BEFORE THE STORM // SPOTTER GUIDE & LE MANS PREVIEW

Just released, check out this Spotter Guide for the 77th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A quick reference for those who find themselves a bit confused with all of the classes, drivers and chassis builders, Spotter Guides are a great way to figure out just who is driving that LMP1 Audi R15 or which Ferrari it is that Patrick Dempsey will be piloting when the green flag waves tomorrow afternoon.

Click here to download your copy and be sure and follow the link for a look at Stephen Hodges Le Mans preview... [read more]

LMP1 

Audi Sport
Car: Audi R15
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Audi come to LeMans this year with a brand new car, they beat Peugeot at Sebring with the new R15, but on the long straights of LeMans and with a proven track record, Peugeot have the upper hand, never discount Audi, Kristensen, Mcnish and Capello won last year and look to repeat that result. Luhr, Rockenfeller and Premat in the other car look to improve on their 4th place finish last year. Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas join Marco Werner in the 3rd R15 and will be hunting a win just like their team mate’s. 

Peugeot Sport
Car: Peugeot 908
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Peugeot come to LeMans this year with unfinished business, last year, a certain Scotsman said it was Peugeot’s race to lose, touch wood, Peugeot lost it, along with the LMS title and a win at Petit Le Mans. Favourite for the win is the Minassian, Lamy, Klien car, closely followed followed by the Sarrazin, Montagny, Bourdais car which finished second at Sebring in March, The 3rd car of Gene, Wurz and Brabham will also be in the hunt for the win as well, Peugeot start as the pre-race favourites. 

Aston Martin Racing
Car: Lola Aston Martin
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Following last season’s Charouz effort, Aston Martin arrive at LeMans this year with 3 Lola’s with V12 engines, the car’s have Aston Martin’s own Aero and have claimed a victory already at Barcelona in the Le Mans Series. The driver line-ups for each car have yet to be announced, but its likely Enge, Charouz and Mucke will be together in one of the car’s, the other line up’s are up in the air at the moment. With the Petrol-Diesel closed down significantly, AMR are most likely to upset the diesel’s, The speed is there, so should the reliability, AMR have the support, whether they can beat Audi and Peugeot at LeMans remains to be seen, but they will be at the front of the LMP1 field, if you miss the car’s, you wont miss that howling V12! 
 
Team Oreca Matmut
Car: Oreca 01
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Oreca came into the 2009 season as a favourite for win’s, podiums and pole positions, but so far they have found things tough, the new Oreca 01 has demonstrated sensational speed on its debut at Spa, but incidents in the race deprived the team of a good result. In terms of speed, the car should be close, if not similar to the Lola Aston Martin’s, but being a new car reliability is not fully known yet, expect fireworks in qualifying, especially from Panis. 

Pescarolo Sport
Car(s):Pescarolo P01, Peugeot 908
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Plucky underdogs Pescarolo Sport have always been one of the top team’s at LeMans, but last year Pescarolo dropped the ball a bit due to an ageing car, this year, Pescarolo have their new petrol proto which has been blazingly quick and a Peugeot 908. It remains to be seen what Pescarolo can do with the 908, but with Pagenaud, Treluyer and Bouillon, it should be quick in both qualifying and race trim, the petrol proto of Jouanny, Tinseau and Barbosa will be very quick as well, up there at the front of the petrol class, watch out, this could be Pescarolo’s year at long last. 

Kolles
Car: Audi R10
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Dr.Colin Kolles, who has run the TME DTM team for some time is running a pair of last year’s Audi R10’s in the LMS this year, so far though, the car’s have been a bit off the pace, even with the advantage of diesel power, the car’s struggle to match the pace of front running petrol car’s. Its not to say they are uncompetitive, but the R10 is long in the tooth and feeling its age in its 4th year of competition. 

Speedy Racing Team Sebah
Car: Lola Aston Martin B08/60
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Sebah have been in Sports car racing for a long time, campaigning prototype and GT cars alike, the team are racing in LMP1 and LMP2 this year, the LMP1 Lola Aston Martin differs from the Aston Martin’s, having a different aero package, with a line up of 3 quick driver’s, in Qualifying at least, this car could knock head’s with the fastest petrol car’s, in the race, its an unknown quantity, best to wait and see. 
  
Signature Plus
Car: Oreca LC70 Judd
Tyres: Michelin
Description: The crack single seater outfit Signature Plus enters the Le Mans Series this year with one of last year’s Oreca LC70’s, the car is well rounded, fast, reliable and efficient, Pierre Ragues and Didier Andre are both quick and have sports car experience, Frank Mailleux is new to sports car’s but shouldn’t embarrass himself. 
 
Strakka Racing
Car: Ginetta Zytek 09S
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Strakka come to Le Mans off the back of a pole position at Barcelona and showed they could run at the front of the LMP1 field in the LMS, The driving talent of Danny Watts need’s no introduction and Leventis and Hardman have taken quickly to the prototype, a run into the top 10 for the team would not be unreasonable, Strakka have the car and driver’s to do it. 

Creation Autosportif
Car: Creation CA07 Judd
Tyres: Dunlop
Description: Creation Autosportif return to Le Mans this year as a rebranded and adjusted force, team owner Mike Jankowski moving the team over to the USA from the UK. Jamie Campbell Walter and Vanina Ickx are both experienced prototype hands and know their way round Le Mans, Romain Ianetta having plenty of GT experience, making him a potentially quick rookie, Creation though could struggle and will probably be looking only for a finish. 

Team LNT
Car: Ginetta Zytek 09S
Tyres: Michelin
Description: 2006 GT2 Le Mans winners Team LNT return after a year’s sabbatical but this time to the LMP1 class, Lawrence Tomlinson and Richard Dean partner 17 year old British Ginetta racer Nigel Moore. The car is already proven as quick, but the inexperienced Moore is the weak link as could Tomlinson and Dean’s inexperience in prototype’s, the team is an unknown quantity, so its worth keeping an eye on LNT, they may surprise, they may not. 
 
 
 
LMP2: 

Team Essex
Car: Porsche RS Spyder
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Team Essex return to Le Mans this year with one objective in mind, to win, the team has the talent’s of Emmanuel Collard and Casper Elgaard in the car, joined by crack Touring Car racer Kristian Poulsen, running on Michelin tyres instead of Dunlop tyres, the team are a favourite for the class win, expect some serious fireworks from the Danish team 

Navi Team Goh
Car: Porsche RS Spyder
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Team Goh return to Le mans after a 5 year hiatus, they are factory supported by Porsche and feature a very strong driver line up, Sascha Maassen partner’s Le Mans winner from 2004, Seiji Ara. Both driver’s find themselves partnered with Keisuke Kunimoto, expect the team to be challenging for the win. 

RML
Car: Lola B08/80 Mazda
Tyres: Michelin
Description: 2 time winners RML return to Le mans this year with factory support from Mazda and a shiny new Lola Coupe, Chris Dyson joins regulars Mike Newton and Tommy Erdos making for an exceptionally strong driver line up, the car is quick enough to win but whether the poor 2009 fuel will rear its ugly head and lunch another Mazda engine again looks likely, RML will be devastatingly quick, but unreliability could likely ruin the party for RML. 

Speedy Team Sebah
Car: Lola B08/80 Judd
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Sebah return to Le Mans for the second year with their Judd V8 engined Lola coupe, the driver line up of Kane, Leuenburger and Pompidou is strong enough to place the team at the thick end of things in LMP2, the car has so far been the one to beat in LMP2 excluding the RS Spyder, its quick and reliable and Sebah could take the win, or at the least seriously bother the Porsche’s of Goh and Essex. 
 
Racing Box
Car: Lola B08/80 Judd
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Racing Box have been a prodigy this year in LMS, they won at Barcelona and initially finished 3rd in LMP2 at Spa before being thrown out under a technicality, Piccini, Bobbi and Biagi is a great driving squad, The Lola Judd is a top car and Racing Box, despite it being their first Le Mans could be in the frame for a top 5 finish, possibly a podium, expect fireworks. 

OAK Racing
Car: Pescarolo Mazda
Tyres: Dunlop
Description: OAK Racing return to Le Mans this year with 2 brand new LMP2 Pescarolo’s, the team come with factory support from Mazda as well with new 4 cylinder turbo engines in place of Judd engine’s, Guillaume Moreau joins the team after a transfer from Luc Alphand, OAK may struggle to achieve a good result though. 

Quifel ASM
Car: Ginetta Zytek 09S2
Tyres: Dunlop
Description: Quifel could very well break Zytek’s Le Mans victory duck in LMP2, the team is second to none in LMP2, even against the likes of Essex and Goh, Amaral, Pla and Smith is an exceptional driver line up, Pla is a gem as is Guy Smith and Amaral is seriously under rated. Quifel are Zytek’s best hope for a class win this year, watch out, they could win it and are the greatest outside threat to the Porsche’s. 

Barazi Epsilon
Car: Zytek 07S2
Tyres: Dunlop
Description: Juan Barazi’s team return to Le Mans with a year old Zytek and a so far unconfirmed driver line up at this time, Juan Barazi is quick and is over looked by many people, Fernando Rees is no slouch either, but there is still another seat available in the Epsilon Zytek, ignoring this the team are looking strong at the moment, the Zytek is a well rounded car and the team know how to win, with a bit of luck, the top 5 may not be too unreasonable for Barazi. 

G.A.C Racing Team
Car: Zytek 07S2
Tyres: Michelin
Description: G.A.C, last year’s Trading Performance team have rebranded themselves for 2009, with Philip Peter team have a gem, but the other two driver’s wont be able to replicate Peter’s speed, expect nothing more than a early charge from Peter. 

KSM
Car: Lola B07/46 Mazda
Tyres: Dunlop
Description: Kai Kruse’s team return for another year at LM, plans to get a Lola coupe were scuppered for 2009 putting the team on the backfoot, Hideki Noda is reasonably quick but the team wont be competitive, simply because their car is simply too old now. 

Bruichladdich Bruneau
Car: Radical SR9 AER
Tyres: Dunlop
Description: The factory Radical team has had a bit of a bumpy history, the team has now merged with Pierre Bruneau’s race team to form Bruichladdich Bruneau, the ageing Radical has been dying on its rear for a while now but the team may get something new out of the car, Marc Rostan and Pierre Bruneau partner Radical faithful Tim Greaves, don’t expect much from this team, a reliable run to the finish is all the factory Radical team will probably be after. 
 
GT1:

Corvette Racing
Car: Corvette C6R
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Corvette have GT1 pretty much sewn up this year, with little in the way opposition from Luc Alphand and Jet Alliance, Pratt and Miller will just likely stroke it home and battle it out for the win between themselves. The 63 features Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and Johnny O’Connell, the 64 car featuring Olivier Beretta, Oli Gavin and Marcel Fassler, the 64 looks to be the stronger than the 63, but wait and see, there is little to call between the 2 factory Corvette’s. 

Jetalliance Racing
Car: Aston Martin DBR9
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Jetalliance come to Le Mans for the first time this year, however, the usual line up of Wendingler and Sharpe isn’t on the card’s for LM, GT hotshot Alex Muller is joined by Litchner Hoyer and Thomas Gruber, in qualifying Muller could challenge the factory Corvette’s but that is about it, JAR don’t have the driving talent to challenge Corvette over the 24 hours. 
 
Luc Alphand Adventures
Car: Corvette C6R
Tyres: Dunlop
Description: Luc Alphand come to Le Mans as possibly the greatest threat to Corvette in GT1, fielding two cars, one for team owner Alphand, Gouselard and Gregoire which should be quick, while the second car features GT hot shoe Xavier Maassen, Julien Jousse and Yann Clairiay, Alphand though losing Guillaume Moreau to OAK Racing, somewhat denting their driving talent, Alphand will likely be best of the rest in GT1 

JLOC Isao Noritake
Car: Lamborghini Murcielago RGT
Tyres: Yokohama
Description: JLOC return to Le Mans in 2009 after a sabbatical, getting over their horrific 2007 race, the team behind JLOC is T2M Motorsport with a history of running GT2 Porsche’s, Marco Apicella might set a quick time, but its pretty likely this will be the last placed GT1 car. 

GT2:

Risi Competizione
Car: Ferrari F430 GT2
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Last year’s GT2 winners return with a revised driver line up of Mika Salo, Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer, the team come as a favourite to win GT2 again and will have massive support from the Ferrari fan’s at LM, the team are also running a second car for Tracy Krohn, he is joined by Swede Jonsson and exprienced GT driver Eric Van De Poele. 

AF Corse
Car: Ferrari F430 GT2
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Crack FIA GT team AF Corse come to Le Mans this year with a difference, the team will be fielding a car for their star driver Gimmi Bruni, one of the best modern day GT driver’s out there, is joined by Argentinean driver’s Matias Russo and Luis Perez Companc, the driving line up is impressively strong, the team are one of the best, so a top 5 finish, possibly a podium in GT2 is likely for this team if all goes to plan. 
 
JMW Motorsport
Car: Ferrari F430 GT2
Tyres: Dunlop
Description: JMW Motorsport, effectively last year’s Virgo Motorsport, return to Le Mans, Rob Bell, Andrew Kirkaldy and Tim Sugden make a very strong driving line up and JMW are the second strongest of the Ferrari’s, they will be aiming for a win after the heartbreak of last year’s race. 

Team Modena
Car: Ferrari F430 GT2
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Top GT team, Modena, are running in GT2 this year as opposed to GT1, Leo Mansell, Pierre Ehret and Roman Rusinov complete’s a strong but un-spectacular driving line up, the Team are well versed and know what goes into winning, whether their driver’s can deliver that remains to be seen, a top 5 for Modena is a bit of an ask, but a top 10 GT2 finish is not unreasonable. 

Hankook Team-Farnbacher
Car: Ferrari F430 GT2
Tyres: Hankook
Description: Team Farnbacher run as the factory Hankook tyre’s team this year at Le Mans, the team are talented and if not a little bit under-rated. The driving expertise of Allan Simonsen, Dominik Farnbacher and Christian Montanari make a very strong driving squad, if the Hankook tyre’s work, the team should be in the top 5, they have the mean’s to do it if it all comes together. 

BMS Scuderia Italia
Car: Ferrari F430 GT2
Tyres: Pirelli
Description: BMS return to Le Mans for another year in GT2 with their Ferrari, the driving line up of Malucelli, Ruberti and Babini is a strong one, if BMS run reliably and trouble free a run to the top 5 is not unreasonable, keep one eye on BMS, they are a real underdog in GT2 for a strong finish. 

JMB Racing
Car: Ferrari F430 GT2
Tyres: Michelin
Description: JMB Racing look to be more of a gentleman outfit this year than last year but with one big difference, One Christophe Bouchut joins in, the legendary French GT driver is blindingly quick, Lebon and Rodrigues are you’re plain jane gentleman driver’s so don’t expect much from them, the team will be looking for nothing more than a finish, a shame, as the talent of Bouchut could go somewhat to waste. 
 
Virgo Motorsport
Car: Ferrari F430 GT2
Tyres: Dunlop
Description: A rebranded Virgo Motorsport comes to Le Mans this year as more of a small gentleman team, Sean and Michael Mcinerey have not exactly set the world alight with their speed, they are joined by Michael Vergers but even he is finding the going tough in the Ferrari, Vergers could place the car well in qualifying but that’s about all you can expect from the new Virgo Motorsport. 

Team Seattle Advanced Engineering
Car: Ferrari F430 GT2
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Team Seattle have had a lot of media attention surrounding them, the small American team of Joe Foster, Don Kitch jr and Grey’s Anatomy star and massive petrol head Patrick Dempsey see’s the team tackling Le Mans for the first time. Dempsey already has a pretty big fan following coming into Le Mans, unfortunately the team will probably be languishing at the rear end of GT2. 

IMSA Performance Matmut
Car: Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
Tyres: Michelin
Description: 2007 GT2 winners IMSA are will come to Le Mans hunting a GT2 win again, after the issue’s of last year’s contact with one of the Flying Lizard car’s IMSA will be looking to do a bit better than last year. Pilet, Narac and Long make a strong line up as does the other car with Lecourt and the Felbamayer father and son pairing, both car’s will be quick and are capable of a podium finish. 

Team Felbamayer Proton
Car: Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Team Felbamayer Proton, there is no other word’s for it, they are looking god like in GT2 this year, Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz and Wolf Henzler makes a stellar driving line up, the exceptionally strong Felbamayer team are definitely the strongest of the Porsche’s this year and will be a favourite for the win, expect serious fireworks from Felbamayer. 
  
Flying Lizard Motorsport
Car: Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
Tyres: Michelin
Description: 2008 ALMS GT2 champions come to Le Mans with a strong driving line up of Jorg Bergmeister, Darren Law and Seth Neiman, 3 quick driver’s and an impeccably prepared car put the Lizard’s in good stead this year for a strong finish, if all goes well, they could challenge for the top 5, possibly the podium, the Lizard’s also adorn the support of many American Porsche fan’s as well, expect fireworks. 

Endurance Asia Team
Car: Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
Tyres: Dunlop
Description: China’s first foray into sports car racing starts here, Darryl O’Young leads the driving squad, he has shown considerable promise but has not delivered yet, Plamen Kralev is an unknown quantity and Philip Hesnault is not exactly quick, don’t expect much, the team will likely be at the rear end of the GT2 of the field, although, the car does sport a fantastic looking livery. 

Snoras Spyker Squadron
Car: Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Tom Coronel, Jarek Janis and Jeroen Bleekemolen, a driver line up that would make many team’s green with envy, that is Spyker’s driver line up, an all star line up, the revised Spyker is also proving to be a rather good car as well and the team is strong as well, Spyker however though may struggle to finish, reliability is still an issue. 

Drayson Racing
Car: Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2
Tyres: Michelin
Description: Drayson Racing will be debuting the Aston Martin V8 Vantage at Le Mans this year with the help of ex Petersen White Lightning man Dale White, the team is good, the driving line up of Franchitti, Drayson and Cocker is strong, reliability will be an issue though, the Aston makes a habit of lunching its engines.  

Editorial: Stephen Hodges
Image: Spotter Guides