Peugeot are aiming for their second Le Mans Series Championship in two years
Peugeot
Audi
Porsche
Modena
Harold Primat
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Peugeot
The fifth and final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series takes teams to Great Britain for the 1,000km of Silverstone which will decide the outcome of the Manufacturers', Drivers' and Teams' title chases. Despite winning the first four races and although it enjoys a six-point cushion at the top of the table, Peugeot is not yet certain to secure the Manufacturers' trophy which is its priority objective. Similarly, Marc Gene and Nicolas Minassian are just two points clear of their closest rivals in the Drivers' standings with the No.7908 HDi FAP.
The 908 HDi FAP revealed its potential during its debut season by winning every round of the 2007 Le Mans Series and went on to clinch the Manufacturers' crown. This year, the thorough groundwork the team has put in on the reliability front has once again seen Peugeot Sport enjoy an unbeaten run in the 2008 calendar of 1000km races against opponents who have some 10 years' experience of endurance racing behind them. Only a mechanical problem and diverse race incidents prevented the 908s from notching up one-two finishes in all the Le Mans Series rounds contested to date, otherwise the series could have been wrapped up without going down to the wire. The perfect result finally came on August 17 at the Nurburgring where the 908s qualified in first and second places before going on to seal a one-two finish at the end of the home race of the team's principal rival, Audi. Everyone at Peugeot Sport has prepared particularly thoroughly for the year's ultimate, decisive clash, the 1,000km of Silverstone. Peugeot Sport's Director Michel Barge: "Our number one objective is to win the Manufacturers' title. That is very important for the brand. The six-point gap over our main rivals means we will have to run an aggressive strategy. The ideal scenario would be a repeat of our result at the Nurburgring, or at least to finish with one car ahead of the Audis. The 908 HDi FAP has again shown this year that it is at home on all types of circuit, but it is especially strong on fast, flowing tracks such as Silverstone. If we succeed in finishing ahead of the Audis with both cars, the Drivers' title will go to the No.7908 of Marc and Nicolas, because last year's champions Pedro Lamy and Stephane Sarrazin are no longer in the running in the No.8 car."
Although French, one of the four 908 HDi FAP drivers feels practically at home when he races at Silverstone, namely Nicolas Minassian who proved as much in 2007 by qualifying on pole position, posting the fastest race lap and taking the chequered flag in first place: "Marc and I have no intention of playing second fiddles. Our objective is to leave Silverstone on Sunday evening with victory and the 2008 Le Mans Series title in our pocket. What a terrific way that would be of rounding off the season. I feel very relaxed and I go into this race intent on winning! And if we succeed, the title will automatically be ours. Last year, we scored a grand slam at Silverstone.
Marc and I enjoy this circuit very much. It's my favourite venue and it tends to be successful for me. I particularly love the sequence through Copse, Becketts and then Stowe which you take at more than 250kph. What a buzz! If we are fortunate enough to clinch the Drivers' and Manufacturers' crowns, it will be my first title in motor racing! I have been named to qualify the No.7 car, and Stephane Sarrazin has been tasked with the same mission in the other 908."
The 1,000km race (195 laps of the 5.141km circuit) starts on Sunday morning at 11.20am.
Audi
Ingolstadt -- Audi competes in a second race in Great Britain only 14 days after Timo Scheider's victory at Brands Hatch in the Audi A4 DTM: The finale of the European based Le Mans Series (LMS) is held on 14 September at Silverstone where Audi Sport Team Joest still has chances of winning the title.
Audi has good memories of the 1000-kilometre race at Silverstone: In 2004, Allan McNish won together with Pierre Kaffer, a year later the Scot triumphed in a memorable battle in the rain with Stephane Ortelli -- both times at the wheel of an Audi R8.
The win at Silverstone in 2005 was the 59th of 63 overall victories for the legendary R8 with which Audi dominated the Sports Prototype scene for more than six years. The engine in particular made the R8 unique: It was powered by a TFSI engine from mid 2001. Until then, no one in motorsport had risked the combination of turbo-charging and direct injection, which are now successfully used in Audi road cars (for example the Audi TTS).
The same applies to the Audi R10 TDI: Audi wrote an important chapter in motorsport history with the first -- and to date only -- diesel sportscar to have won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. The know-how gathered from the Le Mans victories on 2006, 2007 and 2008 pours into the next generation of TDI engines.
"With both the R8 and R10 TDI we really could impressively demonstrate the technology transfer between motorsport and the production line which is important for Audi," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "Today, many Audi customers around the world benefit from the TFSI Technology which we used at Le Mans for the first time in 2001. The further development of TDI Technology is accelerated as a result of the Le Mans programme."
At Silverstone on 14 September the now three-year old Audi R10 TDI starts for the last time this season at a race in Europe and for the first time in Great Britain. The two Audi youngsters Alexandre Premat (26) and Mike Rockenfeller (24) trail the Peugeot duo Marc Gene/Nicolas Minassian by only two points in the LM P1 Drivers' Championship. Audi is six points behind Peugeot in the Manufacturers' Championship.
"The leads are not insurmountable," says Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "Our competition is very fast, but a great deal can happen during a 1000-kilometre race. Let's not forget that the weather at Silverstone is often very changeable."
So as not to leave anything to chance, Audi Sport Team Joest completely rebuilt the car driven by Dindo Capello and Allan McNish for the Silverstone race. The two Le Mans winners complained about the unusual handling of their R10 TDI last time out at the Nurburgring.
The 1000-kilometre race at Silverstone starts on Sunday (14 September) at 11:20 a.m. local time. Last year's race lasted almost five and three-quarter hours. Eurosport broadcasts the start and opening stages live from 12:15 to 12:45 a.m. and the race highlights between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m.
Facts & figures
The Audi driver line-up at Silverstone 1 Dindo Capello/Allan McNish 2 Alexandre Premat/Mike Rockenfeller
Allan McNish about Silverstone: "The Silverstone circuit is very fast, especially the 'Becketts' section where you really do see both man and machine on the limit. Because the circuit is built on a former airfield and the countryside is so flat it, is normally very windy which heavily influences the balance of the car."
Interesting facts
After 2000, 2004 and 2005, Audi competes for the fourth time in a sportscar race at Silverstone.
Audi Sport Team Joest raced for the last time in 2000 at Silverstone.
Dindo Capello and Allan McNish started together in the year 2000 with the Audi R8R and went on to finish third.
Mike Rockenfeller knows the circuit at Silverstone from the FIA GT Championship, Alexandre Premat from the GP2 series.
Mike Rockenfeller celebrated victory in the GT2 Class at the FIA GT Championship in 2005.
Only four drivers, Marc Gene, Nicolas Minassian, Alexandre Premat and Mike Rockenfeller, have a chance of winning the LM P1 title.
Between the two LMS races at the Nurburgring and Silverstone, Dindo Capello contested the ALMS race at Mosport where he recorded, with his average speed of 222.276 kph (138.116 mph) in qualifying, the fastest ever lap in the American Le Mans Series.
Silverstone is the 36th race for the Audi R10 TDI, nineteen of which ended in victory.
Due to time constraints there is no warm-up on Sunday.
Porsche
Stuttgart. With three championship titles already secure, Porsche travels to the final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series in Silverstone. With his victory at the penultimate race on the Nürburgring, Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) already conquered the drivers' title in the LMP2 class with his RS Spyder. At the same time, his Van Merksteijn Motorsport team claimed the team title. Four wins from four races for the 476 hp sports prototype from Weissach was enough for Porsche to take home the manufacturers' classification – and this in the RS Spyder's debut season in Europe. The 1,000 kilometre race on the 5.141 kilometre Grand Prix circuit in Silverstone takes off on Sunday at 11.20 hours local time (12.20 hrs CEST) and runs over 195 laps or a maximum of six hours. Forty-seven race cars are entered to contest the race.
The ambition of the champion team, Van Merksteijn, and its drivers has not waned in the slightest after winning the title. “Another victory would be the crowning glory to a fantastic season,” said Jos Verstappen, who shares driving duties with his compatriot Peter van Merksteijn. As Formula 1 driver, the 36-year-old raced on the Silverstone circuit seven times and is looking forward to returning: “It's a great track with lots of fast corners but it's not easy. In particular the Copse corner and following three corners Maggots, Becketts and Chapel are not to be underestimated. With this car the race will be great fun. The key to good lap times is good balance – and we've always had this.” Team-owner van Merksteijn did not contest the Nürburgring race and, with 28 points to his credit, currently ranks second in the drivers' standings behind Verstappen (38 points).
Sharing the same points tally in third are John Nielsen and Casper Elgaard competing for the second Porsche customer team, Essex. The Danes are determined to take vice-championship honours for drivers and team at the final. In the team classification the chances look extremely good thanks to a healthy seven-point advantage over the third-placed squad. For the runner-up title in the drivers' championship they must cross the finish line ahead of Verstappen/van Mersteijn. So far this season they have won in Monza and secured two third placings in Barcelona and Spa. Whilst Silverstone is new for Elgaard, the two-time Danish touring car champion, sports car legend Nielsen knows the circuit well. “For drivers, Silverstone is a very challenging and beautiful track,” enthused the Le Mans winner of 1990.
The Porsche customer team from Switzerland, Horag Racing, is keen to move up the field at the season finale. The team currently ranks a close fourth in the LMP2 team classification. Sharing the cockpit of the RS Spyder is a seasoned driver line-up consisting of Fredy Lienhard (Switzerland), Jan Lammers (Netherlands), the former Formula 1 driver and 1988 Le Mans winner as well as Didier Theys (Belgium). The goal of the seasoned veterans is to repeat the podium result of Monza and Spa-Francorchamps.
In the GT2 class for near-standard vehicles, the fight for the title is still wide open. Sitting second, Porsche works driver Marc Lieb (Germany) and Alex Davison (Australia) are only three points shy of the leading Ferrari pilots, Robert Bell und Gianmaria Bruni. At three of four races the Porsche duo of the Felbermayr-Proton squad climbed the podium in second, but they are still waiting for their first victory. “The competition in our class is incredibly hard,” said Lieb, the Silverstone winner of 2005. “But Alex and I will fight and try everything to win the race and the championship.” Ranking fifth in the GT2 class is the Porsche works driver from Austria Richard Lietz and his team mate Raymond Narac (France) for the IMSA Performance Matmut team. In Silverstone, a total of six Porsche 911 GT3 RSR racers compete in the GT2 class.
Eurosport broadcasts the first half hour of the 1,000 kilometre race on 14th September live followed by highlights from 22.30 hours. The pay-TV channel MotorsTV plans to broadcast a comprehensive report with three one-hour live blocks.
Modena
The final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series season is at Silverstone, Northants, this weekend, and Team Modena head into their home race on a high after success at the Nurburgring last month. Having dominated the LM GT1 class with their Aston Martin DBR9 and winning in Germany by 32-laps, the rapid duo of Tomas Enge and Antonio Garcia will be aiming for their third win in the five race series to close the team's 2008 LMS campaign in style.
Team Modena
"We are looking forward to Silverstone," says Team Principal Graham Schultz, "it is always good to be taking part in your home round of the series. The car is running well and with the pace Antonio and Tomas showed in Germany we are hoping for a strong finish.
"We have around 200 guests coming to the race, and will also be visited by the Aston Martin Owner's Club - so it should be a memorable weekend."
The full race distance is 195-laps round the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, with a maximum duration of six hours racing. The regular opposition in the LM GT1 class comes from the Chevrolet Corvettes and the Lamborghini Murcielago, and Team Modena still have a chance of taking the teams and drivers titles, but nothing less than a win would do it with rival cars retiring.
"I think our car will be good at Silverstone," says Antonio. "The Corvette has been quick all season, but we have been quick and competitive and if all goes well like it did in Germany then we will be in a strong position.
"Silverstone is a quick circuit and enjoyable in a GT1 car, the weekend will be good for us and I am confident and relaxed."
Silverstone was the circuit where the team's Aston Martin, chassis 101, the first of the customer DBR9s built, made its race debut in August 2005, finishing fourth in class in a rain soaked race. The car was soon up to pace, taking its first win less than a month later at the Nurburgring and going onto taste victory in the FIA GT series and the Mil Mihas race in Brazil as well as further LMS success. The car has completed three Le Mans 24-Hour races, finishing ninth in 2006, never failing to finish the French endurance race.
The 1000km race is scheduled to start at 11.20 on Sunday morning, with a 20-minute qualifying session at 13.15 on Saturday. Prior to that, the teams have three one-hour free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday morning to tune their cars to Silverstone's mix of quick and technical corners.
Harold Primat
The battle to be the best petrol-powered car in the Le Mans Series could hardly be more finely balanced as the 2008 season draws to a close this weekend at Silverstone. Just two points covers the top four cars in the title rankings and with Harold Primat and co-driver Christophe Tinseau lying in second, the Geneva-based driver is determined to end the season in style and claim top spot.
Harold on the petrol-car battle – “It is going to be a close call but it is an exciting and very interesting challenge that we are going to embrace with a lot of energy. Silverstone is a six hour race and we will push all the way to the chequered flag. In many ways the last round at the Nurburgring was very frustrating as without the transmission problem, which cost us so much time, a really strong result was possible. However the way we fought back from nowhere to take a point for eighth place shows just how competitive our package is and who knows how crucial that point will be at the end of the season.”
…on Silverstone – “I’ve got a lot of good memories of Silverstone from my time racing in British F3 and without doubt it is my favourite circuit in the UK. The Grand Prix lay out is so fast and provides an exhilarating challenge for the drivers but there’s also some technical sections towards the end of the lap at Priory and Luffield. Copse is my personal favourite, the speed through there is phenomenal, and if you get it right then Maggots and Becketts are awesome too.”
…on preparation for the race – “Since the Nurburgring race we’ve had tests at the Le Mans Bugatti circuit and at Dijon. The team have worked on some aero tweaks which have definitely improved the package and we have also made some improvements to the traction control and dampers. The test last week at Dijon was conducted mostly in wet conditions and that should be useful for Silverstone! The UK weather hasn’t been great recently so importantly we’ve developed a good base wet set up.”
…on the 2008 season – “Overall we’ve had a good season and made real progress since 2007. The whole package has improved and we’ve been the best fuel car for much of the year and at Le Mans. We also scored an outright podium at Monza and that achievement shouldn’t be underestimated because with two Audis and two Peugeots on the grid, and the massive advantage they have from running diesel engines, podiums have been at a premium for everybody else. We’ve had a couple of technical problems here and there which have cost us points, but generally I think everyone is happy with 2008.”
…on the target for Silverstone – “We need to stay error-free and not have any problems with the car’s reliability but with the work the team did at the last two tests I am very confident. It is difficult to make predictions for a six hour race but we know that we have to score points to win the petrol class. The Charouz Racing Lola Aston Martin was very strong at the Nurburgring, but they have had some reliability issues at other races and so there is no reason why we can’t overhaul them in the standings. From a personal perspective I’m going to qualify the car and start the race. It is a high responsibility but that is why I’m here. As always we want to finish the season on a high not only for the team but also for all our partners who have supported us in 2008.”