24 Hour Le Mans: Larbre Comp Corvette - A new chapter

Larbre Comp Corvette - A new chapter

Photo : Arnaud Cornilleau - ACO/Nikon

After many years running Porsches in endurance racing, Larbre Competition opens a new chapter running a Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 as their official team in GTE AM.

Jack Leconte, owner and team manager of Larbre Competition says:" I am very proud that a manufacturer has trust in us, the best recognition of our know how, after many years in French GT's Patrick Bornhauser joined us on the international scene, along with Gabriele Gardel who has been a pillar of the team for many years alongside Julien Canal - Gardel and Canal of course winning LM P1 in 2010 with the Larbre Saleen for us"

He went on to say: "We have many sponsors - Michelin, McDonalds, BSI, Charmant Z, Demeco who have joined with us in this ambitious project. We started at the ILMC at Sebring, but we had an electrical problem and had to retire early in the race, but we had a better result at Spa where we finished 3rd in class, we are still running a Porsche 911 RSR #70 this year alongside the Corvette, so we will be very busy!"

lemans.org

24 Hour Le Mans: Allan McNish is confident.

Allan McNish is confident.

Photo : Jean Philippe BOYER - ACO/Nikon

After many minor niggles affected all 3 Audi's at Spa, Allan McNish is confident that they are on the pace with Peugeot.

Allan McNishcommented:"At the test day and at Spa it appeared that the Peugeots may be a little bit more economical with their fuel but we have done further develoment and are confident this is not the case, the fuel load for the diesels has come down significantly from 2010 - from 81 litres to 65 litres - and we are still learning from this, also we believe top speed between us and the Peugeots is much the same here. The team is very motivated to score another victory for Audi"

lemans.org

Photo : Jean Philippe BOYER - ACO/Nikon

24 Hour Le Mans: Drummer-drivers at Le Mans

Photo : Philippe Chemin - ACO/Nikon

French singer/songwriter, David Hallyday is also a great drummer... and the third to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans over the last three decades.

David Hallyday was only thirteen when Nick Mason, the drummer for Pink Floyd, participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time, a few months before the release of the double album 'The Wall'. It was this year that the drummer-driver managed his best finish with 18th place at the wheel of a Lola T297. The following year he finished 22nd in a Lola, and one of his teammates was none other than Martin Birrane, the current owner of the British manufacturer. His last three entries (1982-83-84) resulted in retirements.

In 1987, it was the turn of Swede Slim Borgudd, the drummer of ABBA, to appear in La Sarthe in a Tiga prototype, but failed to qualify. It was his only attempt at Le Mans, but note that in 1982 he raced in Formula 1 for Tyrrell, with teammate and future winner of 24 Hours of le Mans: the late Michele Alboreto (1956-2001), the 1997 winner with Tom Kristensen and Stefan Johansson.

David Hallyday has been a recognized artist since the mid 80's during his first appearance in the 24 hours in 2003 in a Courage prototype. For his next two appearances, he entered under his real name (David Smet) in LM GT1 and twice to finished in 28th position: in the Corvette in 2007 and a Saleen in 2008. On the 11th and 12th June, he will return to the prototype of Team Oreca Matmut, who won the opening round of the 2011 ILMC at Sebring with Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. A comeback that honors the legacy of Nick Mason, pioneer drummer-driver in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Jean-Philippe Doret

Info: Lemans.org

Photo : Philippe Chemin - ACO/Nikon

Photo : LE MANS (FRANCE), TECHNICAL VERIFICATION OF THE 2008 24 HOURS, 9TH & 10TH JUNE. David Hallyday (centre) with his team mates Christophe Bouchut (left) and Patrick Bornhauser (right).

24 Hour Le Mans 2011: JMW Motorsport confirms Le Mans line-up

JMW Motorsport confirmed that joining their Le Mans regulars Rob Bell and Tim Sugden this year is Dutch driver Xavier Maassen.

As with his two new teammates, Xavier is no stranger to this prestigious race. He contended the GT1 class in the previous two years at the wheel of Corvettes entered by French team Luc Alphand Aventures, finishing 16th in 2009.

Rob Bell and Tim Sugden return to Le Mans with JMW Motorsport for the team’s third appearance. Bell competed 4 times in La Sarthe, finishing 23rd in 2007 and 2009, and Sugden has 7 Le Mans starts, finishing 4th in 1998. This year sees the team bring their new Ferrari 458 to La Sarthe. Once again, the JMW Motorsport livery for the Le Mans 24 Hour will be an eagerly awaited surprise, the design to have been chosen from entrants to the Dunlop Livery Competition and not unveiled before arrival at France.

(Based upon JMW Motorsport press information)

Photo : LE CASTELLET (France), 6 HOURS OF LE CASTELLET, 3RD APRIL 2011. JMW Motorsport scored the first class win of the new Ferrari 458 Italia (14th overall).

lemans.org
Photo : Pascal Saivet - VSC Pictures

Follow 24 Hour Le Mans LIVE!!!

Follow the 24 Hours Le Mans 2011 Live hier: http://puromotor.com/foro/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4992&p=29784#p29784


A complete info and fotos live from La Sarthe.

24 Hour Le Mans: A 100% Belgian team

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest has given the green light to the Lola Aston Martin entered by Kronos Racing to the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans (11th and 12th June) as a result of the withdrawal of the Highcroft Honda.

In association with Marc VDS team, Kronos Racing will engage three Belgian drivers in the LM P1 class. Vanina Ickx, Bas Leinders and Maxime Martin will seek a "Top 10" in qualifying, hoping that consistency in the race will allow them to do well at the finish.

Marc Van Dalen (Kronos Director): "It is both a relief and a certain pressure. There are only three weeks to get everything ready and the countdown will go by so fast! We are pleased that the ACO has finally accepted our entry and we will do our utmost to represent Belgium well at Le Mans, in the tradition of our glorious predecessors, the Belgian national team and Ecurie Francorchamps. "

Jean-Michel Delporte (Sporting Director Marc VDS Racing): "This is our second participation at Le Mans after our debut at the race last year with the Ford GT. We have strengthened the team in all areas this winter and can count on a united team. Operating in association with Kronos Racing (management and communication), allows us to focus on the technical operation of the car, which is quite a challenge. "

Marc van der Straten-Ponthoz (President Marc VDS Racing): "Le Mans is the ultimate endurance event and to participate in a prestigious car fills us with joy. We will be behind our 100% Belgian crew throughout the 24 hours in wishing him a good finish, although we are aware of the hazards of this legendary race. "

Julien Hergault - According to the press release of Kronos Racing

Photo : Michel Legeay - ACO/Nikon

lemans.org/acreditated press media.

Photo: LE MANS, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, TEST DAY April 24, 2011. The Belgian team did not regret having participated in the test day as reserve entry.

24 Hour Le Mans: Highcroft withdraws – Vanina Ickx’s Aston Martin will race in the Le Mans 24 Hours!

The American team, Highcroft Racing, has officially informed the Automobile Club de l’Ouest of its withdrawal from the Le Mans 24 Hours. The Kronos team’s Lola-Aston Martin, first on the reserve list, will take part in the race on 11^th - 12^th June 2011.

Highcroft Racing will not be part of the Le Mans 24 Hours 2011 with the Honda Performance Development ARX-01e (LM P1 category). A decision commented by Duncan Dayton, Highcroft’s team boss:
“We certainly appreciate the massive impact the earthquake and tsunami has had on the people of Japan and the huge challenges facing Japanese business. It appears this may have contributed to Honda's decision and we fully respect and understand their position.”

The unfortunate withdrawal of the Highcroft Racing (2^nd 2011 Sebring 12 Hours) It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good, and the Lola-Aston Martin of the well-known Belgian team, Kronos, will be pleased to replace this entry on the list of those invited to attend scrutineering and admin. checks for the coming Le Mans 24 Hours. This car, which took part in the test day on 24th April, will be driven by a trio of quick, experienced Belgians: Vanina Ickx, 6-time winner Jacky Ickx’s daughter, Bas Leinders, former F1 driver, and Maxime Martin, a rising hope in Belgian motor sport.

There are still two cars left on the reserve list (in the order) the Robertson team’s Doran Ford GT and the Young Driver AMR Aston Martin Vantage. Should there be further withdrawals, whether in the prototype or GT categories, they will become part of the field for the 79^th Le Mans 24 Hours.

Thursday 12^th May was the closing date for informing the ACO of the driver line-ups. These have published today, Tuesday, after the usual checks (link at the bottom of the press release). While the majority of names were already known, newcomers include former Portuguese F1 driver Tiago Monteiro who will replace Matthieu Lahaye (accident in qualifying for the Spa-Francorchamps 1000 kms) in the #15 OAK Racing Pescarolo, and Shinji Nakano, also a former F1 driver, who will team up with Jan Charouz and Nicolas de Crem in the #49 OAK Racing Pescarolo. There are two new driver line-ups in the two Lotus Evoras including a very British one with Rossiter and Mowlem, etc.

Info: Official lemans.or/ACO/acreditated media press

Photo : Christelle MASSE - ACO/Nikon

24 H. Le Mans: Former F1 driver Tiago Monteiro will replace the injured Lahaye in the Oak Pescarolo LMP1

Former F1 driver Tiago Monteiro will replace the injured Lahaye in the Oak Pescarolo LMP1 #15 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 11 and 12).

Aged 34, Tiago Monteiro will share his seat with Guillaume Moreau and Pierre Ragues. The Portuguese driver participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999, 2000 and 2009.

Matthieu Lahaye is slowly recovering from his injuries after his crash in qualifying for 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps on May 6. The driver from Rennes left the hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtriè in Paris, where he was transferred to undergo extensive examination of his vertebrae, hand and knee. Wearing a brace for three months will be sufficient to consolidate his two broken vertebrae. Knee and hand surgery are scheduled for Wednesday.

Francois Sicard, Directeur Général : "Tiago is united in his career both on a sporting level as on a human one. He is a remarkable driver, fast, reliable and a very engaging person, who is in the spirit of endurance. This finish gives a real boost to the team shot which really needed. "

Tiago Monteiro: "Le Mans is a very special race and do with Oak Racing is fantastic! There is not much time to prepare but I'm up to the task. I hope Jacques Nicolet and Francis Sicardl will be proud of me, especially Lahaye, to whom I extend my best wishes for a speedy recovery. "

Julien Hergault

Photo: PORTIMAO (PORTUGAL), 1000 Km of Algarve, 1st August, 2009. With Bruno Senna, Tiago Monteiro finished third in the national event at the wheel of the Oreca AIM.

Photo : - DR - Tiago Monteiro

Team ORECA-Matmut : Spa in preparation for Le Mans…

Team ORECA-Matmut : Spa in preparation for Le Mans…

After a productive Test Day, the Team ORECA-Matmut will compete in its second race of the year: the 1000km of Spa-Francorchamps. As winners of the 12 Hours of Sebring with the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, the team arrives in the Belgian Ardennes at the top of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup championship standings. But the first objective will be to prepare well for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Racing against the new Audi R18s and alongside the official Peugeot 908s, the Team ORECA-Matmut is getting ready to race in its first European event of the season. It will be a particularly important weekend for drivers Nicolas Lapierre, Loïc Duval and Olivier Panis as the race is only a month before the twice around the clock classic in la Sarthe. “We are going into Spa differently than we did Sebring – which was a goal in itself,” admits David Floury. “On one hand, it’s a six hour race, in the European style: the sporting regulations are similar to those of Le Mans. On the other hand, the clear goal is to prepare for Le Mans and consequently to conserve the car and not put ourselves in the red.”

Like the two major constructors, the 1000km of Spa will therefore be a dress rehearsal for June. The Technical Director explains the reasons. “Firstly, it’s a perfect training session. It’s good for the team, notably during pit stops. It’s also good for the drivers, for example traffic management. In a general way, this will allow us to dial in the car as well as certain parameters like fuel consumption. We will also continue our tyre work. In terms of setup, we benefited from the Test Day and we hope to resume these tests at Spa.”

Last “interesting” point according to David Floury: the weather. “The more the conditions will be changing, the more we will be ready for Le Mans. Due to Spa’s layout, it sometimes rains in one area, but not in another. We always learn a lot there. It can be a great ally…in order to get the best result with an excellent car, the Peugeot, and a trio of drivers that gel.”

Practice starts Thursday, May 5, at 12:20 p.m. Follow the action on our social networks…

Info and pic: Team Oreca Matmut.