71 replies to this topic

[SonnyViceR]

Ladies and gentleman, the time has once again here - on this Friday the ACO will once again reveal the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans (as well as for FIA WEC, but who cares). The press conference will be held at Paris, starting at 3:30PM local time, meaning 2:30 GMT. Live stream will be available here. Radio Le Mans will once again provide live audio commentary (starting 15 minutes prior to scheduled start of the conference), which is handy seeing as it is extremely likely that the ACO presentatives will speak only in French again, despite their every year promises. Also note that the ACO stream may fail before it even starts, as has happened before... they never really have reliable serves and stream providers. So you better have RLM on the side, and Dailysportscar updates & John Dagys twitter pages as backup

To me this little conference is only second to Le Mans itself (and Test Day of course) when it comes to my most anticipated motorsport events of the year. It's like waiting for Christmas presents as a kid It's true that the 2013 event is likely to be a bit of a intermission as it is the final season before the big changes of 2014 (new LMP1 regs, Porsche comeback, merger of ALMS/Grand-Am, continuing war between GTE and GT3 etc) and the numbers especially in P1 appear to be shrinking to all time low, but oh well, it's still Le Mans. Never disappoints... not even in 1992.

Automatic invites have already been given of course but those are never that certain really. One entry is confirmed already of course, that being the hideous Green GT experimental hydrogen car, and the ACO has also announced the numbers of request they received: 40 from LMP teams and 30 from GTE. WEC entrants should take approx half or a bit more of the grid spots.

So while waiting for Friday, have you got any guesses/predictions on how the entries will divide among the categories? 71 cars for 56 grid spots, plus reserves of course.

My GUESS
10x LM P1
23x LM P2
10x LM GTE-PRO
12x LM GTE-AM
01x UNC
Reserve: 5x P2, 5x GTE

Edited by SonnyViceR, 30 January 2013 - 13:41.

[SonnyViceR]

Dates to get you excited

Entry List Announcement // Feb 1
Test Day // Jun 9
Public Scrutineering // Jun 16-17
Free Practice // Jun 19
Qualifying I // Jun 19
Qualifying II // Jun 20
Qualifying III // Jun 20
Warm-Up // Jun 22
Race // Jun 22-23

Support races
Ferrari Challenge Europe
Legends 1949-1965

Edited by SonnyViceR, 30 January 2013 - 13:56.

[SonnyViceR]

In terms of 100% factory team entries (ie not counting factory supported entries from AF Corse etc etc), this is what we know... or think we know

Confirmed
Likely
Maybe

LMP1
Audi Sport
Audi Sport
Audi Sport
Toyota Racing
Toyota Racing
= 5x

LMP2
= 0x (the re-badged Lotus ain't for real)

LMGTE-PRO
Corvette Racing
Corvette Racing
Manthey Porsche AG
Manthey Porsche AG
Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing
SRT Viper
SRT Viper
= 5-8x

LMGTE-AM
Aston Martin Racing
= 0-1x

Add semi-works efforts from AF Corse (3-4x), Risi (0-1x) TRG (1), Felbermayr (1-2x) and Lizards (0-1x) with maybe some others.

RLL Z4 is highly unlikely but I guess not totally impossible

Edited by SonnyViceR, 30 January 2013 - 18:33.

[Victor_RO]

You cannot call AF Corse's effort in GTE-Pro "semi-works".;) It's a full factory car with factory drivers and the latest developments possible on the 458. As for P1s, I'd say either 11 on the full entry list or 10 on the entry list + one reserve: three Audis, two Toyotas, two Rebellion Lolas, Strakka, JRM, the Hope Racing hybrid and an OAK Pescarolo-HPD (if the funding is there).

Word from the ACO's people who were at Daytona and in contact with the journalists there was that we should again have at least 28-30 cars in the WEC this year for the whole season. That leaves another 25-27 spots open for other cars, 6-8 will probably be taken by American teams and the rest by ELMS entrants and/or one-offs.

[SonnyViceR]

You cannot call AF Corse's effort in GTE-Pro "semi-works".;) It's a full factory car with factory drivers and the latest developments possible on the 458.

Yes I can, as much as I'd like to agree with you... while it is as official as it gets without being official, it is not fully recognized as Ferrari works effort. You can compare it to Felbermayr Proton which is in similar position, yet this is the first year in ages there is a full factory Porsche team in ACO GT ranks. Porsche admitted it themselves

Edited by SonnyViceR, 30 January 2013 - 18:54.

[onewingedangel]

It's a shame the Mazda diesel LMP2 isn't going to be ready this year, and Nissan and Honda haven't stepped up their involvement as predicted after last years race. Toyota re-entering was meant to be a shot in the arm, but if anything there may be less interest - and Peugeot still have those 908 Hybrids that are going to remain unraced, rather than a customer team picking them up.

And still no McLaren 12C GTE to compete with the Ferrari, Corvette, Porsche and Aston Martins.

The buzz that was building last year seems to have fizzled somewhat.

[SonnyViceR]

And still no McLaren 12C GTE to compete with the Ferrari, Corvette, Porsche and Aston Martins.

And there won't be, McLaren has killed off the project and wants to stay in BoP-GT3...

Diesel-Mazda not being there has more to do with Dempsey...

[onewingedangel]

And there won't be, McLaren has killed off the project and wants to stay in BoP-GT3...

Any link?

[SonnyViceR]

Any link?

Not "official one" but Graham Goodwin (editor of Dailysportscar) said it.

[SonnyViceR]

Updates came just in time for this thread
http://www.lemans.or..._medium=twitter
http://www.24h-lemans.com/

[Red17]

I assume your post refers primarily to the Grand Prix de Endurance, because Toyota already said they will only commit one car to the WEC.

Im curious to see how many Lolas have survived after the off season troubles.

GT more of the same, 2 yankees, tons of porches and a dozen red horses, oh, and throw in some italian bulls as well.

[SonnyViceR]

I assume your post refers primarily to the Grand Prix de Endurance, because Toyota already said they will only commit one car to the WEC.

Im curious to see how many Lolas have survived after the off season troubles.

GT more of the same, 2 yankees, tons of porches and a dozen red horses, oh, and throw in some italian bulls as well.

Yup none of this thread really has anything to do with WEC, it's all Le Mans.

Be interesting to see the American turnout
Level 5 0-2x (though it'd be their only race)
Conquest 0-1x (though same as above + allegedly OAK wanted the chassis back)
Rebellion 1x (plus the WEC car)
Corvettes 2x
Vipers 0-2x
Dempsey 1x (in GT??) *
Flying Lizards 0-1x
Extreme Speed 1-2x
TRG 1x
Risi 0-1x
---others?

There is no way that ACO is turning down Patrick's car *

Edited by SonnyViceR, 30 January 2013 - 21:23.

[SonnyViceR]

By the way which are those Italian bulls you refer to? By red horses you mean Ferrari of course so who's the other Italian?

[Red17]

By the way which are those Italian bulls you refer to? By red horses you mean Ferrari of course so who's the other Italian?

«You build lousy gearboxes!»
«You handle the tractor building, I handle the car building.»

[DampMongoose]

By the way which are those Italian bulls you refer to? By red horses you mean Ferrari of course so who's the other Italian?

He means Lamborghini obviously!

[TF110]

I expect Viper to be there. Possibly BMW with their Z4 as well. I think the ACO will turn a blind eye to their 'one-off' Z4 GTE. At least it would add to the marque that already is GTE class. Imagine 2 factory Vette's, Viper's, Z4's, 991's, V8 Vantages and 458's. While AF Corse may not be factory backed officially, we know they're using Ferrari drivers and are their best representative. I think we could reasonably see 10-15 GTE PRO cars that will challenge for the win.

Edited by TF110, 30 January 2013 - 21:38.

[SonnyViceR]

He means Lamborghini obviously!

...

GT2 version of the Lamborghini does not exist. Except those crappy GT3 convertion kits that West Racing and Gulf used for some time few years ago, until they realised that it wasn't working out

Edited by SonnyViceR, 30 January 2013 - 21:39.

[Victor_RO]

Conquest 0-1x (though same as above + allegedly OAK wanted the chassis back)

Conquest have turned down their invitation in the end, no car and no funded drivers. The car is back at OAK, it was run as a "factory demonstrator" in the ALMS to entice US teams to buy cars to run in LMP2.

[SonnyViceR]

Conquest have turned down their invitation in the end, no car and no funded drivers. The car is back at OAK, it was run as a "factory demonstrator" in the ALMS to entice US teams to buy cars to run in LMP2.

OK. Fine by me.

[TF110]

What's with the Lotus issue? They'll have two cars. Regardless if they're actually a Lotus or not to me is meaningless, I think they'll be great additions.

[SonnyViceR]

I expect Viper to be there. Possibly BMW with their Z4 as well. I think the ACO will turn a blind eye to their 'one-off' Z4 GTE. At least it would add to the marque that already is GTE class. Imagine 2 factory Vette's, Viper's, Z4's, 991's, V8 Vantages and 458's. While AF Corse may not be factory backed officially, we know they're using Ferrari drivers and are their best representative. I think we could reasonably see 10-15 GTE PRO cars that will challenge for the win.

I doubt there will be more than ten PROs... only 30 out of 71 entry requests were received from GT teams - and ACO always favours prototypes over GTs when it comes to Le Mans. Obviously all of the P1s that have made requests will be allowed in due to seriously small field of the top category - meaning that there are around 30 LMP2s knocking on the door and battling against those 30 GTEs. Either one has to yield

As for variety - they could've had factory Lotus on the grid last year (ie not on reserve list). Obviously the Evora was crap but it would've added one more bullet into PRO that was already short in numbers.

Edited by SonnyViceR, 30 January 2013 - 21:46.

[SonnyViceR]

What's with the Lotus issue? They'll have two cars. Regardless if they're actually a Lotus or not to me is meaningless, I think they'll be great additions.

It's not an issue, nowhere does it say that.

Even though I'm not into this rebadging thing...

[TF110]

4 manufacturers at least in GTE PRO. Ferrari, Corvette, Aston Martin, Porsche = 8 cars. Viper comes that's 10. BMW is allowed that's 12. Any other PRO team from ALMS joins that's 13 etc.

[TF110]

A suggestion is to add to LMP2 a title that says 'no manufacturers' involved but still give the entries, only if you're intending to list them. I hope that's clearer than what I said before.

Edited by TF110, 31 January 2013 - 08:42.

[DampMongoose]

...

GT2 version of the Lamborghini does not exist. Except those crappy GT3 convertion kits that West Racing and Gulf used for some time few years ago, until they realised that it wasn't working out

I didn't speculate on whether he was right or not, just that was obviously what he was on about... such a shame the Le Mans has been reduced to the state it's in now, there have been weak entries before but the lack of cars looking for the outright win is very sad for those who remember better times!

[Yhamm]

you can see it live here : http://www.dailymoti...43#.UQvWbGepxz8

they first presented the WEC list
If I recall correctly: 8 GT pro am, 6 GT pro (2 porsche, 2 ferrari, 2 aston), 12 lmp2, 6 lmp1 (2x Toyota, 2x Audi, Strakka & Rebellion) : 32 cars

now the list for le mans :

56 stand:
Green GT H2

GTE AM: 14 cars
8 cars from WEC:
Corvette C6 x 1
Ferrari 458 x 3
Porsche 911 x 2
Aston Martin x 2
+
Ferrari 458 x 3
Porsche 911 x 2
Corvette C6 x 1

GTE Pro: 11 cars
6 cars from WEC:
Ferrari 458 x 2
Aston Martin x 2
Porsche 911 x 2
+
Viper GTS-R x 2
Corvette C6 x 2
Ferrari 458 x 1

Waiting list: Aston Martin GTE AM, Porsche 911 GTE AM, Ferrari 458 GTE Pro, Aston Martin GTE AM

LMP2 : 22 cars
12 cars from WEC
+
Murphy Prototype : Oreca 03 Nissan
KCMG : Morgan Nissan (Chinese team)
Thiriet by TDS Racing : Oreca 03 Nissan
OAK Racing : Morgan Nissan
Greaves Motorsport : Zytek Nissan x2
Boutsen Ginion Racing : Oreca 03 Nissan
Jota Sport : Zytek Nissan
Signatech : Oreca 03 Nissan
Level 5 Motorsport - HPD Honda
Sebastien Loeb Racing - Oreca 03 - Nissan (with Montagny)

LMP1 : 8 cars
6 cars from WEC
+
Rebellion Racing : Lola Toyota
Audi : R18 e-tron quattron

waiting list : 6 LMP2

ps: I'm sorry I didn't write the teams

Edited by Yhamm, 01 February 2013 - 15:39.

[Victor_RO]

Despite the fact that there's only 8 cars in P1, there's strength everywhere, and GTE-Pro is going to be INSANE with 10 factory cars. I am SO looking forward to going to this one.

[ApexMouse]

Could do with a little more engine variety in P2. And I dont understand why they dont simply let in every PRO entry by default. I'd rather see pro racers than half races half bank managers.

[Victor_RO]

Could do with a little more engine variety in P2. And I dont understand why they dont simply let in every PRO entry by default. I'd rather see pro racers than half races half bank managers.

Gentleman drivers are the backbone of at least half the field in endurance racing, and more often than not they either bring in young talent through their teams (talent which ends up in factory teams eventually), while a select few (see the case of Reinhold Joest's career) retire from driving, keep running a private team well and eventually land a deal with a manufacturer.

[V3TT3L]

The entry list for the 90th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours

LMP1:

1. Lotterer Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro LMP1
2. Kristensen Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro LMP1
3. Gene Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro LMP1
7. Wurz Toyota Racing Toyota TS030 hybrid LMP1
8. Davidson Toyota Racing Toyota TS030 hybrid LMP1
12. Prost Rebellion Racing Lola B12/60-Toyota LMP1
13. Jani Rebellion Racing Lola B12/60-Toyota LMP1
21. Leventis Strakka Racing HPD ARX-03c LMP1

LMP2:

24 Nicolet OAK Racing Morgan-Nissan LMP2
25. Martin Delta-ADR Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2
26. Rusinov G-Drive Racing Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2
27. Montagny Sebastien Loeb Racing Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2
28. Giroix Gulf Racing Middle East Lola B12/80 Coupe-Nissan LMP2
29. Fatien Gulf Racing Middle East Lola B12/80 Coupe-Nissan LMP2
30. Kennard HVM Status GP Lola B12/80 Coupe-Judd LMP2
31. Weeda Lotus Lotus T128 LMP2
32. Holzer Lotus Lotus T128 LMP2
33. Tucker Level 5 Motorsports HPD ARX-03b LMP2
35. Pla OAK Racing Morgan-Nissan LMP2
36. Maillieux Signatech Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2
38. Dolan Jota Sport Zytek-Nissan LMP2
40. Wauters Boutsen Ginion Racing Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2
41. Zugel Greaves Motorsport Zytek Nissan LMP2
42. Kimber-Smith Greaves Motorsport Zytek-Nissan LMP2
44. Popow Starworks Motorsport HPD ARX-03b LMP2
45. Heinemeier Hansson OAK Racing Morgan-Nissan LMP2
46. Thiriet Thiriet by TDS Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2
47. Imperatori KCMG Morgan-Nissan LMP2
48. Hartley Murphy Prototypes Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2
49. Companc Pecom Racing Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2

GTE-Pro:

51. Bruni AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GTE-Pro
66. Sugden JMW Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia GTE-Pro
71. Beretta AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GTE-Pro
73. Garcia Corvette Racing Corvette C6 ZR-1 GTE-Pro
74. Gavin Corvette Racing Corvette C6 ZR-1 GTE-Pro
91. Lieb Porsche AG Team Manthey Porsche 911 RSR GTE-Pro
92. Bergmeister Porsche AG Team Manthey Porsche 911 RSR GTE-Pro
93. Goossens SRT Motorsport Viper GTS-R GTE-Pro
94. Farnbacher SRT Motorsports Viper GTS-R GTE-Pro
97. Turner Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage V8 GTE-Pro
99. Mucke Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage V8 GTE-Pro

GTE-AM:

50. Bornhauser Larbre Competition Corvette C6 ZR-1 GTE-Am
54. Mallegol AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GTE-Am
55. Perazzini AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GTE-Am
57. Krohn Krohn Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GTE-Am
61. Gerber AF Corse Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GTE-Am
67. Gibon IMSA Performance MATMUT Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GTE-Am
70. Lamy Larbre Competition Corvette C6 ZR-1 GTE-Am
76. Narac IMSA Performance MATMUT Porsche 911 GTE-Am
77. Dempsey Dempsey Racing-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GTE-Am
80. Sharp Extreme Speed Ferrari 458 Italia GTE-Am
81. Pottolicchio 8 Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia GTE-Am
88. Ried Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GTE-Am
95. Simonsen Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage V8 GTE-Am
96. Goethe Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage V8 GTE-Am

Invitational:

56. Pescatori GreenGT Technologies GreenGT H2 INV

Reserves - GTE:

98. Hall Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage V8 GTE-Am
75. Al Faisal Prospeed Competition Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GTE-Am
52. Mowlem RAM Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GTE-Pro
90. Buckler TRG-AMR North America Aston Martin Vantage V8 GTE-Am

Reserves - LMP:

34. Frey Race Performance Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2
43. Gachnang Morand Racing Morgan-Judd LMP2
39. Porta DKR Engineering Lola B11/40-Judd LMP2
37. Ragues Signatech Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2
23. Nakano Delta ADR Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2
20. Hughes HVM Status GP B12/80-Judd LMP2

*Reserves in order of priority in event of withdrawals

Edited by V3TT3L, 01 February 2013 - 17:14.

[gm914]

Dempsey in a Porsche with Andrew Davis and Andy Lally.

[olliek88]

Toyota are putting 2 cars in for the whole WEC season.

https://twitter.com/...370017559900160

Edited by olliek88, 01 February 2013 - 18:03.

[Yhamm]

Toyota are putting 2 cars in for the whole WEC season.

https://twitter.com/...370017559900160

you didn't read my post I guess

Edited by Yhamm, 01 February 2013 - 18:04.

[Red17]

you didn't read my post I guess

Give him some slack! It's still great news! If one Toyota was enough to force Audi to improve, imagine what 2 could do. Ok, so it's a big gamble if they can't develop two cars, but at least there will be some even numbers.

By the way, for those wondering why Pescarolo isn't on the list, his team is once again under liquidation.

[Yhamm]

of course it's a great news... that has nothing to do about what I said

[ezequiel]

For a second I thought something unexpected had happened to PeCom Racing, but they seem to appear in some lists (thou they are not in Autosport's)

[TF110]

Give him some slack! It's still great news! If one Toyota was enough to force Audi to improve, imagine what 2 could do. Ok, so it's a big gamble if they can't develop two cars, but at least there will be some even numbers.

By the way, for those wondering why Pescarolo isn't on the list, his team is once again under liquidation.

Can't develop two cars? Why would you even think that? The cars were equal at LeMans last year. They'll be equal this year. You have to think, why would it be wise to screw Davidson and Sarrazin? Those were Peugeot's standout drivers! They'll be favorites IMO.

[Yhamm]

full list with drivers is available (or almost, it is missing 3 names)
http://www.24h-leman...u-mans-2013.pdf

[Victor_RO]

full list with drivers is available (or almost, it is missing 3 names)
http://www.24h-leman...u-mans-2013.pdf

Yeah, but only one of those seats is really of interest (third driver in the 51 AF Corse Ferrari). No offense to the GreenGT, but it's unlikely to run long enough to need more than one driver...

[Brother Fox]

Can someone explain to me how the GTE Am class works?
One of the entrants is Jason Bright from Australia. Unless its a different Jason Bright from Australia he's a long way from an amateur.

In case you cant guess, i know very little about Le Mans, but find myself drawn more and more into it every year.

[HaydenFan]

Can someone explain to me how the GTE Am class works?
One of the entrants is Jason Bright from Australia. Unless its a different Jason Bright from Australia he's a long way from an amateur.

In case you cant guess, i know very little about Le Mans, but find myself drawn more and more into it every year.

You can run pro drivers, as long as one of your drivers is an amateur, and in the case of the FIA/ACO the definition of the word has been stretched. As in the case of 2011 with Flying Lizard Motorsport, as their Team Principle was considered the amateur yet has scored podiums in ALMS and Le Mans. Common to take a professional driver who is a driver-owner and call him the amateur. Tracy Krohn has won his share of top finishes in sports car racing in the U.S.

[Victor_RO]

You can run pro drivers, as long as one of your drivers is an amateur, and in the case of the FIA/ACO the definition of the word has been stretched. As in the case of 2011 with Flying Lizard Motorsport, as their Team Principle was considered the amateur yet has scored podiums in ALMS and Le Mans. Common to take a professional driver who is a driver-owner and call him the amateur. Tracy Krohn has won his share of top finishes in sports car racing in the U.S.

LMP2 requires at least one of the drivers in the team to be an amateur (Silver or Bronze in FIA/ACO/SRO ranking), GTE-Am requires that at most one of the drivers in the team to be a professional (Gold or Platinum in those same rankings).

[Victor_RO]

http://www.endurance...ance-18537.html

The Garage 56 hydrogen-powered GreenGT entry has been withdrawn... let's see which one of the two reserves get selected to replace it.

[Yhamm]

let's see which one of the two reserves get selected to replace it.

they chose Prospeed with a Porsche in GTE AM (Collard, Perrodo & Crubile, all French)

Edited by Yhamm, 01 June 2013 - 10:59.

[Dolph]

LMP2 requires at least one of the drivers in the team to be an amateur (Silver or Bronze in FIA/ACO/SRO ranking), GTE-Am requires that at most one of the drivers in the team to be a professional (Gold or Platinum in those same rankings).

How are these rankings made. Can we see the lists?

[ApexMouse]

Oh look, Garage 56 churning out a complete joke instead of a race-car. Theres a surprise.

[Victor_RO]

How are these rankings made. Can we see the lists?

The ACO's list for 2013: http://www.lemans.or...otification.pdf

The rankings are based on experience, number of years in racing, age, results, and what series you've been racing in. For example, a factory driver in GT or LMP1 is pretty much automatically classified as Platinum, and so are all drivers under the age of 50 who have held a Super License at any point in their careers, while at the other end, Bronze drivers are full-on amateurs, without too much experience and/or pace.

EDIT: Here's one of the people from Radio Le Mans explaining the driver classification: http://audio.mpix.or...ious_metals.mp3

[Yhamm]

Matteo Malucelli will be the third pilot in the Ferrari GTE Pro n°51
I think it was the last name unknown so the list should be complete now

[Brother Fox]

Thanks for all the info to my question.

So the bloke in question is rated as Platinum, but they still qualify as an amateur team - strange!
Although my impression of le mans rules is that there more guidelines than rules

[Victor_RO]

Thanks for all the info to my question.

So the bloke in question is rated as Platinum, but they still qualify as an amateur team - strange!
Although my impression of le mans rules is that there more guidelines than rules

GTE-Am allows a maximum of one fully professional (Gold or Platinum-rated) driver in the car, LMP2 requires teams to have at least one amateur (Silver or Bronze-rated) driver.