Eighteen prototypes have been selected in the LM P2 class, seven more than in 2011.
The regulations capping the costs* and guaranteeing a level playing field have attracted a large number of private teams or those backed directly by manufacturers like Nissan with Signatech. The latter won the 2011 ILMC and has entered two Oreca O3s. Greaves Motorsport, last year’s winner in the Sarthe, has not one but two Zytek Z11s with Judd power. Also entered is Level 5 Motorsports, which put on a stunning performance in the ILMC in 2011, plus new outfits like Gulf Racing Middle East (raced in LM GTE Am last year) with a couple of Lola B12s, Lotus, which has also entered a Lola with an in-house engine, etc.) The LM P2 category plays its role as the perfect link between the different Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours as several of the teams entered (Greaves, Boutsen, Ginion Racing, Level 5) are also competing in the ELMS or the ALMS. There are six different chassis and four different types of engine in this category, which has never been so well supported.
*To reduce costs the sale price of a complete new car, without engine, must not exceed 345,000 euros.
Morgan is back
Fifty years after the 1962 victory of a Morgan Plus 4 Super Sport in the 1601-2000 cc category (total distance covered: 3629,288 km at an average speed of 151,220 km/h) the British manufacturer, the Morgan Motor Company, is back in La Sarthe with a works entry thanks to its partnership with French team, OAK Racing. The 2012 LM P2 OAK-Pescarolos have become the Morgan LM P2s, which will be built by the construction department of OAK Racing, Onroak Automotive, based at Le Mans. This partnership opens up the door for the future Morgans to be a step ahead of their rivals in terms of cutting-edge technology with carbon fibre and state-of-the-art aerodynamics, the preponderant aspects of the LM P2s. Two cars will race in the Le Mans 24 Hours with Judd power.
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, PRACTICE, Wed 8th June JUNE 2011: LM P1 #24 OAK Pescarolo 01 - Judd
lemans.org
Photo : Christian VIGNON - ACO/Nikon
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