By Sam Tickell
The Le Mans Series full season entry list has been revealed by the ACO with 50 cars being successful. Of those, 16 are LMP1, 15 are LMP2, 5 are LMGT1 and 14 are LMGT2.
The full list can be viewed >here.
So lets see...
Who is in
Two EPSILON-EUSKADI cars have made it to the list. No mention of drivers yet but for a coupe that has reportedly spent as much time in the wind tunnel as the Audi and Peugeots, this could be an exciting car. Additionally, is this one of those coupes that the ACO hinted at not so long ago???
SIMON PAGENAUD has been included for the full season in the Creation. This was a rumour that we ran a few days ago. But with all that is happening in the USA with the CCWS/IRL at the moment, this could change.
TEAM BRUICHLADDICH RADICAL with JACOB GREEVES - this is one team that we thought was gone for the season - apparently not...
KRUSE SCHILLER MOTORSPORT was meant to be Racing for Thailand with Graham Nash wasn't it? And it has a Mazda in it, so I guess at least someone took the discounted Mazda engine option.
IPB SPARTAK RACING and their Lamborghini - a nice addition.
Three Spykers, one for SPEEDY GARAGE and two for the SPYKER SQUADRON - not bad after their horrible trip to F1. Must need to rebuild their reputation.
FARNBACHER RACING has one Ferrari and one Porsche - that is a turn up for the books...
ALEX DAVIDSON is an underrated Australian who could go well now that it seems that he is in the TEAM FELBERMAYR PROTON car
PIERRE KAFFER has landed in a FARNBACHER RACING Ferrari - in the Audi not so long ago, it is good to see him with a strong team, albeit in GT2
Who is out
LAVAGGI is out, even though they reportedly have enough parts for three cars, it seems they are not going for the whole year.
CYTOSPORT is out - or is that Jota or Charouz, whatever the case is they are not in for the whole season...(that whole thing confuses us)
No ARENA - we are not so surprised, they had troubles last year and it does depend a lot on what the Chiltons do so...
PIERRE BRUNEAU has gone - stalwarts of the series and in a different car - surely they are looking to the future. Also being French, surely the ACO would not have overlooked them...
RACING FOR THAILAND - see above
PANOZ and LNT are out for the year - although that is not a surprise
GPC is not in either despite what they have said about it all.
Conclusions
It definitely is a strong field and there are many who will want to race in one off events so the grids will be full for the entire year. It is also good to see some old names return to the fold like WR and dare we say it HIDEKI NODA in the Kruse car.
GT1 again looks thin, but what is new - ACO competition never seems to get GT1 cars but with such quality elsewhere, it is not such a drama.
But there is a great season lying ahead for the Le Mans Series and FeedMeSportsCars will bring it all to you!