2008 Le Mans Series 1000 km de Catalunya

[Wouter Melissen]

Here is the entry list. We won't get to Barcelona until race day, so the report might not be quite as detailed as usual.

[Ferrer]

I'm considering attending the race.

[wwgkd]

I'm considering attending the race.

Lucky.

[Kitdy]

I'm considering attending the race.

You should go - and consider meting up with W himself.

Exciting times!

EDIT: Is there live timing anywhere? I can't see it on the LMS site.

[Zytek_Fan]

You should go - and consider meting up with W himself.

Exciting times!

EDIT: Is there live timing anywhere? I can't see it on the LMS site.

It's next weekend ;)

[Kitdy]

It's next weekend ;)

None the less, I saw no links for live timing or anything. Was there live timing last year?

Also, when does the race start? I'll stick the live timing on (if there is any) while watching the TV. I suppose F1 will be on, so I will be up at that time.

[Zytek_Fan]

None the less, I saw no links for live timing or anything. Was there live timing last year?

Also, when does the race start? I'll stick the live timing on (if there is any) while watching the TV. I suppose F1 will be on, so I will be up at that time.

There should be...

[RacingManiac]

Quali Time:
Pos Driver Car Time
LMP
1. Lamy/Sarrazin Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 1:31.875
2. Gene/Minassian Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 1:32.454
3. Capello/McNish Audi R10 TDI 1:33.250
4. Mucke/Charouz Lola Aston Martin 1:33.734
5. Premat/Rockenfeller Audi R10 TDI 1:34.671
6. Panis/Lapierre Courage-Oreca Judd 1:35.078
7. Collard/Boullion Pescarolo Judd 1:35.641
8. Campbell-Walter/Hall/Ortiz Creation CA07 - Aim 1:36.375
9. Primat/Tinseau Pescarolo Judd 1:36.516
10. Barbosa/Ickx/Short Pescarolo Judd 1:36.640
11. Ortello/Ayari Courage-Oreca Judd 1:36.797
12. Burgueno/De Castro Epsilon Euskadi Judd 1:36.922
13. Evans/Berridge/Stretton Lola B06/10 AER 1:39.063
14. Nicolet/Faggionato/Hein Pescarolo Judd 1:40.594
15. Lavaggi/Kauffman Lavaggi LS1 - AER 1:41.610

LMP2
1. Van Merksteijn/Verstappen Porsche RS Spyder 1:34.422
2. Belicchi/Pompidou/Zacchia Lola B08/80 Coupe Judd 1:35.797
3. Lienhard/Theys/Lammers Porsche RS Spyder 1:36.156
4. Elgaard/Nielsen Porsche RS Spyder 1:36.266
5. Amaral/Pla Lola B05/40 AER 1:36.641
6. Barazi/Vergers Zytek 07S Zytek 1:37.516
7. Hughes/Haberfield WF01 Zytek 1:38.109
8. de Pourtales/Noda Lola B05/40 Mazda 1:38.437
9. Erdos/Newton MG Lola EX 265 MG 1:38.485
10. Kane/Foster WF01 Zytek 1:38.500
11. Ragues/Lahaye Pescarolo Judd 1:39.594
12. Rostan/Peterson/Lueders Radical SR9 AER 1:40.750
13. Ojjeh/Gosselin/Schroyen Zytek 07S Zytek 1:41.516
14. Didaio/Francioni/Savoldi Lucchini Judd 1:44.579
15. Salini/Salini/Roussel WR Zytek 1:49.859

GT1
1. Garcia/Enge Aston Martin DBR9 1:44.484
2. Alphand/Moreau/Goueslard Corvette C6.R 1:44.531
3. Rusinov/Kox Lamborghini Murcielago 1:44.969
4. Blanchemain/Dumez/Bervillec Corvette C6.R 1:46.718

GT2
1. Bell/Bruni Ferrari F430 GT 1:47.844
2. Lieb/Davison Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:49.093
3. Narac/Lietz Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:49.250
4. Nielsen/Westbrook/Simonsen Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:49.250
5. Ehret/Kaffer/Beltoise Ferrari F430 GT 1:49.343
6. Balandras/Lecourt/Belloc Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:49.593
7. Aucott/Daoudi Ferrari F430 GT 1:50.297
8. Chiesa/Leuenberger Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R 1:50.953
9. Dumbreck/Kelleners/Vasiliev Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R 1:50.953
10. Van der Merve/Lemeret/Outzen Aston Martin Vantage V8 1:51.015
11. Ried/Felbermayr/Felbermayr Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:51.218
12. Daniels/Paltalla/Fortsen Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:51.250
13. Bassc/MacCormick/Casadei Ferrari F430 GT 1:52.078


Observation:

Lola/Aston is faster than I thought it would be, though Charouz Lola in the past have been quite impressive in quali trim but have tendency to eventually fades. The car is quick though. Audi is in trouble if this kind of pace difference keeps up. Someone at their factory must be sweating beads now that the true pace between them and Peugeot is pretty clear....LMP2 Pole RS Spyder, under the proper ACO rule, is still very much at P1's pace in good driver's hand. So ALMS rule or not the pace of the car is not an anomoly. Credit to the strength of Porsche's product....should make Audi think twice about complaining to ALMS again about not following ACO's rule....

[Kitdy]

Observation:

Lola/Aston is faster than I thought it would be, though Charouz Lola in the past have been quite impressive in quali trim but have tendency to eventually fades. The car is quick though. Audi is in trouble if this kind of pace difference keeps up. Someone at their factory must be sweating beads now that the true pace between them and Peugeot is pretty clear....LMP2 Pole RS Spyder, under the proper ACO rule, is still very much at P1's pace in good driver's hand. So ALMS rule or not the pace of the car is not an anomoly. Credit to the strength of Porsche's product....should make Audi think twice about complaining to ALMS again about not following ACO's rule....

Thought this is my first year following the LMS, I am still surprised to see that the Lola AM is that competitive with the Audis. I guess their hope this year will be a some podiums and if they are very fortunate, maybe even a win.

Why is the Van Merksteijn that fast compared with the other RS Spyders?

[RacingManiac]

I am guessing its Verstappen, but I don't know who did the qualifying....

[Zytek_Fan]

Lola Aston could spring some surprises should the diesels encounter problems :D

My predictions:

LMP1:
Lamy/Sarrazin Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP

LMP2:
Van Merksteijn/Verstappen Porsche RS Spyder

GT1:
Alphand/Moreau/Goueslard Corvette C6.R

GT2:
Narac/Lietz Porsche 997 GT3 RSR

[henk4]

Lola Aston could spring some surprises should the diesels encounter problems :D


At least Henri has something to think about when seeing a (semi) works petrol LMP1 car.

[Zytek_Fan]

At least Henri has something to think about when seeing a (semi) works petrol LMP1 car.

What, that he needs to build a coupe? :p

[RacingManiac]

At least Henri has something to think about when seeing a (semi) works petrol LMP1 car.

I think Judd will have something to think about when their purpose built racing engine get beaten by an overweight production based motor....

[Kitdy]

So Peugeot has proven what was already known, but now, the writing is on the wall. The R10 can, and has been beat. With three 908s at Le Mans, does Audi stand a chance?

[Zytek_Fan]

Gene and Minassien Peugeot won overall.

[henk4]

I think Judd will have something to think about when their purpose built racing engine get beaten by an overweight production based motor....

I actually thought the same but when I spoke with the Lola people during testing at Paul Ricard, they said that the car was within the minimum weight requirement, and needed some ballast. The only disadvantage of the engine is it tallness, (point of gravity). Good to see that it lasted the race, and with more development it will reach Audi levels soon. Peugeot might be a bit too high as yet.

[Zytek_Fan]

I actually thought the same but when I spoke with the Lola people during testing at Paul Ricard, they said that the car was within the minimum weight requirement, and needed some ballast. The only disadvantage of the engine is it tallness, (point of gravity). Good to see that it lasted the race, and with more development it will reach Audi levels soon. Peugeot might be a bit too high as yet.

Yeah, I recall an article (think it was Race Car Engineering), saying that they were having a bit of a hard time mounting the engine to where the centre of gravity would work well with the car. Obviously they got it sorted out.

[RacingManiac]

It's probably still not ideal but I guess the restrictor break worked out for them. 60degree V12 is pretty top heavy compare to a 90 degree V10 purpose built for racing....Audi level is still 2 laps ahead over 1000km, so it'll take some time for that to happen, and I think the advantage of diesel gets more pronounced with increase race length...

BTW, there will also be 3 Audi R10s at Le Mans, so Peugeot won't have the numerical advantage......Its a question now if Audi still have anything left in the bag though....

[Zytek_Fan]

It's probably still not ideal but I guess the restrictor break worked out for them. 60degree V12 is pretty top heavy compare to a 90 degree V10 purpose built for racing....Audi level is still 2 laps ahead over 1000km, so it'll take some time for that to happen, and I think the advantage of diesel gets more pronounced with increase race length...

BTW, there will also be 3 Audi R10s at Le Mans, so Peugeot won't have the numerical advantage......Its a question now if Audi still have anything left in the bag though....

The Audi's were quite a bit faster in the twisty sections at Le Mans last year.

...however, Peugeot probably got that sorted out.

So it should be a good race out front this year :D

and pray for a Peugeot win to snap Audi's win streak.

[RacingManiac]

Regardless I think Audi is feeling the hurt of not being to developed their car proper against a known quantity...and racing in US is not helping them on the European type circuit.....

[henk4]

It's probably still not ideal but I guess the restrictor break worked out for them. 60degree V12 is pretty top heavy compare to a 90 degree V10 purpose built for racing....Audi level is still 2 laps ahead over 1000km, so it'll take some time for that to happen, and I think the advantage of diesel gets more pronounced with increase race length...

I could only follow the race via life timing (instead of from the pitlane:o) and I think indeed during the final hour the Aston conceded one or two laps to the Audi. Could also have been a driver issue. Jan Charouz is fast but may not yet have the stamina for a long race. Nevertheless, for a first outing the Aston was impressive.

[faksta]

Peugeot finally did it :)
Tho I've seen only last 15 minutes of the race - they only showed finish here.

[Wouter Melissen]

Just got back from the track; both Lola coupes are very impressive and Audi has every reason to be and is very worried. Aston Martin is deeply involved in the Charouz car, so this is not the best we have seen of it yet.

[faksta]

Just got back from the track; both Lola coupes are very impressive and Audi has every reason to be and is very worried. Aston Martin is deeply involved in the Charouz car, so this is not the best we have seen of it yet.

At least, it's about time to get Audis off the throne. They shouldn't win every time :D

[Ferrer]

I'm happy to read that the Lola-Aston is competitve. Seems like petrol is fighting back... :)

[Zytek_Fan]

Weren't the Lola coupes stunning? one of the best debuts I seen in 50 years of motor racing...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Wouter Melissen]

Here is the report: http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/event/180/2008-Le-Mans-Series-Catalunya-1000-km.html

I'll post a link to the pictures of the flying Peugeot as soon as Brooksie posts them. It looks very weird.

[henk4]

I'll post a link to the pictures of the flying Peugeot as soon as Brooksie posts them. It looks very weird.

The Samoan Attorney will post it later this week on his site....;)

[tdc911]

Here is the report: http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/event/180/2008-Le-Mans-Series-Catalunya-1000-km.html

I'll post a link to the pictures of the flying Peugeot as soon as Brooksie posts them. It looks very weird.

Superb photos. Don't think the purple belongs on the Van Merksteijn Motorsport RS Spyder, reminds me of the Silk Cut Jaguars.

[RacingManiac]

The RS Spyders' paintjob weren't the most inspiring.....

Excellent coverage as usual though.

Regarding the Lola's look, I still find it look a bit odd as it is so similar to the open car but with roof on....

[Wouter Melissen]

Brooksie's flying Peugeot: Jumpin' Jack Falsh (http://www.sportscarpros.com/notes-from-the-cellar-features-by-john-brooks/features/peninsula-wars/peninsula-wars-gallery-7/jumpin-jack.html)