The van Merksteijn Porsche has a strong driver lineup
Stuttgart. At the season-opening round of the European Le Mans Series (LMS)
on 6 April in Barcelona, three Porsche RS Spyders line up on the grid for
the first time. The successful sports prototype from Weissach will be
fielded by three teams in the LMS. Driving for the Van Merksteijn
Motorsport (Netherlands) team are ex-Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen and
team owner Peter van Merksteijn (both Netherlands). The RS Spyder run by
the Danish Essex team is manned by 1990 Le Mans winner, John Nielson, and
Casper Elgaard (both Denmark). Driving for Horag Racing from Switzerland
are Fredy Lienhard (Switzerland), Didier Theys (Belgium) and Jan Lammers
(Netherlands), whose racing CVs also include a Le Mans win and Formula 1
experience.
“With this engagement we are continuing our successful customer racing
programme at an even higher level,” says Hartmut Kristen, Head of
Motorsport at Porsche. “We are pleased that the RS Spyder is racing in
front of European fans for the first time. The three international teams
are well prepared for the season. For two of the teams, competing with the
sports prototype is venturing into new territory. We are very curious to
see how the first race goes.”
With a large grid line-up of nearly 50 race vehicles and the classic 1,000
kilometre distance, the Le Mans Series promises fascinating racing. Four
different classes are contested. The 476 hp Porsche RS Spyder competes in
LMP2. Moreover, six Porsche 911 GT3 RSR cars start in the GT2 class for
near-standard vehicles.
The Horag Racing team has already gained experience with the Porsche RS
Spyder. The Swiss team successfully contested the Sebring 12 hour race in
Florida mid-March. “We are proud that our little team came fifth in the
LMP2 class on our very first attempt at this tough race,” says the Swiss
driver Fredy Lienhard. “Porsche provided excellent support. Compared to the
bone-shaker circuit of Sebring, the season-opening race of the Le Mans
Series in Barcelona will be easy for us drivers.” In the LMS, the Horag-RS
Spyder flies the Swiss colours of red and white and runs with the starting
number 27.
The teams of Van Merksteijn Motorsport and Essex prepared themselves for
the season with comprehensive testing in Le Castellet (F) and Magny Cours
(F) amongst others. “The tests ran superbly and totally without problems,”
said an enthusiastic Jos Verstappen. “The Spyder is a fantastic car and
it’s great fun to drive. After taking a two-year break, I can hardly wait
to race in Barcelona!” The Van-Merksteijn Spyder, sporting the
black-white-purple team colours, has the starting number 34. The Danish
squad’s Spyder is painted a luminescent blue with the number 31.
Even before the season begins for the European series, the Porsche race
cars celebrated a triumph in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). At the 12
hour race at Sebring, the RS Spyder secured a sensational double victory.
In the GT2 class, as well, Porsche occupied positions one and two with the
911 GT3 RSR. “We couldn’t have wished for a better start to the new race
season,” reported Hartmut Kristen.
Whilst the RS Sypder celebrates its premiere in the European Le Mans
Series, the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has already notched up many successes in
the GT2 class. Works driver Marc Lieb secured the drivers’ championships of
this class in 2005 and 2006. The German, who won the prestigious
Nürburgring 24 hour race in 2007, contests the LMS again this year.
Together with Australian Alex Davison, he competes for the
Felbermayr-Proton team (number 77). Manning the team’s second 911 is Horst
Felbermayr Jr (Austria) and Christian Ried (Germany) with the starting
number 88. The Austrian Porsche works driver Richard Lietz joins up with
Frenchman Raymond Narac to drive the #76 GT2 Porsche of the IMSA
Performance Matmut team from France. The sister car of the team (number 75)
is piloted by the all-French trio Richard Balandras, Michel Lecourt and
Jean-Philippe Beloc. In the Farnbacher team sits the multiple Supercup
champion Richard Westbrook (Great Britain), Allan Simonsen (Australia) and
Lars Erik Nielsen from Denmark (starting number 90). The British team,
James Watt Automotive, also fields one Porsche GT3 RSR vehicle. Sharing the
cockpit of the #93 car are two British drivers Paul Daniels and Tim Sugden
as well as Joel Camathias from Switzerland.
The season-opening round of the LMS takes off with a flying start on 6th
April at 11.35 hrs on the Circuit de Catalunya and receives the flag after
an estimated 215 laps at around 5.35pm. Further information is available on
www.lemansseries.com.
Le Mans Series – 2008 calendar
06 April Barcelona/Spain
27 April Monza/Italy
11 May Spa-Francorchamps/Belgium
17 August Nürburgring/Germany
14 September Silverstone/Great Britain
In addition, the teams Van Merksteijn and Essex will contest the Le Mans 24
hour race on 14/15 June in France.
Facts and Figures
This is the Le Mans Series
Contested for the first time in 2004, the Le Mans Series (LMS) offers fans
exciting sportscar racing. The regulations are based on the rules of the Le
Mans 24 hour race. Five championship rounds will be contested this season
on traditional circuits throughout Europe as well as an invitation race in
Shanghai/China. The races run over a distance of 1,000 kilometres. The LMS
is the European counterpart to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in the
USA and Canada.
The starting field consists of two different sports vehicle categories:
Sports prototypes and standard sports cars. They are divided into four
classes:
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 750 hp and a minimum weight of 900
kilograms (in the ALMS: 750 hp/925 kilograms). Power to weight ratio:
approx. 1.2 kg/hp.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with around 475 hp (with normally-aspirated
engine) and an 825 kilogram minimum weight (in the ALMS: 475 hp/800 kg).
Power to weight ratio: approx 1.7 kg/hp. The Porsche RS Spyder competes in
this class.
GT1 class: Heavily modified standard sportscars with up to 650 hp and a
minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (in the ALMS: 650 hp/1,125 –
1,325 kilograms)
GT2 class: Slightly modified standard sportscars with between 450 hp to 470
hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 hp kilograms (in the ALMS: 450 to
470 hp/1,125 – 1,325 kilograms). The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR competes in this
class.
All race cars start together but are classified separately according to the
class. This system ensures diverse and gripping racing with many overtaking
manoeuvres. Points are only allocated for placings in each class.
Championship titles are awarded for drivers, manufacturers and teams in all
four classes. Porsche works driver Marc Lieb won the driver title in the
GT2 class in 2005 and 2006.
For the RS Spyder, 2008 marks the first season in the Le Mans Series.