Le Mans ...Who will win ??

[m glassburner]

Ok...I know I'm ready for this epic annual race/battle !! I'm picking the peugeot .....Corvette....and any one but the ferrari's to win ,I personally blame melo for that one ...mike

[paul59]

One of the Peugeot crashed hard in practice, they might back off some, and they didn't finish Sebring well. To finish first, you must first finish. the Corvettes have no real competitors in GT1, so you are correct there, The Porsche Ferrari battle will be the race to watch, I can't wait till next year when Rahall bring out the M3, then the big three will be at it again.
watch the Porsche RS Spyder for class win, and possible overall... the Audi's have been restricted buy rules and fuel...

[lateapex911]

help a busy guy out...who's running the Porsche RS, Penske? (I thought he didn't "do" le mans, but I'm pretty out of the loop)

[tim240z]

Who schedules a drivers school the same weekends as LeMans

With any luck I'll be there in a few year (Joke of the day!)


The Pugs have this one... I have a feeling they have worked out their problems. The Vettes do in fact have some competition... so don’t count out the AMs. Also keep an eye on the petrol P1 cars... there should be some very nice fights for a 3rd podium spot.

[Butch Kummer]

help a busy guy out...who's running the Porsche RS, Penske? (I thought he didn't "do" le mans, but I'm pretty out of the loop)

Jake,

Although I read it yesterday in AutoWeek I forget who's running the Porsche (old age and all that ), but it's NOT Penske. They also said that, unlike ALMS, the P2 cars have no real shot at the overall.

I'll probably remember who's in the Porsche as soon as I hit the enter key, but...

[erlrich]

help a busy guy out...who's running the Porsche RS, Penske? (I thought he didn't "do" le mans, but I'm pretty out of the loop)

You're right Jake, Penske & Dyson run the Porches in ALMS, but neither is over there this weekend. There are a couple of teams running them - Team ESSEX, and VAN MERKSTEIJN Motorsport - but I have never heard of either of those teams.

I'm a little disappointed to not see any of the Acuras in LMP2; on the other hand it is cool to see 4 makes in GT1 now (add Saleen & Lamborghini to the list), although I believe Corvette will take that class easily if they stay out of trouble - especially with Magnussen, O'Connell and Fellows in the same car.

As of yesterday's qualifying the Peugeots had P1-3, with Audis in P4-6.

[paul59]

BERGMEISTER PUTS LIZARD PORSCHE OUT FRONT IN GT2


Jörg Bergmeister is on the provisional GT2 pole at Le Mans for Porsche and Flying Lizard. Photo: Regis Lefebure

American Le Mans Series drivers held three of the four provisional pole positions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans after Wednesday's four hours of practice and qualifying. The final grid positions will be set after Thursday's running but talk of rain and deteriorating conditions may prove that Wednesday was the best choice to post fast laps.

In GT2, Jörg Bergmeister set the provisional pole time and a class record for Flying Lizard Motorsports and Porsche. The German factory driver turned a lap of 4:00.106 (126.974 mph) in the Lizards' Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the opening minutes of the day's second two-hour sessions. Bergmeister is driving with Americans Johannes van Overbeek and Seth Neiman.

Bergmeister, seeking his second Le Mans victory, also leads the American Le Mans Series GT2 championship with Wolf Henzler with the Lizards leading the team standings.

Coincidentally, Bergmeister was just 0.687 seconds ahead of America Porsche factory driver Patrick Long in the 2007 race-winning IMSA Performance Porsche. Long was Bergmeister's teammate in the 2004 victory with Sascha Maassen. Long is driving a Porsche RS Spyder in LMP2 for Penske Racing in the States.

Jaime Melo was fourth in class for Risi Competizione at 4:01.598 (126.189 mph) in the Ferrari F430 GT he will share with Mika Salo and Gianmaria Bruni. The second Risi Ferrari - driven by Tracy Krohn, Nic Jonsson and Eric van de Poele - was 11th in class at 4:07.978 (122.943 mph).

Jan Magnussen led a 1-2 Corvette Racing placement in GT1 at Le Mans in the first day of qualifying. Photo: Regis Lefebure

Corvette Racing's two factory Corvette C6.Rs were 1-2 in GT1. Three-time class winner Jan Magnussen was quickest at 3:49.406 (132.896 mph), good enough for a 1.36-seconds gap to Oliver Gavin in the sister car.

Magnussen and Johnny O'Connell have won three times in the American Le Mans Series including a victory at Sebring with Ron Fellows. The trio are reuniting for Le Mans.

Gavin and Olivier Beretta, who won three straight class titles at Le Mans and are the reigning GT1 champions in the American Le Mans Series, are driving with Max Papis.

In LMP2, Porsche works driver Maassen was fastest in the Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder at 3:33.441 (142.836 mph), the fastest lap ever recorded for a P2 car. Maassen, Long's teammate at Penske, was 0.637 seconds ahead of Jos Verstappen in the Porsche for Van Merksteijn Motorsport. Maassen's time was 13th overall.

In the overall standings, Peugeot's three diesel-powered Peugeot 908s went quickest with Stephane Sarrazin setting a Le Mans record with a lap of 3:18.513 (153.578 mph). Audi's three R10 TDIs were third through sixth with Allan McNish posting the best Audi time at 3:24.105 (149.370 mph) in the car he will share with Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen.

Instead of challenging Peugeot for pole position - a task that both McNish and Kristensen conceded that Audi will not try - the Germans clearly were satisfied with concentrating on race pace.

The Team Cytosport/Charouz Racing System Lola-Judd of Greg Pickett, Klaus Graf and Jan Lammers finished the day 12th fastest overall and in LMP1 at 3:31.910 (143.869 mph). Autocon Motorsports' Creation-Judd of Michael Lewis, Chris McMurry and Bryan Willman was well down the list at 3:56.108 (129.124 mph).

The 76th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans runs from 9 a.m. ET (3 p.m. local time) Saturday, June 14 to 9 a.m. ET Sunday, June 15 from the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France. Forty-four drivers will represent the American Le Mans Series, whose teams have captured seven overall victories and 22 class championships since 1999. SPEED will televise the event live, and Radio Le Mans will have flag-to-flag coverage of the race as well as practice and qualifying on June 11 and 12.

The next round of the American Le Mans Series is the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix. The race is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 12 at Lime Rock Park. SPEED will televise the race from noon to 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 13. XM Satellite Radio will air the event live on XM Sports Nation Channel 144. Additional live coverage from American Le Mans Radio and IMSA's Live Timing & Scoring also will be available at americanlemans.com.

[paul59]

Here is the full field.
24 Heures -- Practice 2
PosN°TeamClassDriver in PitSes.

Team Peugeot TotalLMP1SARRAZIN S.3:18.51310:01.470Run29
Peugeot Sport TotalLMP1KLIEN C.3:18.6820.16910:47.474Run37
Team Peugeot TotalLMP1GENE M.3:20.4511.93810:15.149Run42
Audi Sport North AmericaLMP1McNISH A.3:24.1055.5929:11.426Run53
Audi Sport Team JoestLMP1LUHR L.3:24.2875.7740.000Run61
Audi Sport North AmericaLMP1WERNER M.3:27.5809.06711:00.757Run716
Pescarolo SportLMP1COLLARD E.3:28.53310.0200.000Run811
Dome Racing TeamLMP1KATAOKA T.3:29.3524:38.79510.8394:38.795Run95
Team Oreca MatmutLMP1GROPPI L.3:30.49011.9770.000Run1017
Pescarolo SportLMP1TRELUYER B.3:30.6184:34.98512.1054:34.985Run116
Team Oreca MatmutLMP1FASSLER M.3:31.2434:21.22212.7304:21.222Run1212
Charouz Racing SystemLMP1GRAF K.3:31.91013.39710:19.792Run1331
Team EssexLMP2ELGAARD C.3:33.44114.9280.000Run1434
Van Merksteijn MotorsportLMP2BLEEKEMOLEN J.3:34.07815.5659:50.244Run1510
Charouz Racing SystemLMP1MUCKE S.3:34.2113:53.12215.6983:53.122Run1632
Barazi EpsilonLMP2BARAZI J.3:35.34416.8310.000Run1733
Speedy Racing Team SebahLMP2BELICCHI A.3:35.40116.8880.000Run1818
Rollcentre RacingLMP1BARBOSA J3:35.45016.9370.000Run1914
Creation AIMLMP1GOOSSENS M.3:35.9943:57.40417.4813:57.404Run2024
TerramosLMP1KATOH H.3:37.56019.04714:23.203Run2119
Chamberlain SynergyLMP1EVANS G.3:38.02419.5110.000Run2220
Epsilon EuskadiLMP1BURGUENO A.3:39.15820.64515:02.492Run2345
Embassy RacingLMP2HUGHES W.3:39.92621.4130.000Run2440
Quifel ASM TeamLMP2SMITH G.3:41.19322.68010:13.296Run2521
Epsilon EuskadiLMP1GOUNON JM.3:41.52623.0130.000Run2635
Saulnier RacingLMP2RAGUES P.3:42.54524.03216:12.741Run2725
RMLLMP2ERDOS T.3:44.1884:26.93225.6754:26.932Run284
Saulnier RacingLMP1NICOLET J.3:46.66628.15313:02.111Run2941
Trading PerformanceLMP2GOSSELIN C.Y.3:46.7734:52.56028.2604:52.560Run3044
Kruse Schiller MotorsportLMP2de POURTALES J.3:47.80229.2890.000Run3126
Bruichladdich RadicalLMP2DEVLIN B.3:47.93529.4229:47.668Run3263
Corvette RacingLMGT1FELLOWS R.3:49.4064:22.66730.8934:22.667Run3364
Corvette RacingLMGT1BERETTA O.3:50.7664:24.27432.2534:24.274Run3450
Larbre CompetitionLMGT1BOUCHUT CH.3:50.92032.4070.000Run3555
IPB Spartak RacingLMGT1RUSINOV R.3:52.17533.6620.000Run36009
Aston Martin RacingLMGT1GARCIA A.3:52.26633.7539:18.573Run37007
Aston Martin RacingLMGT1WENDLINGER K.3:52.5274:12.08134.0144:12.081Run3822
Tokai University YGKLMP1KUROSAWA H.3:53.14334.63010:44.795Run3972
Luc Alphand AventuresLMGT1POLICAND J.3:53.99035.47710:22.471Run4073
Luc Alphand AventuresLMGT1GOUESLARD P.3:55.73637.22310:39.934Run4123
AutoconLMP1LEWIS M.3:56.1084:33.21337.5954:33.213Run4253
Vitaphone Racing TeamLMGT1LEVENTIS N.3:57.37138.85810:00.216Run4359
Team ModenaLMGT1FITTIPALDI C.3:58.1934:22.22539.6804:22.225Run4480
Flying Lizard MotorsportsLMGT2NEIMAN S.4:00.10641.59310:48.840Run4576
Imsa Performance MatmutLMGT2NARAC R.4:00.79342.28010:46.134Run4696
Virgo MotorsportLMGT2MULLEN T.4:01.29342.78013:23.889Run4782
Risi CompetizioneLMGT2SALO M.4:01.59843.08513:02.905Run4897
BMS Scuderia ItaliaLMGT2BABINI F.4:02.08043.56710:34.572Run4977
Team Felbermayr-ProtonLMGT2HENZLER W.4:02.5174:40.41344.0044:40.413Run5099J
MB RacingLMGT2AUCOTT B.4:03.2934:33.50344.7804:33.503Run5185
Snoras Spyker SquadronLMGT2VASILIEV A.4:05.0964:31.81146.5834:31.811Run5290
Farnbacher RacingLMGT2NIELSEN L-E.4:05.0984:43.79646.5854:43.796Run5378
AF Corse SRLLMGT2VILANDER T.4:05.6604:33.88547.1474:33.885Run5483
Risi CompetizioneLMGT2KROHN T.4:07.97849.4650.000Run5594
Speedy Racing TeamLMGT2ALEXANDER-DAVID I.4:11.5644:44.77853.0514:44.778Run
Live result lemans.org, editing by Races Information Services, All right reserved ACO

[lateapex911]

Thanks guys! Looks like Dome isn't living up to their pre race claims of superiority!

[tim240z]

Thanks guys! Looks like Dome isn't living up to their pre race claims of superiority!

3rd of the LMP 1.5 cars... not too bad.

[Dave Zaslow]

And don't forget to listen to Radio LeMans:

http://rlm08.0157.org/

Always a unique perspective.

DZ

[m glassburner]

Is there anyone offering free live timing and scoring during the race ?

[paul59]

Yes it is on the webpage below.
http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans...ccueil_gb.html

[m glassburner]

Wow GT1 is going to be a battle royal !!!

[Scott Koschwitz]

You;ve got great battles in all four classes.

LMP1: I think Peugeot will shock Audi this year. They have the pace and I think they have the durability.

LMP2: I don't think the Porsche RS Spyders have the durability to last the 24 hours; they've never competed in a 24-hour race before. It's pretty much a toss-up, with good teams and cars. My guess is the Quifel Lola-AER will take it. I'm rtooting fo rthe Bruihladdich Radical, but I realistically hope for only a finish.

GT1: This is a battle of the heavy-weights. I say Corvette, Aston, Saleen, with a possible surprise of the Saleen on the top step.

GT2: Porsche (Flying Lizard No. 80), Ferrari (Risi No. 82), and Porsche (Imsa Performance No. 76).

Enjoy the race!

[RSTPerformance]

I am late on my vote but without watching the begining yet... I can't vote for anything other than one of the Audi's for overall...

LMP1: Audi North America
LMP2: Porsche RS2 Spyder
GT1: Saleen
GT2: Porsche

Raymond

[m glassburner]

Hmmmmmm.....just a little german biased

[RSTPerformance]

Hmmmmmm.....just a little german biased

Well... Dad did race the 61st Saleen built in 1986 for a few years in ITE so I had to give them my vote!!! (I could be off a couple on the build number, maybe the crew will correct me?, but I know it was one of the first 100 Saleens built and had the number on the bumper)

Other than that though.... what else would you want to win!!! a Honda :eek: or wose yet a Mazda... lol

Raymond

[Scott Koschwitz]

You;ve got great battles in all four classes.

LMP1: I think Peugeot will shock Audi this year. They have the pace and I think they have the durability.

LMP2: I don't think the Porsche RS Spyders have the durability to last the 24 hours; they've never competed in a 24-hour race before. It's pretty much a toss-up, with good teams and cars. My guess is the Quifel Lola-AER will take it. I'm rtooting fo rthe Bruihladdich Radical, but I realistically hope for only a finish.

GT1: This is a battle of the heavy-weights. I say Corvette, Aston, Saleen, with a possible surprise of the Saleen on the top step.

GT2: Porsche (Flying Lizard No. 80), Ferrari (Risi No. 82), and Porsche (Imsa Performance No. 76).

Boy, was I wrong!

The Peugeots hung with the Audis the whole race, but hamstrung themselves with too much time in the pits.

The Porsche RS Spyders ran incredibly well -- like little German freight trains. I am very impressed. The Quifel team ran well, finishing fourth. The Radicval classified as a finisher, at least.

Aston takes GT1 in probably its last Le Mans, with Corvette on the same lap -- after 24 hours of racing. What a battle. The Saleen finished, but well down the order.

Ferrari sweeps the top four places in GT2. I'm sure guys in Stuttgart are scratching their heads. My predicted second-place finisher took the top step. My predicted third-place finisher took out my predicted first-place finisher.

Hell of a race. I can't wait until next year.