2011 Spa Six Hours (LMS / ILMC) (May 5 - 7)

[Wouter Melissen]

This is building up to be an absolute classic and we will be there to capture it all:


The second round of the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, which will take place on Saturday 7th May on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, has received a fully-subscribed field. In addition to the 26 ILMC competitors (entered for the whole year), another 34 cars, many of which are there to prepare for the Le Mans 24 Hours, will arrive in the Spa paddock will arrive in the Spa paddock. In all, a total of 60 cars will do battle in the race on the daunting Belgian roller-coaster!

The list of entries for the second round of the 2011 ILMC has just been published. All 26 year-long entries will be present. At Sebring (Florida, USA) for the first event, only twenty turned up as a waiver had been given for the opening race. This time, no preferential treatment – they must all be present.

Le Mans Prototypes 1 (LM P1):
There are 10 ILMC cars in the top category, including four that have never raced against their rivals before in the Intercontinental Cup: the 2 Audi R18s, the Aston Martin AMR-ONE and the Hope Racing Oreca powered by a hybrid engine. The battle for victory which, at Sebring, went to the Lapierre-Panis-Duval Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP, will be a very indecisive one, as in addition to the LMS entries – like the winning Pescarolo in the Le Castellet 6 Hours – there will be a second Aston Martin, a third Audi R18 and a third Peugeot 908 entered to prepare for the Le Mans 24 Hours on 11-12 June. They will all be in the hands of the drivers who will be competing in the Sarthe including the 2010 Le Mans 24-Hours winners – Dumas-Bernhard-Rockenfeller.

Le Mans Prototype 2 (LM P2):
It’s obvious that the three ILMC entries (Signatech-Nissan, Level 5 Motorsports and OAK racing) will have their work cut out at Spa. They will be up against 8 very quick rivals from the LMS. Another indecisive battle in prospect.

Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance Pro Class (LM GTE Pro):
The newcomers at Spa will be the two Lotus Evora GTEs. However, this car took to the track for the first time on 7th April and a month’s preparation before a race as tough as Spa is hardly enough. The new Ferrari F458 Italias are omnipresent. The drivers of AF Corse, who raced in the United States with an F430 GT, and Luxury Racing, which entered a singleton F458 at Sebring, will be able to fight their corner with this potentially very quick machine. BMW, which scored a double in Florida after a no-holds-barred battle, will be the team to beat, even if the Munich cars will have their hands full!

Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance Am class (LM GTE Am):
At Sebring, AF Corse (also entered in LM GTE Pro) was unable to field its Ferrari. Its F430 GT will be at Spa to boost a category in which Aston Martin, Porsche and Corvette will try to bar the route to the flag to the American team, Krohn Racing, victorious at Sebring.

To see battles throughout the categories, a low price: tickets from 10 euros.

Entry list is attached.

[Cobrafan427]

Should be a very excellent race, really looking forward to the article and photos to match. Are the historics running again this year and will there be photos of them as well?

[LHamilton_w]

Looking forward to seeing the R18 in race livery, and how the AMR-ONE will stack up to the diesels.

[Wouter Melissen]

More from the ACO:


The Spa-Francorchamps 1000-kms race on 7th May is part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup for the first time. It has attracted an exceptional field, unfortunately without Aston Martin.


Aston Martin confirmed yesterday that it would not enter its AMR-ONES for the Spa-Francorchamps 1000 kms. This withdrawal is due to the fact that Aston Martin Racing has decided it needs more time to continue preparing and testing its two cars. The British team has decided to give the second round of the ILMC a miss, so as not to compromise its participation in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Despite the absence of the two English machines, the Belgian race has attracted a fantastic entry. Fifty-seven cars will take to the track (one more than in the coming Le Mans 24 Hours). There are thirty-two prototypes in the LM P categories, and twenty-five cars in the Grand Touring one (GTE). Eight manufacturers are officially represented, thirteen former F1 drivers will take part and battles of a never-before-seen intensity will rage on the Ardennes circuit in all five categories!
Two weeks after the Le Mans 24-Hours test day and four before the big Le Mans week, the Belgian event will, more than ever before, serve as a general rehearsal for forty-three of the fifty-six cars entered in the world-famous Sarthe classic.
The Spa-Francorchamps 1000 kms lasting a quarter of the Le Mans race (the Belgian classic has retained its 1000-km label, but its duration will be exactly six hours) will be a sprint. The crowd will be able to see the first real battle between the four Peugeot 908s, the three works cars and the Oreca-entered 908 HDi FAP (the 2010 car adapted to the 2011 regs) driven by Panis-Lapierre-Duval to victory in the Sebring 12 Hours, and the three new Audi R18s. The Ingolstadt make, which has multiplied its test sessions mainly in the United Sates as well as last weekend at the Le Mans test day, will have its official race baptism in Belgium with its prototypes that now have a roof! On paper anyway, the battle for victory at Spa will take place between the seven diesels, as will also be the case in the Sarthe next month.
However in endurance, taking into account the importance of reliability, the influence of the weather, strategy as well as the risk of collisions, an upset can never be ruled out.
Challengers like the Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyotas, the Pescarolo-Judd (not entered for the ILMC but in the LMS, which shares the Spa race) that emerged victorious in the Le Castellet 6 Hours at the beginning of April, cannot be excluded. The performance of the Oreca Swiss Hy Terch Hybrid Oreca entered by Hope Racing will also be watched with much interest.
In addition to the seventeen LM P1s present, there is a rich and varied field in LM P2. American team Level 5 Motorsoprts’ Honda won the category in the United States last month. The test day on 24th April proved yet again the real potential of the Signatech-Nissan team’s Oreca-Nissan.
In the GTE Pro category, the Ferrari F458 Italias (Luxury Racing is running its second car and AF Corse is replacing the F430 GT seen at Sebring), the works BMW M3s and Porsche 997 RSRs will be locked in a ding-dong battle. Like Sebring, where BMW scored a thrilling double, the outcome will not be decided until the last hour – or even in the closing minutes or on the last lap! The race debut of the Lotus Evoras is not to be missed.
In GTE Am, the Larbre Competition Corvette and the AMR Middle East Gulf Aston Martin will try to break the Ferrari-Porsche monopoly. At Sebring, the Krohn Racing Ferrari F430 GT finally emerged victorious after a tough battle.
The supporting events include the Radical Eurocup and ATS F3 races as well as the new Speed Series. A rich entertainment programme is also being laid on: race simulators, competitions with radio-controlled cars, the presence of authors of cartoon books in partnership with the OAK Racing team who will hand out albums to the kids, plus circus artists and musicians, will all add to the life and fun in the paddock. There will also be the first “Soirée de l’Endurance’ with free entrance and drinks for the spectators in the circuit Brasserie after the race!
The general enclosure entry tickets cost only 10 euros each (on pre-sale, see below). With free access for children under 12 and free car parks, all the ingredients have been combined to make the Spa-Franciorchamps 1000 kms, a great popular sporting festival. There’s no better family outing at the start of the merry month of May!

[Wouter Melissen]

More from the ACO:


The Spa-Francorchamps 1000-kms race on 7th May is part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup for the first time. It has attracted an exceptional field, unfortunately without Aston Martin.


Aston Martin confirmed yesterday that it would not enter its AMR-ONES for the Spa-Francorchamps 1000 kms. This withdrawal is due to the fact that Aston Martin Racing has decided it needs more time to continue preparing and testing its two cars. The British team has decided to give the second round of the ILMC a miss, so as not to compromise its participation in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Despite the absence of the two English machines, the Belgian race has attracted a fantastic entry. Fifty-seven cars will take to the track (one more than in the coming Le Mans 24 Hours). There are thirty-two prototypes in the LM P categories, and twenty-five cars in the Grand Touring one (GTE). Eight manufacturers are officially represented, thirteen former F1 drivers will take part and battles of a never-before-seen intensity will rage on the Ardennes circuit in all five categories!
Two weeks after the Le Mans 24-Hours test day and four before the big Le Mans week, the Belgian event will, more than ever before, serve as a general rehearsal for forty-three of the fifty-six cars entered in the world-famous Sarthe classic.
The Spa-Francorchamps 1000 kms lasting a quarter of the Le Mans race (the Belgian classic has retained its 1000-km label, but its duration will be exactly six hours) will be a sprint. The crowd will be able to see the first real battle between the four Peugeot 908s, the three works cars and the Oreca-entered 908 HDi FAP (the 2010 car adapted to the 2011 regs) driven by Panis-Lapierre-Duval to victory in the Sebring 12 Hours, and the three new Audi R18s. The Ingolstadt make, which has multiplied its test sessions mainly in the United Sates as well as last weekend at the Le Mans test day, will have its official race baptism in Belgium with its prototypes that now have a roof! On paper anyway, the battle for victory at Spa will take place between the seven diesels, as will also be the case in the Sarthe next month.
However in endurance, taking into account the importance of reliability, the influence of the weather, strategy as well as the risk of collisions, an upset can never be ruled out.
Challengers like the Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyotas, the Pescarolo-Judd (not entered for the ILMC but in the LMS, which shares the Spa race) that emerged victorious in the Le Castellet 6 Hours at the beginning of April, cannot be excluded. The performance of the Oreca Swiss Hy Terch Hybrid Oreca entered by Hope Racing will also be watched with much interest.
In addition to the seventeen LM P1s present, there is a rich and varied field in LM P2. American team Level 5 Motorsoprts’ Honda won the category in the United States last month. The test day on 24th April proved yet again the real potential of the Signatech-Nissan team’s Oreca-Nissan.
In the GTE Pro category, the Ferrari F458 Italias (Luxury Racing is running its second car and AF Corse is replacing the F430 GT seen at Sebring), the works BMW M3s and Porsche 997 RSRs will be locked in a ding-dong battle. Like Sebring, where BMW scored a thrilling double, the outcome will not be decided until the last hour – or even in the closing minutes or on the last lap! The race debut of the Lotus Evoras is not to be missed.
In GTE Am, the Larbre Competition Corvette and the AMR Middle East Gulf Aston Martin will try to break the Ferrari-Porsche monopoly. At Sebring, the Krohn Racing Ferrari F430 GT finally emerged victorious after a tough battle.
The supporting events include the Radical Eurocup and ATS F3 races as well as the new Speed Series. A rich entertainment programme is also being laid on: race simulators, competitions with radio-controlled cars, the presence of authors of cartoon books in partnership with the OAK Racing team who will hand out albums to the kids, plus circus artists and musicians, will all add to the life and fun in the paddock. There will also be the first “Soirée de l’Endurance’ with free entrance and drinks for the spectators in the circuit Brasserie after the race!
The general enclosure entry tickets cost only 10 euros each (on pre-sale, see below). With free access for children under 12 and free car parks, all the ingredients have been combined to make the Spa-Franciorchamps 1000 kms, a great popular sporting festival. There’s no better family outing at the start of the merry month of May!

[henk4]

the second Oak Racing LMP1 will not participate either, it was heavily damaged during the Le Mans test weekend and will not be ready on time.

[FastDriver]

I wish Spa wasn't so far away, I want to get a Radical and start racing. Im sure there are some places in the US to race, but the European tracks are really nice!

[henk4]

I wish Spa wasn't so far away, I want to get a Radical and start racing. Im sure there are some places in the US to race, but the European tracks are really nice!

The Radical cup is in the support programme coming weekend, so if you are quick to get one...

[FastDriver]

The Radical cup is in the support programme coming weekend, so if you are quick to get one...

Well that won't happen anytime soon, I still have 8 months left to be in Iraq, and then after that all my money is going into flying lessons, so there is about $60k gone :p but in a few years ill get one!

[henk4]

Well that won't happen anytime soon, I still have 8 months left to be in Iraq, and then after that all my money is going into flying lessons, so there is about $60k gone :p but in a few years ill get one!

flying? I thought you were going to invest in your private race track.

[FastDriver]

flying? I thought you were going to invest in your private race track.

to be an airline pilot you have to go to flght school. So, I need to do that to get a job to make money :)

[Chernaudi]

It seems that Peugeot's LM test day stuggles are continuing:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91133

Audi has basically monopolized practice, and reports are that the Pugs are struggling for grip and overall speed. No to mention that Lamy nearly totaled his 908 late in the second session, leading to a damaged crash barrier, and a mangled and withdrawn RLM HPD ARX-01.

And on top of that, at the LM test, one 908 had it's engine changed because of what was about to turn into a major mechanical issue. Could be a long weekend for Peugeot unless they find some speed and better luck with traffic.

[henk4]

It seems that Peugeot's LM test day stuggles are continuing:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91133

Audi has basically monopolized practice, and reports are that the Pugs are struggling for grip and overall speed. No to mention that Lamy nearly totaled his 908 late in the second session, leading to a damaged crash barrier, and a mangled and withdrawn RLM HPD ARX-01.

And on top of that, at the LM test, one 908 had it's engine changed because of what was about to turn into a major mechanical issue. Could be a long weekend for Peugeot unless they find some speed and better luck with traffic.

We could repeat your comments from last year about Spa. You went over the moon to explain why the R18plus was slower than the Pugs. It was because they were running the Le Mans aeropackage.
Well the news is that the situation is reversed this year. Pug is running the Le Mans package, and Audi is running more downforce.

And the words from autosport about the Peugeots "dropping off the pace" in the afternoon session, is only true to the extent that they didn't go as fast as in the morning session. The Audis (namely the the number 2 that was in the gravel in the morning) went only marginally faster than in the morning session.

On other news, we are happy to report that Mike Newton who was in the RML car is OK, bruised but not damaged.

[LeonOfTheDead]

I'm sure you meant R15plus :)

I agree btw.

Anybody found video footage of the 908/HPD accident at Spa? I've seen a screenshot over the LM website, but that's about it.

[henk4]

I'm sure you meant R15plus :)

I agree btw.

Anybody found video footage of the 908/HPD accident at Spa? I've seen a screenshot over the LM website, but that's about it.

yes, R15.....
There seems to be video footage, and apparently Lamy tries to cut a corner in front of Newton, who had nowhere to go. Braking was no option.

[henk4]

Berhard has gone into the 2.02s this morning, but again interruption from a crashed Ferrari, and premature ending of the session due to a demolished kerbstone.
The number 9 Peugeot was back on track and the quickest of the three, third overall.
Five Audi drivers top the individual chart, followed by the first Pug driver (Bourdais).

qualifying later today.

[faksta]

Will there be any live video streaming of quali and race, does anybody know?

[henk4]

Will there be any live video streaming of quali and race, does anybody know?

Eurosport will broadcast the whole, ES2 for the first 4.5 hours, ES1 for the remainder

Qualifying has just prematurely ended with another red flag, this time caused by the #15 Oak Pescarolo.
Main victims are Peugeot, who decided to come out only after ten minutes of the 20 minutes practice session, and therefore had no time left to put in a fast lap.

So it is an easy Audi 1-2-3, with two 2.01s and a low 2.02, with the Oreca Peugeot 4th. First 908 is in position 13.....

[faksta]

If only I had Eurosport... I'll be looking for any Internet streaming, hope there will be something. The race promises to be oustanding...

[Chernaudi]

Audi are also running their LM aero kit, and don't seem to be having such issues. It goes back to your LM test day comments and are more or less confirmed by Montagny--the R18s are using their tires better. Hence, with the cars in their basic LM packages, it almost has to go back to the chassis, though the lack of downforce isn't helping.

And it has to be remembered that the R18s ran 1:44s and 1:45s around Sebring in testing with their LM package, which was much faster than the 908s in high downforce trim at the same track days earlier.

I think that the issue may be more chassis/set up, since the two cars are in similar aero trim. And in spite of the LM aero package on the 908s, the R18s are also marginally faster though the speed trap as far as V-maxs this weekend so far.

And of course, with Peugeot waiting until late, in retrospect, all I can say is "what the hell were they thinking?", seeing as every session was stopped at least once this weekend. Only time I can remember this happening to Peugeot was Sebring in '08, but that didn't hurt them as IMSA reverted to fast practice times and didn't really hurt Peugeot. With over 50% of the session done, that didn't happen here.

Unless they're really sandbagging, I'd have to say that the performance hasn't been here this weekend and getting caught out in qualifying isn't going to help matters.

[henk4]

whatever the Pugs problems were, it has not prevented the #7 car to take the lead just before the first pit stop, and Wurz still has. At least we have a race going on, where McNish made an error in Kemmel and lost some places which he has regained in the meantime, and both the Pugs that set a time during qualifying are fighting it out for the lead. The other Peugeot with Montagny now driving has come to sixth place from the back of the grid, within 30 seconds of the leading car.

This are going to be an exciting remaining 4 something hours.

What is striking when you walk around the starting grid is the cameraderie between the Audi and Peugeot guys, because they both know that without both them being serious opponents, there would be much less to race for.

[Ferrer]

Well a Peugeot one-two. Altough the 9 had all sorts of problems.

Being their debut race the R18 seemed to be pretty reliable.

[Chernaudi]

Mini-rant that I posted at Ten-Tenths:

"That race was a total cluster....!

Shades of Silverstone last year, where they were fast in practice, qualified up front, and come the race, hardly managed anything.

They'd better get their act together before Le Mans, or they need to find Dave Maraj and the former Champion guys to run the show from here on out.

Only positives from Spa are that the R18 is at least "competitive" and that the Pug guys were probably sandbagging all weekend. And the 908 isn't exactly bullet proof, either, as the #9 had a suspension collapse not related to any accident it had. And with Pag running those 2:03's late probably showed Peugeot's cards, and Audi know what to aim for now.

As to the grip issues, could it be that the R18 is too front heavy to get the front tires to work better than the rears?"

To add, I wonder how much effort Audi will put in to the R18 to improve it. They have 2-3 more test to improve the car. And it seems that both the R18 and the 908 by being new still have the new car blues. Both cars seem to have issues with rapid repair of minor damage (Pug's bodywork issues at Sebring and Audi having similar issues today), and then the was the #9's suspension collapse, which according to the team had little if anything to do with any of Lamy's offs.

Both teams have much to look at before Le Mans--both have to look at some driver discipline issues, both have to make their cars more consistant (even though the Pug's struggles were tamed to the extent that they were better in the race when they needed to be), and both need to look at maintainance issues as far as not the major stuff, which they hammered on, but the little things, like bodywork damage.

[henk4]

Well a Peugeot one-two. Altough the 9 had all sorts of problems.

Being their debut race the R18 seemed to be pretty reliable.

Up to now each new Audi prototype won its debut race.
I know that since your recent change in car ownership, the pink Audi glasses must be on, but this was not the reliability that Audi was hoping for. Seeing the #3 car coming slowly over start finish only to pick up speed again after la Source after some frantic resetting, and seeing the #3 coming to halt in the entrance of the pitlane for no apparent reason, and going again about 20 seconds later, is not the type of glitches you would immediately associate with the picture that Audi is trying to give us about their reliability.

[henk4]

Mini-rant that I posted at Ten-Tenths:

"That race was a total cluster....!

Shades of Silverstone last year, where they were fast in practice, qualified up front, and come the race, hardly managed anything.

They'd better get their act together before Le Mans, or they need to find Dave Maraj and the former Champion guys to run the show from here on out.

Only positives from Spa are that the R18 is at least "competitive" and that the Pug guys were probably sandbagging all weekend. And the 908 isn't exactly bullet proof, either, as the #9 had a suspension collapse not related to any accident it had. And with Pag running those 2:03's late probably showed Peugeot's cards, and Audi know what to aim for now.

As to the grip issues, could it be that the R18 is too front heavy to get the front tires to work better than the rears?"

To add, I wonder how much effort Audi will put in to the R18 to improve it. They have 2-3 more test to improve the car. And it seems that both the R18 and the 908 by being new still have the new car blues. Both cars seem to have issues with rapid repair of minor damage (Pug's bodywork issues at Sebring and Audi having similar issues today), and then the was the #9's suspension collapse, which according to the team had little if anything to do with any of Lamy's offs.

Both teams have much to look at before Le Mans--both have to look at some driver discipline issues, both have to make their cars more consistant (even though the Pug's struggles were tamed to the extent that they were better in the race when they needed to be), and both need to look at maintainance issues as far as not the major stuff, which they hammered on, but the little things, like bodywork damage.

I think you are deliberately downplaying the Peugeot performance this weekend. Both the 7 and 8 car ran a totally troublefree race, and so did the #9 until the off by Lamy. What the cause of the suspension failure is, is unclear to me, it may also have to do with the fact that it is the same car that many people doubted would be back on track after its massive shunt on thursday.

I had a little discussion with Dr. Ulrich before the start and he at least was not convinced of an Audi run-away victory, being afraid of the speed of the Pugs, who according to him were "sauschnell", German slang for f..cking quick.

[Ferrer]

Up to now each new Audi prototype won its debut race.
I know that since your recent change in car ownership, the pink Audi glasses must be on, but this was not the reliability that Audi was hoping for. Seeing the #3 car coming slowly over start finish only to pick up speed again after la Source after some frantic resetting, and seeing the #3 coming to halt in the entrance of the pitlane for no apparent reason, and going again about 20 seconds later, is not the type of glitches you would immediately associate with the picture that Audi is trying to give us about their reliability.
Well I only watched the last 2 hours, because I didn't have Eurosport 2.

And IIRC it was #2 who stopped in the pit lane entrance. Apart from that I didn't seen any major realiability problems.

[Chernaudi]

The #3 Audi's problem was that Dindo hit the pit road speed limiter on track, and the #2 Audi had an issue with the reserve tank reset.

Other than that, there are some reports that Peugeot either missed the setup or gambled on more downforce (more rear wing) to try and make something of the race because of the poor qualifying results. At least one Audi driver observed that at least one of the 908's had more rear wing in it than on previous days, and that helped their sector 2 times.

Remember that the Pug drivers had complained about balance issues in practice and needed more grip. Either Peugeot were sandbagging all along, or they had a legitimate issue that they needed to take a swing at to try and remedy and actually fixed what was wrong.

And I feel that Audi genuinly didn't keep up with the track, as their biggest issue was tire pickup effecting handling balance/consistancy, and struggling to change bodywork when damaged, like Peugeot at Sebring, and are problems intrinsic to new cars that have little race miles on them. Audi intentionally dirtied and soiled up a track with debris and junk last year for the R15, mostly to address overheating issues, but you'd believe that they'd have learned something about tire pick up. Looks like they should do the same with the R18 for that very reason--dealing with changing track conditions and pick up.

Audi and Peugeot can do all the 30 hour tests that they want. That'll help with the big things, but not so much the little things, trivial issues such as tire pick up and bodywork changes. That cost Peugeot at Sebring, and Audi at Spa.

And as I said at Ten-tenths, if Audi and Peugeot have anything left to show, they'd better show it soon, because I'm a bit tired of both side's PR fluff and sandbagging, which I hoped that the ILMC would've resolved, but if anything, has made such trickery worse.

[henk4]

Other than that, there are some reports that Peugeot either missed the setup or gambled on more downforce (more rear wing) to try and make something of the race because of the poor qualifying results.

of course :D:D

[henk4]

on a more serious note, The highest topspeeds recorded for the Pugs were 303.4, 302,6 and 301.7, for the 8,7 and 9 respectively. All these times were set during the free practices. During the race all three cars were clocked at 300 at least once, which would not hint at significant changes in aero.
Topspeed of the Audis was fractionally higher, but also during the race they marginally stayed below the speeds recorded during the practice sessions. However there were many more laps where the Audis hit the 300 mark during the race, and yet we saw some overtaking by Peugeot at the end of the Kemmel straight.