2008 Le Mans 24 Hours preselections

[togos452]

76th edition of the endurance race

Planetlemans.com - The Latest Endurance, Sportscar and GT Racing News! - The 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours preselections

LMP1
AUDI SPORT NORTH AMERICA (1st Le Mans 24 Hours)
AUDI SPORT NORTH AMERICA (1st ALMS and Petit Le Mans)
PEUGEOT TOTAL (2nd Le Mans 24 Hours)
PEUGEOT TOTAL (1st LMS)
PESCAROLO SPORT (2nd LMS)
AUTOCON MOTORSPORT (2nd ALMS)

LMP2
PENSKE RACING (1st ALMS)
PENSKE RACING (1st Petit Le Mans)
BINNIE MOTORSPORT (1st Le Mans 24 Hours)
RML (1st LMS)
QUIFEL ASM (2nd LMS)
BARAZI EPSILON SPORT (2nd Le Mans 24 Hours)

LM GT1
CORVETTE RACING (1st Petit Le Mans)
CORVETTE RACING (2nd Le Mans 24 Hours)
ORECA (1st LMS)
LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES (2nd LMS)
VITAPHONE (1st FIA GT)
ASTON MARTIN RACING (1st Le Mans 24 Hours)
SCUDERIA PLAYTEAM SARAFREE (2nd FIA GT)

LM GT2
IMSA PERFORMANCE MATMUT (1st Le Mans 24 Hours)
RISI COMPETIZIONE (2nd Le Mans 24 Hours)
RISI COMPETIZIONE (1st ALMS)
VIRGO MOTORSPORT (1st LMS)
FELBERMAYR-PROTON (2nd LMS)
FLYING LIZARD MOTORSPORT (1st Petit Le Mans)
AF CORSE (1st FIA GT)
BMS SCUDERIA ITALIA (2nd FIA GT)

[Zytek_Fan]

There's been some rumbling that MC12 will be allowed to enter (if they make it compliant, which is as simple as reducing its width a few mm)


Penske will not be going.

[togos452]

I thought the MC12 was 50 mm too wide.

[Zytek_Fan]

Originally Posted by togos452

I thought the MC12 was 50 mm too wide.

I think it was 30 to 50 mm too wide. Stupid really, since it doesn't make that much of a difference.

I'd hope Stephane Ratel can get an agreement with the ACO so the MC12s can run how they were made to, not with a few mm chopped off the sides...

[RacingManiac]

funny though how Maserati doesn't know how to read the rule book and made the car 30-50mm too wide.....

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Zytek_Fan

Penske will not be going.

Why are Penske not going?

If Penske doesn't go, it is still possible that we will see Dyson's Porsches and Andretti Green's Acuras at Le Mans? What is the selection criteria for teams that do not automatically qualify?

[NicFromLA]

Originally Posted by RacingManiac

funny though how Maserati doesn't know how to read the rule book and made the car 30-50mm too wide.....

They designed the car first and built the racecar as an after thought.

Restricting cars based on width is silly. If a car meets weight and engine requirements to race in a class, as long as the race version isn't longer, lower (not including lower the suspension) or wider than the homologated road version, let it race!

[togos452]

It isn't Roger Penske's call to go to Le Mans. Besides, Pesnke and Porsche are sandbagging in LMP2.

(news from last November)

American Le Mans Series :: World Class

From the May, 2007 issue of 911 & Porsche World:

The new RS Spyder costs 1,250,000 Euros, (£850,340), or around $1.7 million.

The criteria for selection are deliberately vague, the following is a quote from the ACO regulations outlining the "rules":-

a. The following criteria are at the Selection Committee’s discretion.
b. The list is not exhaustive and with no priority classification.

A maximum of two (2) cars per competitor
Fame of the competitor (manufacturer, factory-backed team, well-known private team, private team)
Previous "24 Hours of Le Mans" races
Competitors' record
Regular entries in "American Le Mans Series" and "Le Mans Endurance Series" events
Recommended entry in a race prior to the Selection Committee meeting
Quality of the cars
Technical interest
Relationship with the A.C.O. and its environment regarding legal and financial issues
Maintaining the participation of "privateers

[Zytek_Fan]

Originally Posted by RacingManiac

funny though how Maserati doesn't know how to read the rule book and made the car 30-50mm too wide.....

The MC12 was designed to meet the FIA's supercar GT1 regulations, which the ACO doesn't like, because it being too wide. Like I said, hopefully Stephane Ratel can be the usual convincing guy he is and allow MC12s to be entered. It'd really add more to a quality GT1 field

[The_Canuck]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

Why are Penske not going?

If Penske doesn't go, it is still possible that we will see Dyson's Porsches and Andretti Green's Acuras at Le Mans? What is the selection criteria for teams that do not automatically qualify?

Because their cars would break.

[Kitdy]

Thanks for the info togos452.

Originally Posted by The_Canuck

Because their cars would break.

Shush you.

[Cyco]

Originally Posted by Zytek_Fan

I think it was 30 to 50 mm too wide. Stupid really, since it doesn't make that much of a difference.

Wider body = wider track which should allow more cornering grip, and therefore speed. Wider also makes it harder to pass and the larger gap between the tyres give more underbody surface area to generate downforce.

No advantage at all....

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by NicFromLA

They designed the car first and built the racecar as an after thought.

Restricting cars based on width is silly. If a car meets weight and engine requirements to race in a class, as long as the race version isn't longer, lower (not including lower the suspension) or wider than the homologated road version, let it race!

They designed the Enzo first yes. But I inclined to say the MC12 was designed as a racing car from the outset. The width of a racing car has major influence on the downforce and handling characteristics, so it's not so strange they put a limit on the width. Both the Corvette and the Aston are built to these specs, so it would be silly to make an exception for the Maserati.

Again what boggles me is why Maserati did not build the car to confirm with the regulations, even after it was welcomed with a 'Non' by the ACO.

[Turbo.Jenkens]

Originally Posted by The_Canuck

Because their cars would break.

RS Spyders finished 2nd and 3rd (over all) at Petit LeMans, I'd say they are more reliable than the majority of P2 cars.

[Zytek_Fan]

Reports have surfaced that Michael Bartels will lease a car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Most likely an Aston or Corvette.