Series debut, and in fact its motorsports debut, today at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France.
Spyker Squadron Strong in Official Le Mans Series Test:
Le Castellet, 10 March - After earlier tests at Papenburg and Vallelunga Spyker Squadron yesterday tested their Laviolette GT2R in 2009 specifications at the High Tech Test Track (HTTT) Paul Ricard. As Tom Coronel (NED) was racing in the first WTCC round in Brazil, Spyker Le Mans Series driver Jarek Janis (CZ) was accompanied by Jeroen Bleekemolen (NED) whom will join the pair later this year in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Jarek Janis Ends Test With 3rd Fastest in Class:
Team Snoras Spyker Squadron entered new Le Mans Series season at official test days held at Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet (08-09/03/2009). Two of three team's drivers, Czech pilot Jarek Janis and his Dutch colleague Jeroen Bleekemolen got an opportunity to test the brand new blue and yellow Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R. Both drivers gradually improved their times and at the final test session on Monday afternoon they achieved third place in LMGT2 class.
Oreca Prove Pace in Pre Season Test:
The no.10 Courage-Oreca covered its endurance simulation while no.11 brought its development programme to a successful conclusion.
Darren Turner Acquaints Himself with the Aston Martin LMP1:
Darren Turner declared himself happy with progress yesterday after completing the first test in the car he will race at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours: the Aston Martin LMP1 car. As the Aston Martin Racing team prepares for an assault on the Le Mans Series and the big race itself, Darren, and his team-mates debuted the two new cars at the Paul Ricard circuit on Sunday.
OAK Racing Test Summary:
Following the confirmation by the ACO of its two invitations to the Le Mans 24 Hours, OAK Racing-Team Mazda France launched its technical programme for the first time at the two-day Official Le Mans Series test at Paul Ricard. The Nevers-based team used the test to give a first roll-out out to its Dunlop-shod Pescarolo-Mazda LMP2 car.
RUMOUR: LMS - Bruno Senna to Race for Oreca???:
As the Official Test Sessions come for the Le Mans Series, the rumour mill is also starting to heat up.
The Le Mans Series Test Times:
The Le Mans Series Test Times
Oreca Paces the Field as a Surprise Pace Setter in GT2 Emerges:
· Number 11 Team Oreca Matmut-AIM of Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre sets fastest times in all four Le Mans Series test sessions at the Paul Ricard HTTT test track
Michelin's Success and the Micheilin Green X Challenge:
In line with its commitment to constant self-renewal, Michelin will rise to new challenges at the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Le Mans Series endurance races. The 2009 season features stricter rules with regard to tire changes, as well as new teams, new cars and an ever-greater focus on environmental issues.
Le Mans Series - A Green Caring Series:
"Green Washing" is fashionable / Le Mans Series has always favoured "Green Caring"

Motorsport has a function, an aim: that of making technological progress and applying the evolutions to everyday cars. Endurance is based on an essential rule:

DRIVING FURTHER, CONSUMING LESS
News From the Le Mans Series Test:
Bruno Senna takes his Endurance first steps in the Le Mans Series
Endurance is a family business!
3 500 spectators: a successful test!
Audi Officially Launches R15:
Ingolstadt – AUDI AG is the world’s first automobile manufacturer to develop a "second” generation diesel racing sports car. Audi aims to underline its supremacy and consolidate its expertise in car technology once more at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans with the all-new Audi R15 TDI
The Entry List for Paul Ricard Tests:
The last brush strokes have been given to the liveries, the stickers have been affixed, the teams get their reflexes back...everybody is in the starting blocks for this new season!
Chris Dyson Joins RML for Le Mans:
Ahead of this weekend's official ACO Le Mans Series test at the Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet in southern France, RML AD Group is pleased to confirm that Chris Dyson will be joining the team's driver line-up for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours.
Portugal's Migual Ramos Joins Aston Martin Racing:
Aston Martin Racing has added Portuguese driver Miguel Ramos to its LMP1 line-up for 2009. Ramos will join Aston Martin Racing Works drivers, Jan Charouz (CZ), Tomas Enge (CZ), Stefan Mücke (DE), Harold Primat (CH) and Darren Turner (GB).
Didier Theys Announces His Retirement as Driver:
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 2 - Didier Theys, one of the most successful and popular endurance sports car drivers on either side of the Atlantic, today announced his retirement as a professional race car driver.
Spyker Squadron and Jeroen Bleekemolen Team Up for Le Mans:
Completely inverse to the economic downturn a record breaking 82 teams applied to enter a car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans next June. Based on previous results, the Le Mans organising Automobile Club de l’ Ouest (ACO) already nominated 15 cars last January. The remaining 40 positions for the 77th edition of the 24 hour race were presented by the ACO to the teams and international motor sport press presented last Thursday in Paris.
Strakka Racing Heading for Le Mans:
Only four weeks after announcing the team’s bold decision to move up from GT1 to race a Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S in LMP1, the news that Strakka Racing’s entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours has been accepted by the ACO brought both delight and relief to the Silverstone-based outfit.

February 2009, Volume 9, No. 2

The 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours Entry List:
The ACO have announced the 2009 entry list for Le Mans.
Pescarolo Comments on Racing with Peugeot:
The List of Invitations for the Le Mans 24 Hours, as announced by the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest), revealed a well-kept secret: in order to strengthen its strategy for the conquest of a victory in Le Mans, Peugeot Sport decided to entrust a Peugeot 908 to Pescarolo Sport.
55 Cars Invited for Le Mans:
The greatest Le Mans 24 Hours have always been the theatre of thrilling battles between works cars, and the 77th event is no exception to the rule. There will be 3 manufacturers at the start: Aston Martin, Audi and Peugeot with a total of 12 cars all out for victory. You dreamed it: it’ll happen at Le Mans!
Bouchut Joins Full Speed Racing for Le Mans Series:
Full Speed Racing has completed the signing of sportscar superstar Christophe Bouchut to drive their Saleen S7R in the Le Mans Series.
Luc Alphand Aventures WILL Return To Defend GT1 Crown:
After an exceptional 2008 season -five podiums and two victories in five races - the LMGT1 title winner is back in the race.
Team Essex Aiming for the Le Mans P2 Crown:
Team Essex will be returning to Le Mans this year. After having won three driver titles in the Danish Touringcar Championship, numerous team titles and taken second place in last year's 24 hour Le Mans race as well as finishing second in the Le Mans Series, Team Essex will be returning to the European circuits aiming for a Le Mans win.
ECOSpeed To Race with Dome in 2009:
Newly founded Team ECOSpeed, based in Lugano, Switzerland, is ready to challenge the established competitors in Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series, selected events of American Le Mans Series, and, if the entry is accepted, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Strakka and Zytek Complete Test for New LMP1 Racer:
The first test of the LMP1 Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S proved every bit as successful as that of its LMP2 counterpart the week before. Now, with more Zyteks appearing in the Le Mans Series than ever, the year looks particularly promising for the Repton-based operation.
Vergers Moves to GT2 and Virgo for 2009:
This is the news of the day: Michael Vergers, the Dutch driver who drove the Barazi Epsilon's LMP2 in 2008, will be the spearhead of the Virgo Motosport team this season.
Larbre Set to Return to the Le Mans Series:
Multiple champions Larbre Competition will return to the Le Mans Series with one of their GT1 Saleen S7Rs in 2009.
Jarek Janis Completes Spyker's Driver Lineup:
After last week’s confirmation of Tom Coronel as a Spyker factory driver, Spyker Squadron today reveals Tom’s team mate for the upcoming race season: Czech talent and former Spyker Squadron pilot Jarek Janis will share the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R with Tom in the Le Mans Series and in the most grueling endurance race of all; the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although both have raced the Spyker GT2 race cars before they have never shared a car in the past.
Danny Watts Joins Strakka for 2009 Season:
Strakka Racing confirmed today that Danny Watts will join the squad's driver line-up for the full Le Mans Series season in 2009, co-driving the team's Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S alongside Peter Hardman and Nick Leventis. Pending confirmation of an entry, Danny will also be the team's third driver for the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.
Jarek Janis Spyker Test Summary:
Jarek Janis passed really impressive return to racing car wherewith he raced in season 2007. Team Snoras Spyker Squadron invited him to test in Italian Vallelunga circuit. Young Czech spent two days behind the wheel in Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R. The former factory driver of team raced with Dutch car in Le Mans Series and in 24h Le Mans two years ago. Jarek shared about approximately 200 laps with Dutch Tom Coronel on track not so far from Rome.

Tests came through in sunny wheather in temperature over 10 centigrades. There was return for Jarek to car of LMS after one and half year. Last he raced with Spyker 1000 km in Spa LMS in July 2007. During that time he had serious accident in famous corner Eau Rouge due to burst tyre and he injured his backbone.

First time after his medication, he raced twice in autumn last year. He raced with Mercedes AMG DTM C-Klasse of Charouz Racing System team in Czech Touring Car Championship. Once in Automn Prix of Brno and second time in Epilog at Brno as well. He got always on podium positions. The most important was that Jarek fixed up. The same is true of Vallelunga.

Jarek Janis: "The tests were really very interesting. Together with Tom Coronel we had two days of testing with newly modified Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R. Everything went well. The wheather was very important. We ran together about 200 laps. We shared half and half. I'm really happy that I felt perfectly. It just proved that medication of my backbone injured in Spa 2007, was successfull. We mainly tried newly modified back axletree of the car. I raced in the team in season 2007, in Le Mans Series and in 24h Le Mans but car has changed a lot since that time. It's much better than before. The instrument board is completely new as well. Team sent me the instrument board on photos by e-mail and I studied rigorously every single buton on it. I was pleased to meet Tom Coronel individually. He is very experienced and very kindly and opened guy. We discussed everything together and we agreed on almost everything. I would be glad not to test only with this team. I thank to team boss Peter van Erp that he invited me."
New Ginetta Zytek Proves Fast in Testing:
The new Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S proved particularly rapid during a second round of testing at the Autódromo do Estoril in Portugal last week. During three days of trials, Zytek Motorsport and the Quifel-ASM team worked on the development of the LMP2 version. The result, after over 2,000kms, indicated that, despite the new ACO regulations, the latest Ginetta-Zytek is going to be an even more potent racecar than its class winning predecessor.
First Run for New Ferrari:
Team Modena took possession of their new Ferrari 430GT racecar yesterday when it was handed over at Ferrari's Fiorano test track and immediately put through a shake-down by the team.
West-Tec to Enter Formula Le Mans:
Team West-Tec is delighted to announce the unveiling of an attack on the inaugural Formula Le Mans Championship in 2009.
Franck Montagny To Team With Peugeot At Le Mans 24:
For the second year in a row, Franck Montagny will drive a Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours (13th and 14th of June). The French driver, who finished 3rd last year after a very good race, will compete before in the 12 Hours of Sebring, California (14th of March) and the 1000 Kilometers of Spa in Belgium (10th of May) where the Peugeot team will be preparing for the French classic.
Brabham Heads To Le Mans with Peugeot:
Double Le Mans GT1 class winner David Brabham is set to return to the P1 category for the Le Mans 24 Hours 2009 race with Peugeot Sport, it was announced at a Paris press conference today, Monday 9 February. Brabham, who lives in Henley-on-Thames, will chariot the new-liveried Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in his bid to take his third consecutive Le Mans victory in the year that his father, Sir Jack, celebrates the 50th anniversary of his first Formula One World Championship crown.
Peugeot Announce Early 2009 Plans:
Despite today's difficult economic context, Peugeot has chosen to pursue its different motor sport activities in 2009. These range from its high profile endurance racing programme to the promotion of its products through its various single-make series. The current crisis has led Peugeot's management to seek synergies within Groupe PSA Peugeot Citroen with the appointment of Olivier Quesnel at the helm of Peugeot Sport.
RUMOUR (A)LMS: What New Cars Could We Expect in the Future:
We might be in the middle of a financial crisis and we might have grids that are smaller than we would like for 2009, but it is likely that the world will recover and these are just some of what we could expect when things improve (or earlier!).
Moulton Tests Peugeot 908:
Following in the footsteps of Frenchman Dino Lunardi, who won the 2007 THP Spider Cup, it was this weekend the turn of the 2008 champion Simon Moulton to profit from the opportunity to sample the 908 HDi FAP at a special test at Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, February 7.
RML Tests Lola at Snetterton:
Sub-zero temperatures and overnight snow were not enough to deter RML AD Group from carrying out a first shakedown of the team's new Mazda-powered Lola B08/80 LMP2 Coupe. The two-day test at Snetterton was also an opportunity to finalise the car's revised livery for the 2009 season, with Mazda's distinctive corporate blue now a significant element of the familiar colour scheme.
Tom Coronel Joins Spyker:
Tom Coronel will rejoin the Spyker Squadron, the works racing team of Dutch car sports Car manufacturer Spyker. Coronel will participate in the full race program of Spyker, which consists of the Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 hour race. These races neatly fit in with Tom's program in the FIA World Touring Car Championship with SEAT.
Corvette Announces 2009 Driver Line Up:
DETROIT -- Corvette Racing will have a new driver lineup for the 2009 American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Antonio Garcia will join defending ALMS GT1 champions Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R for the Sebring 12-hour, Le Mans 24-hour, and 1000-mile Petit Le Mans endurance races. Marcel Fassler will be teamed with 2005-07 GT1 champions Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R in the three long-distance races. Canadian Ron Fellows, a member of Corvette Racing since its inception, will continue with the team in an advisory and ambassadorial role.
Lola to Build Aston Martin LMP1:
Lola will supply LMP1 sportscars to Aston Martin Racing for the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours and Le Mans Series. The Huntingdon designed and built cars will be powered by a production based V12 Aston Martin engine and race in the evocative blue and orange livery of Gulf Oil.
Lola Reveal Changes to P2 Car for 2009:
Lola Cars International Ltd today reveal the 2009 development updates to its LMP2 Coupe sportscar, which will see significant performance gains for this already successful design.
Quifel-ASM Test their New Zytek:
Quifel-ASM took delivery of its new Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S/2 LMP2 last week. The Portuguese team successfully completed a shakedown of its new car at the Autódromo do Estoril. The Ginetta-Zytek ran faultlessly for 78 laps of the Portugeuse track, completing over 320km.

January 2009, Volume 9, No. 1

RUMOUR: Le Mans - 2 Cars for Spyker:
It appears that despite only entering one car for the Le Mans Series, Spyker will enter two cars for Le Mans.
82 Entries Received for the 2009, 24 Hours of Le Mans:
The Le Mans 24-Hours event is in rude good health and doesn’t mind admitting it! The ACO has received 82 entry requests for the 2009 race. Despite the quality of all these candidatures only 55 cars will line up on the starting grid.
The Le Mans Series Reveals a Full Entry List for 2009:
There will be 49 cars carefully selected -12 LMP1s, 16 LMP2s, 4 LMGT1s and 17 LMGT2s-, which will take place all along the season on the 2009 Le Mans
Series starting line. The grid is rich and varied with six makes in LMP1, ten in LMP2, three in LMGT1 and five in LMGT2. In addition, when the circuit capacity will allow it, some more cars, entered race-by-race, will enrich the grid.
Aston Martin to Fight for Overall Win at Le Mans:
Gaydon, 27 January 2009. On the 50th anniversary of its outright win at Le Mans, Aston Martin will return to La Sarthe with two Works LMP1 cars bearing the iconic blue and orange livery of Gulf Oil.
Saulnier Racing Rebrands as OAK Racing:
After two seasons under the supervision of new owner Jacques Nicolet, and following a string of impressive results in 2008, Saulnier Racing has changed its name to become OAK Racing*.
Le Mans Series Organisers Prepare for the 2009 Selection:
When some people hasten to announce that motor sport is passing away due to the financial crisis period, the number and quality of the 2009 Le Mans Series entry forms received is the best proof they are definitely misled!
15 Entries Confirmed for 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours:
Out of the 29 cars automatically selected for the 2009 Le Mans 24-Hours qualifications, 15 have confirmed their participation. The 2009 field is already taking shape!
Strakka To Move To LMP1 in 2009:
Strakka Racing have confirmed that they will move from GT1 to LMP1 in 2009.
Strakka Racing To Move to P1 in 2009:
Silverstone-based Strakka Racing has confirmed an agreement with Ginetta-Zytek that will see the team competing in the Le Mans Series this season with a Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S LMP1 chassis. The deal came about following a very successful track test in Spain towards the end of November, and means that Strakka’s regular driver pairing of Peter Hardman and Nick Leventis will be moving up into the top level of sportscar and endurance racing.
Customer Audi R10 To be Raced in 2009:
Ingolstadt – The successful Audi R10 TDI is likely to appear again on European race tracks in 2009. While Audi will contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of its factory commitment with the new R15 TDI in 2009, Dr Colin Kolles is planning to buy two Audi R10 TDI cars for his racing team. The privately fielded prototypes are planned to return to the venues of their greatest exploits in 2009: to the European-based Le Mans Series and to the 24-hour race at Le Mans, in which the Audi R10 TDI has not been beaten so far.
Audi Honoured for Best Teamwork:
Ingolstadt -- In the 2008 season Audi won everything the brand had set its sights on: The Four Rings stood for the four victories in the DTM, the American Le Mans Series, the Le Mans Series in Europe and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in what has so far been its most successful racing season. Audi now received special recognition for its string of successes with the R10 TDI and the A4 DTM by the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), an important organisation of the British motorsport industry.
More Entries for the Le Mans Series:
While the rest of the motorsport world struggles with car counts, the Le Mans Series seems to be standing up to the pressure with the addition of two new cars to the 2009 grid.
Leo Mansell To Race in Le Mans Series:
Team Modena Ferrari 430 GT2 Team Modena are delighted to today announce that Leo Mansell, son of 1992 Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell, will be one of the drivers in the team's LM GT2 Ferrari 430GT for the 2009 Le Mans Series - and the Le Mans 24-Hour race itself. Leo will share the new car with team regular Antonio Garcia, one of the world's leading GT drivers, with Nigel himself lending his experience from a lengthy and successful race career to the team's cause.
Porsche Announce 2009 Factory Drivers:
ATLANTA - January 15 -- The driver line-up for Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is now complete. A total of ten works drivers will contest various sports car and GT series around the world in the 2009 season, with five factory drivers having season-long assignments in the United States.
A Brief News Update for the Le Mans Series:
A Brief News Update for the Le Mans Series
The Progress of Sportscar Drivers on Dakar:
The Dakar is considered one of the hardest races in the world. This edition running from Argentina to Chile to Argentina is proving to be as hard as ever. Some of sportscars best are taking it on - so how are they going.
Rob Bell Targets the Triple in 2009:
Rob Bell has secured drives with two top level teams for an assault on three 2009 sportscar titles – the FIA GT championship, the Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 Hours race. Bell, double Le Mans Series GT2 champion, will drive a Ferrari 430 GT2 racer with CRS Racing in FIA GT and contend with the same model of car with JMW Motorsport in the Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 Hours race.
Brabham Helps Worthy Causes at Autosport International Motorshow:
Sportscar legend David Brabham seized a rare opportunity to meet his British fans at Europe’s biggest motorsport show, Autosport International, held at the NEC Birmingham (UK) 8-11 January. The British-born Australian double Le Mans GT1 class winner and former Formula One driver attended the show to fulfil his various ambassadorial roles, make appearances and raise £45,000 for charity.
RUMOUR: LMS - Charouz to Race with Audi Engines???:
It seems talk on Charouz's and Audi's future in the Le Mans Series has started for 2009.
Paul Drayson Announces Exciting 2009 Plans:
Paul Drayson (London/Gloucestershire, UK) officially announced the formation of Drayson Racing at today's Autosport International Show. Drayson Racing (DraysonRacing.com) will contest a select number of professional sports car racing events on three continents in 2009 including the three most prominent races in the American Le Mans Series
RML Wins Business of the Year Award:
RML last night collected the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) Business Excellence Award for Business of the Year 2008. The award was a result of nominations from fellow MIA members who voted for companies they feel have achieved outstanding performances in their field over the last year.
1949 to 1965: Eligible Years for the 2009 Le Mans Legend:
The eligible years for the 2009 Le Mans Legend, the historic support race organised by Motor Racing Legends on the Saturday morning of the Le Mans 24 Hours, have been announced. This great historic event, on 13th June 2009, will be for cars built between 1949 and 1965.
Lola Cars Announce New Managing Director:
Lola Group Executive Chairman, Martin Birrane, has today announced the appointment of Robin Brundle as Managing Director of Lola Cars International, the Huntingdon based racecar manufacturer and provider of services to the motorsport and automotive sectors.