2013 Endurance Racing News (WEC / ELMS / ALMS)

[Wouter Melissen]

Dates for the inaugural Asian Le Mans Series announced:


2013 will see the launch of the eagerly awaited Asian Le Mans Series with the calendar being confirmed with races in China, Korea, Japan and Indonesia.


Six events are programmed for the first season of the Asian Le Mans Series in 2013. They are spread all over the Asian continent with three races in China at the start of the year followed by an event in South Korea, another in Japan and the final round in Indonesia.
All the events will have the same format: free practice sessions on Friday with qualifying on Saturday and a 3-hour race on Sunday, with option to increase race distance in future years.

Full Asian Le Mans Series Calendar is as follows:

28th April 2013, Zhuhaï (China)
26th May 2013, Shanghaï (China)
7th July 2013, Ordos (China)
4th August 2013, Inje (South Korea)
22nd September, Fuji Speedway (Japan)
8th December Sentul (Indonesia)
Two of the categories of cars eligible for the Le Mans 24 Hours (LM P2 and LM GTE) are completed by another GT category (GTC) and one extra prototype category LM PC (Le Mans Prototype Challenge). The GTC category will be made up with car homologated to FIA GT3 and Super GT300 specification with a balance of performance provided by the ACO.

In order to help the maximum number of Asian entrants to learn the ropes of endurance racing with teams will consist of two or three drivers (open choice but there must be an amateur and a professional). Each line-up in each category must have at least one driver who is a native of the continent. The aim is to help bring on new talent, and also to help a few drivers who have problems finding seats.

Three invitations for the 2014 Le Mans 24 hours will be awarded to the 2013 winners of the LM P2, LM GTE and GTC categories (the GTC winners will have to enter a GTE Am car for Le Mans). The 2013 winning LM PC team will be given an invitation to take part in the 2014 test day for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

To date interest from teams, manufactures and partners have exceeded expectation and organizers expect the grid to be strong across all categories in 2013. Official team registration will commence on 28th October 2012 and run through 20th March 2013.

Organizers of the Asian Le Mans Series, are also in the process of establishing a comprehensive marketing and media program around the Series and recently announced that is has already secured two prestigious TV broadcast partners to show its races in 2013, those being, ESPN STAR Sports and Eurosport Asia-Pacific.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest has entrusted the organization of this new Series to promoters S2M Group, established in China since 1999 and already an ACO partner for the ILMC races staged at Zhuhai in 2010 and 2011, which has been. TS Motorsport, established in Shanghai since 2005, will look after the logistics and race operating activities of the races. The ACO and its team of scrutineers and officials will be present to help this new championship get off the ground in 2013.

Pierre Fillon, Automobile Club de l’Ouest President: “The launch of a series of endurance races on the Asian continent bearing the name and embodying the values of the Le Mans 24 Hours is an essential step in the context of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s development on the international scene.
It is our duty to put on Le Mans-type endurance races where the markets are surging from an economic point of view: concerning the motor car, the Asian one is the uncontested world leader. Like all our championships that follow the Le Mans 24-Hours spirit that has lasted 89 years, the Asian Le Mans Series will enable manufacturers to showcase the reliability of their products and enhance their image, as well as demonstrating the soundness of their new technologies in a sporting, competitive spirit guaranteed by the values of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. Our dearest wish is that an Asian driver, an Asian team or a manufacturer/constructor from the Asian Le Mans Series wins the Le Mans 24 Hours.”

Mark Thomas, Managing Director of S2M Group: “Firstly I would like to thank the ACO for giving S2M Group the opportunity to be involved in the Asian Le Mans Series. Today’s calendar launch is the culmination of much time and work in terms of preparation and planning. Such a pan-Asian endurance motor sports Series cannot be successful without the collaboration of many different partners not least the respective National Associations and circuits that will host the races but also all the prospective manufacturers, teams and commercial partners that will be involved. In reality, today marks the start of much hard work to create a successful Asian Le Mans Series for many years to come. However we are confident with the team and partners we are bringing together we can cement the Series as one of the preeminent motor sports properties in Asia.”

[Wouter Melissen]

Here is a list 13 automatic entries for the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans:


Taking into account the results of the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours as well as those of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the European Le Mans Series and the American Le Mans Series, thirteen teams have won invitations to take part in qualifying practice for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours, which represent a maximum of 16 cars out of the 55 places on the grid for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours.


The following teams have been awarded this much sought-after invitation.

One invitation for:

Starworks Motorsport: LM P2 category winner in the Le Mans 24 Hours. An invitation in LM P2.
Larbre Compétition: LM GTE Am category winner in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Invitation in LM GTE Am.
Thiriet by TDS Racing: European Le Mans Series LM P2 winner. Invitation in LM P2.
OAK Racing: 2nd European Le Mans Series LM P2. Invitation in LM P2.
JMW Motorsport: European Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro winner. Invitation in LM GTE Pro.
JMB Racing: 2nd European Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro. Invitation in LM GTE Pro.
IMSA Performance Matmut: European Le Mans Series LM GTE Am winner. Invitation in LM GTE Am.
Boutsen Ginion Racing: European Le Mans Series LM PC winner. Invitation in LM P2.
Conquest Racing: designated by the American Le Mans Series. Invitation in LM P2.
Level 5 Motorosports: designated the American Le Mans Series. Invitation in LM P2.
Extreme Speed Motorsport: designated by the American Le Mans Series. Invitation in LM GTE (this entrant can choose between GTE Pro and GTE Am.).

Two invitations for:

Audi Sport Team Joest: winner in the LM P1 category in the Le Mans 24 Hours and winner of the Michelin Green X Challenge in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Two invitations in LM P1.

Three invitations for:

AF Corse: winner in LM GTE Pro in the Le Mans 24 Hours, second in the European Le Mans Series in LM GTE Am and winner of the Michelin Green X Challenge in the FIA World Endurance Championship. This gives one invitation in LM GTE Pro and one in LM GTE Am: for the third the entrant can choose between GTE Pro and GTE Am.

To validate these invitations the teams in question must enter for the 2013 Le Mans 24 hours, and in 2013 they must enter for at least one of the following championships: the FIA World Endurance Championship, the European Le Mans Series, American Le Mans Series or the Asian Le Mans Series.

The complete list of entries for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA World Endurance Championship will be announced on Thursday 31st January 2013 in Paris.

[henk4]

interesting to see that the car that won three of the seven WEC races in LPM1 is not automatically invited. In fact it won 3 of the 5 races in which it participated.

[Kitdy]

interesting to see that the car that won three of the seven WEC races in LPM1 is not automatically invited. In fact it won 3 of the 5 races in which it participated.

I don't think it's a problem, or interesting really.

They will be there, end of.

[henk4]

I don't think it's a problem, or interesting really.

They will be there, end of.

of course, but not "automatically"

[Wouter Melissen]

Le Mans Support Race details revealed:


The annual support race at the Le Mans 24 Hours is a jewel in the crown of historic motorsport. On Saturday 22nd June 2013, the Le Mans Legend will once again return to La Sarthe with a sensational grid of 61 Le Mans cars from the 1949-65 era.

Each year, Motor Racing Legends – the organisation behind the Le Mans Legend – selects an era of Le Mans history and invites genuine race cars and their sister cars from that period to take part in a highly nostalgic, but highly competitive historic race on the full 8.5-mile Le Mans circuit. Not only is this a chance to see real Le Mans-style cars from the past in full, on-track action at the venue where they were born to race, but it takes place just a few hours before the start of the modern 24 Hours, on the Saturday morning of the Le Mans weekend.

Next year, the historic action will be a two-driver race on Saturday 22nd June 2013, with cars from 1949 to 1965 again doing battle at Le Mans: think AC Cobra and Aston Martin DBR1, Lister Knobbly and Ferrari 250LM, Jaguar D-type and Iso Bizzarrini. But it’s not just the big bruisers at the front of the grid that demand attention. Right through the field, we can expect evocative cars of all sizes and shapes that capture the essence of Le Mans in the 1950s and early ’60s: Alfa Romeo TZ1, Porsche 904/6, Triumph TR2, Aston DB2, Jaguar XK120, Lotus, MG, Austin-Healey, Frazer Nash…

The Le Mans 24 Hours is, without doubt, the greatest endurance event in the history of motorsport – but while it’s the modern might of Audi and its rivals that makes headlines around the world, the Le Mans Legend historic support race also captures the hearts of the 200,000-plus visitors who make the pilgrimage to La Sarthe for that magical weekend in mid-June. Not to mention the vast audience across Europe who watched last year’s televised Le Mans Legend.

Don’t be caught out in 2013, however: the 22-23 June weekend slot is slightly later in the month than usual… best get it in the diary now.

More details can be found at Motor Racing Legends (http://www.motorracinglegends.com)

[Wouter Melissen]

Porsche to field a works team with two 991 generation 911s in 2013:


For the 2013 racing season, Porsche AG will field two new GT racecars based on the newest generation of the Porsche 911 at the Le Mans 24 hour race and in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). For the first time since the overall victory in 1998, a factory team from Porsche will tackle the famed long distance classic in France.

The two new Porsche 911 RSR, which race in the GTE category, will be run by the Porsche AG Team Manthey. The role of team manager goes to the experienced endurance specialist Olaf Manthey, who has celebrated five overall wins with Porsche at the Nürburgring 24 hour race and recently fielded a 911 GT3 RSR in the International GT Open.

“The new 911 RSR is currently being developed by our engineers and tested by our works drivers,” says Porsche Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “What better time could there be to introduce the new car than the Porsche 911’s 50th anniversary.”

[RacingManiac]

Also Rebellion is going to run ALMS full season next year....with 1 or 2 cars...
Rebellion to compete in ALMS full-time in 2013 - Le Mans news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104450)

And TRG have picked up works Aston GTE duty in ALMS:
Aston Martin to field factory-supported ALMS team in 2013 - Le Mans news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104657)

Flying Lizard will run in GTC next year:
Flying Lizard to switch to GTC class for 2013 - Le Mans news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104238)

[Kitdy]

Porsche to field a works team with two 991 generation 911s in 2013:

That is fantastic news! I want to see the livery.

I doubt any privateers will be running the 991 though, which is unfortunate.

[Wouter Melissen]

I doubt any privateers will be running the 991 though, which is unfortunate.

Why would you say that?

[Kitdy]

Why would you say that?

I mean in 2013. I've heard a lot of confusion over Porsche's program for 2013, and some privateers switching to other manufacturers or sticking with the 997.

[RacingManiac]

Well when the current 997 car came out it was run through Porsche first too...IIRC at Spa 24?

[Wouter Melissen]

Porsche's main business is to sell cars, so I would highly doubt the new 991 won't be made available to customers. I think the decision to field a works is due to both the high level of competition in the WEC and in preparation for the LMP1 effort due in 2014.

[RacingManiac]

I think more than anything else the factory fielding a car(through Manthey still) is part of the R&D process. Its still a new "product" that they will sell in hundreds, so field testing is nothing new for any new products. After this season 991 will be in wide circulation in GTE...

[RacingManiac]

Daytona Prototypes and LMP2 to equalise for new US series - Other news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104992)

DP and P2 will be equalized for 2014, along with Delta Wing-type car.
Prototype Challenge will remain...
GTE will be lead GT class
Grand AM GT and GTC will merge
And GX class may or may not be merge with the GT and GTC...

[Kitdy]

This is going to be so much fun for the people trying to equalize this.

Well, there's still the GTE class.

[RacingManiac]

I wonder how much faster they'll have to make the DP....a P2 car ran faster(just) time at Daytona test at the end of last season running DP tires that they have never used before, with the wrong aero package....

They basically can't slow the P2 down too much as they are already down on power so passing traffic is difficult. Maybe they'll give DP some pretty stonking engine....

[edmunddavidson]

If you should see a man walking down a crowded street talking aloud to himself, don't run in the opposite direction, but run towards him, because he's a poet. You have nothing to fear from the poet - but the truth

[ErWin76]

The Dubai 24h is going on, still 18+ hours left.

24H Series Live - : endurance racing for touring cars, GT cars and 24H Specials by 24H Series (http://live.24hseries.com/)

[faksta]

Thanks! :D

[Wouter Melissen]

24 Heures du Mans 2013: 71 entries for 56 places!


The Automobile Club de l’Ouest has received 71 entry requests for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours on 22-23 June for the 55 grid spots remaining as the 56th place has already been attributed to the GreenGT H2 project. The list of entrants will be announced on 1st February in the Eurosites-George V.


Once again the Le Mans 24-Hours field will combine quality and quantity. The Automobile Club de l’Ouest Sports Management has received 71 entries, the same number as in 2011, an increase compared to 2012. This is evidence of the continuing high level of interest in a race that will celebrate its 90th anniversary this year.

This remarkable figure sweeps aside the fears that hover over motor sport because of the current economic situation. The Le Mans passion is the strongest yet again, and the raft of entrants who wish to associate their names with the myth reflects this. The most extraordinary fact is that these 71 entries are of top-class quality: all the cars without exception could be on the starting grid of the 2013 Le Mans 24 hours if the sporting regs didn’t limit the number of starters to 56.

It should be underlined that the top category for prototypes, LM P1 and LM P2, and the 56th pit represent 62.5% of the field with 41 cars compared to 30 in LM GTE, which is undergoing a marked renewal.

Just a reminder that the choice of entrants selected for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours was spread over several major rendez-vous.

At the end of the 2012 season on 27th October with the Shanghai 6 Hours (CHN), the final round of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship, the thirteen entrants invited were known taking into account their results in the Le Mans 24 Hours, and also after the end of the FIA WEC, the American Le Mans Series and the European Le Mans Series. This represented 16 cars maximum as the Audi Sport and AF Corse teams had clinched two and three invitations respectively.

12th December 2012 was the opening date for entries, and all the teams interested could send in their entry forms to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.

16th January 2013 at midnight was the closing date for entries and by then 71 requests had reached the ACO.

On the evening of 23rd January the Selection Committee met under the presidency of Pierre Fillon, the ACO President, and its job was to draw up the list of teams invited including the 55 cars for the race and the ten reserves to fill any spaces left by withdrawals.

On 1st February 2013 the field for this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours will be announced during the press conference in the Eurosites George V. It will be broadcast in live streaming on the new site Site Officiel des 24 Heures du Mans (http://www.24h-lemans.com) thanks to Michelin’s collaboration.
The entrants still have a week to wait but one car is already assured of a place: the GreenGT H2! This prototype with an electric engine powered by a fuel cell fed by hydrogen has received the 56th pit invitation, which is destined for a car designed around an innovative technological project. As in 2012 with the revolutionary Nissan DeltaWing, it can take part in practice and the race provided it meets all the safety regulations and performance minima set by the ACO - but outside the overall classification.

[faksta]

Anybody seen Daytona 24 hours? Some great action there, especially in GT. Of course, with all those 17 (or so) safety car periods the final hour was bound to be full of action, but it was interesting to watch nevertheless.

[RacingManiac]

Yeah they have been pretty consistently entertaining....any 24 hours race that came down to last 0.5 hour is pretty good I think...

Good on Audi to convert a pretty dismal debut season to a winner in 2013.

[Kitdy]

I caught a bit here and there and the final 30 minutes. Pretty dang cool.

[faksta]

Good on Audi to convert a pretty dismal debut season to a winner in 2013.

Sure, nearly a triple podium, if not for that Rum-Bum car case... pretty much shocking for the team, I suppose, to retire in such a manner.

[RacingManiac]

Thats gambling, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose....

[Wouter Melissen]

The 56 entrants have been announced on Friday:


A fantastic field of cars will race in the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours! The 90th anniversary of the event will be celebrated in the style it deserves with the Audi-Toyota duel topping the bill hounded by the reboosted private teams. In LM P2, there will be a no-holds battle between even-matched squads, while in LM GTE the fight looks like being of an intensity rarely seen in the Sarthe with entries from five manufacturers! Exceptional cars and top-line drivers plus stars beginning with Patrick Dempsey and Sébastien Loeb plus prestigious events - once again the Le Mans 24 Hours will be the biggest and best race of the world motor sport season!


On 22-23 June, the Le Mans 24 Hours will celebrate their 90th anniversary. But above and beyond the appropriate commemorations, to which the Automobile Club de l’Ouest will invite spectators and partners, lies a modern, exciting event that is resolutely future-oriented although its roots lie in a famous past.

This undoubtedly helps explain the interest that the 3rd round of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship has generated yet again. This year the Le Mans 24 Hours have attracted another exceptional field as confirmed by the list of 56 entries and 10 reserves (for 71 entry forms received), announced this afternoon during a press conference in Paris in the Eurosites-George V premises. This was shown live on the new Le Mans 24-Hours internet site: 24h-lemans.com with the help of Michelin.

In what is a difficult economic context the major car manufacturers in the world continue to flock to Le Mans, Toyota, VAG (thanks to Audi and Porsche back again with a works team) and General Motors (with Corvette) still put their trust in a unique race to showcase their sporting prowess and the reliability of their cars. The Renault-Nissan Group will be even more strongly represented than in the past thanks to the 17 cars in LM P2 powered by the Japanese manufacturer. Honda is still present through its competition branch, Honda Performance Development. To these major manufacturers can be added the smaller-scale, but highly-prestigious car companies like Ferrari, Aston Martin, which will celebrate its centenary, Viper, Lotus and Morgan, as well as skilled prototype constructors: Oreca, Lola and Zytek.

At the head of the field there will be an all-out duel between the Audi and Toyota prototypes, with private teams Rebellion Racing and Strakka Racing taking the fight to the big boys thanks to the competitiveness of their cars having been improved by the recent regulation tweaks.

LM P2 has attracted 22 entries and never have there been so many evenly-matched cars in this category, 90% of which are potential victory contenders. LM GTE has undergone a remarkable revival of interest with five manufacturers entering works cars, as in addition to Corvette, Ferrari and Aston Martin, Porsche and Viper are back on an official basis. In LM GTE AM, 3-time winner on the trot Larbre Competition and its Corvettes will be up against even tougher rivals.

In the 56th pit allocated to an innovative car, the GreenGT H2 prototype will take pride of place as it will be powered by hydrogen fuel, which only emits water vapour!

The drivers too are from the top drawer. While awaiting the announcements of the exact composition of all the line-ups – at the time of entry the teams are obliged to give the name of one driver per car – the list published today shows that the best in the world still love coming back to race in the event. On the list are many former winners of the great endurance classic including Kristensen, Gené, Wurz and other well-known names like Montagny, Davidson, Mailleux, Fisichella, Prost, Jani, Pla, Lamy, Mücke, etc, as well as the 2012 World Endurance Champions and two-time winners of the race – Benoït Tréluyer, André Loterer and Marcel Fässler!

Finally, what would the Le Mans 24 Hours be without stars and glamour? This year two big stars have already announced their presence: Sébastien Loeb as team manager of his own squad (Sébastien Loeb Racing) and Patrick Dempsey. The American actor, who will be on the grid again, is a great motor racing enthusiast and he is following in the footsteps of Paul Newman and Jean-Louis Trintignant.

The 56 cars invited for scrutineering and admin. checks break down as follows: 8 in the LM P1 category, 22 in LM P2, 11 in LM GTE Pro and 14 in LM GTE Am, plus one in the 56th pit.
Ten reserves (six LM Ps and four LM GTEs) have also been selected to replace any withdrawals. The Le Mans 24 Hours is an international race and teams from 14 different countries (15 if the squad from Luxembourg the LM P reserve makes it onto the grid) have entered for it including the Chinese team KCMG, also participating in the Asian Le Mans Series, with drivers from 20 different countries.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “Once again the Le Mans 24-Hours race shows its appeal thanks to an idea that although it may be 90 years old, is more modern than ever. This event is the best test bed in the world, and the major manufacturers know this better than anybody as they put their trust in our race year after year. In terms of prestige no other event matches it, which is why the best drivers in the world flock to the Sarthe. There is no better laboratory, proof of which is that in the 56th pit (see below) there will be a car that emits only steam into the atmosphere! The Le Mans 24 Hours race is unique and this explains its amazing longevity!”

Vincent Beaumesnil, Sports Manager of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest:“We can only be delighted after a quick analysis of the 2013 field because of the on-track battles it promises. Toyota is no longer the debutant seen at Le Mans in 2012, but a team that is well armed to topple Audi, which has matchless experience. Thanks to the evolutions of the regulations decided by the ACO, the LM P1 privateers will be in a position to take the fight to the works teams at the front of the field. In the LM P2 category, the most heavily-subscribed for this year’s race, the vast majority of the entrants can win. And we’re very happy to see a Chinese team getting involved in the battle just when we’re launching the Asian Le Mans Series this year. Finally, never has there been such a high level of competitiveness in GT. Five manufacturers will go at it hammer and tongs with works cars for victory. 2013 is an historic year for the Le Mans 24 Hours, and all the ingredients are in place to make it an event that will leave its mark on the history of the event.”

[Wouter Melissen]

Nissan to return to Le Mans in 2014 with an electric car:


Nissan will return to the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2014 with an innovative project that promises to continue the pioneering spirit of last year's award-winning Nissan DeltaWing experimental entry.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn made the pledge to return to Le Mans during a special event today in Yokohama, Japan, to open a new headquarters for Nismo, Nissan's global performance and motorsport brand.

Ghosn hinted that a new approach to innovation and excitement will be at the project's core, while confirming that the company will return as the Garage 56 entry for innovative concepts with an all-new race car incorporating electric technology.

The entry will test innovative new powertrain technology and provide the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) with data to enable all parties to evaluate the incorporation of this breakthrough technology ahead of a potential return to LMP1 in the future.

"We will return to Le Mans with a vehicle that will act as a high-speed test bed in the harshest of environments for both our road car and race car electric vehicle technology," said Mr. Ghosn.

Ghosn's revelation promises a continued commitment from Nissan to performance and motorsport innovation - and a bold ambition to change expectations of what is possible in performance.

Nissan will reveal further details behind the new project in the near future.

[RacingManiac]

Electric car for endurance racing huh....I suppose they are going to make a battery swap car...

This year's hydrogen(Fuel cell?) car will be pretty interesting in itself(with um, a challenging look), as it will be electric propulsion...

[Kitdy]

Electric car for endurance racing huh....I suppose they are going to make a battery swap car...

That is the first thing I thought of too.

[Wouter Melissen]

ESM Ferrari is out for Le Mans and a fifth Aston Martin in. Attached is the updated entry list.

[Wouter Melissen]

Alpine will return to Le Mans with an LMP2 entry for 2013:


On Friday 8th March, the French make announced its Le Mans 24-Hours comeback in the LM P2 category. The Automobile Club de l’Ouest is very happy about this entry 35 years after the Alpine-Renault A442B’s famous victory in 1978.


In the Le Mans 24 Hours on 22-23 June 2013, the Alpine legend will be reborn with the entry of an Alpine in the LM P2 category by Philippe Sinault’s and Didier Calmels’ Signatech team: the drivers are Pierre Ragues and Nelson Panciatici.

The news was announced on Friday 8th March at the Le Mans 24-Hours circuit in the presence of Pierre Fillon, the President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, Carlos Tavarès, Assistant General Manager Renault Operations, Bernard Olivier, president of the Alpine-Caterham Car Company, Pascal Couasnon, the director of Michelin Motorsport which will supply tyres for the Alpine, and Philippe Sinault, the Signatech general manager.

The Dieppe-based make, relaunched on 5th November last year with the creation of the Alpine-Caterham car company, has swelled the ranks of motor car manufacturers already officially entered for the Le Mans 24 Hours: Toyota, VAG (via Audi and Porsche), General Motors, Honda (with its branch HPD, Honda Performance Development), Fiat (via Ferrari and STP Viper), Aston Martin, Lotus and Morgan.

Nissan is also present as an engine supplier in LM P2, and will be at the start of the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours with an in-house designed revolutionary car in the context of the 56th pit, which prefigures an entry in LM P1 in 2015.

Since 1923, the Le Mans 24 Hours have been the greatest test bed in the world for the major motor car manufacturers generating a fantastic list of innovations, revolutionary when they first appeared, which are generalized today.

The participation of this Alpine LM P2 prototype in the colours of one of the major brands in motor sport is in the same vein.

While in 2013, the Le Mans 24 Hours are celebrating their 90th anniversary, the return of Alpine to the greatest endurance race in the world intervenes 50 years after the make’s first entry for the event, and thirty-five after the historic victory of the no. 2 Alpine-Renault A442B driven by Didier Pironi and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud.

The name Alpine and the Sarthe Classic are indelibly linked, and the return of Alpine will enable French fans to thrill once again to the famous French blue colours.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “The Automobile Club de l’Ouest is delighted about Alpine’s comeback to the Le Mans 24 Hours. In the past, the manufacturer racked up a marvellous set of results in the major branches of motor sport, but it’s to Le Mans and not anywhere else that Alpine is giving priority for its return to racing. We’re particularly flattered by this decision that follows in the historical direction of motor sport. Not just because we’re celebrating the ninetieth anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, and having a major French make at the start pleases us enormously, but above all because it proves that both our technical and sporting regulations allied to the immense popularity of our event, which give pride of place to close contact with the spectators, is in perfect harmony with today’s world and motor racing as we see it. That’s the reason why our race has enjoyed such amazing success with the major car manufacturers.”

Carlos Tavarès, Assistant General Manager Renault Operations: “Alpine’s comeback in 2013 to the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours is the start of a new, long-term adventure. The deep passion that is driving us is equalled only by the cost-effective aspect of our return, which is based on the involvement of our partners and supporters whom I would like to thank. Step by step we’ll try to write a new page together in the history of the great French sports car make – Alpine!”

[ErWin76]

Sebring 12 hours is this weekend, live streaming(outside of USA) on ALMS website.

[Wouter Melissen]

Sebastien Loeb Racing have withdrawn from Le Mans and will be replaced by Race Performance.


Sébastien Loeb Racing will not take part in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours. The 9-time World Rally Champion was supposed to enter an Oreca 03-Nissan in LM P2, which will now be replaced by the Race Performance Oreca 03-Judd.


The second withdrawal among the 56 cars entered for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours has been notified to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. The Oreca 03-Nissan (LM P2) entered by Sébastien Loeb Racing will not be at the start of the 81st event.
This team was chosen by the Le Mans 24-Hours Selection Committee, and it was supposed to take part in the European Le Mans Series from which it has also scratched its entry. According to the team management this decision was taken following the withdrawal of a financial partner who was supposed to join the French squad.

However, Sébastien Loeb Racing has announced its intention to be present at the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours.

In compliance with the ACO regulations the place left vacant by the Alsatian squad’s defection will be allocated to the first car on the list of LM P reserves. Thus, the no. 34 Oreca 03-Judd entered by Swiss outfit, Race Performance, will join the teams invited to take part in the Le Mans 24 Hours on 22-23 June. The first driver announced is Michel Frey from Switzerland.

This does not change the number of entrants (22) in LM P2 at the Le Mans 24 Hours, which is the category with the highest number of cars out of the 56 present. There are still five cars on the LM P reserve list.

Photo : The Race Performance team, which competed in the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours, has taken advantage of Sébastien Loeb Racing's withdrawal to enter a new Oreca 03-Judd for the 2013 event.

[RacingManiac]

So this was interesting...

Audi using F1-style blown diffuser on its latest R18 Le Mans car - Le Mans news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107194)

I think people have been wondering since Sebring since picture of the 2013 car shows the exhaust was not at the old spot any more(single central exit out the back). But it wasn't until this weekend that there were actually pictures of the setup floating online...

The rule prohibits new holes added for purpose aside from suspension clearance and jacks. Audi seems to be running them from the control arm clearance.

Would possibly explain that the R18 went further distance wise at 6H of Silverstone but had to stop at shorter interval for fuel. Blown diffuser in the recent F1 use is pretty bad on gas mileage especially F1 were actually "hot blowing" it...

[RacingManiac]

Pic....if you have Facebook:
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/475081_526206687442705_1409966605_o.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/475081_526206687442705_1409966605_o.jpg

Compare to:
http://fourtitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/audi-r18-etron-quattro-cutaway-future-lab-mobility-28.jpg

[RacingManiac]

Toyota calls for Le Mans rules redress after Audi Spa performance - Le Mans news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107259)

And we are back to this...

Story on Mulsanne's Corner's FB page is that Audi basically sandbagged after Le Mans, knowing they have the WEC basically wrapped up and lure Toyota to a false sense of security(and probably helped them decide to stay since they were winning races). And this year they up their game since the LMP as we know now will bacially end so no need to hold back anymore...

You gotta wonder about Toyota though, they were just saying this a few days ago...

Toyota 'back in the game' with 2013 TS030 HYBRID - Le Mans news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107241)

So if they get their butt kicked again then I am guessing they will be out again?

[Chernaudi]

Audi dominated Sao Paulo on Sunday. Toyota were competitive in qualifying, but in the race lost nearly 10 seconds in 10 laps to the leading Audi, and then got wiped out by a Lotus LMP2.

Audi with the #2 did find a new use for the dorsal fin when it caught the right rear tire after it came lose during a pit stop. The lap lost with the extra stop, and 1:30 worth of penalties (1 minute for unsafe release and :30 for speeding in pit road) handed the win to the #1 Audi.

Also a scary moment when the #71 AF Corsa Ferrari nearly burned to the ground after an engine fire.

Class winners:

LMP1: #1 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro

LMP2: #26 G-Drive Racing Oreca Nissan

GTE-Pro: #51 AF Corsa Ferrari 458

GTE-Am: #96 AMR Aston Martin Vantage V8

[Chernaudi]

WEC 6 Hours of COTA is this weekend. At the end of today's test sessions, the best Audi times were 1.6-1.4 seconds clear of Toyota's best. Not looking good for Toyota, seeing as Audi picked it up in the race at Sao Paulo as far as speed vs Toyota compared to qualifying.

[henk4]

WEC 6 Hours of COTA is this weekend. At the end of today's test sessions, the best Audi times were 1.6-1.4 seconds clear of Toyota's best. Not looking good for Toyota, seeing as Audi picked it up in the race at Sao Paulo as far as speed vs Toyota compared to qualifying.

don't take this race too seriously, Toyota is busy with the 2014 car which should be rather different and has virtually stopped any development on the 2013 car (after Le Mans). I suppose Audi is doing the same.

[Chernaudi]

Qualifying happened this morning, and it was an Audi 1-2. Toyota is 1.3 seconds slower than the fastest Audi and about 1.1 behind the other. Interestingly, in Q, Buemi was much closer to the Audi pace than Stephane was--the latter was over 2 seconds slower in Q for his fast laps.

[Ecnelis]

That was close...

Audi R18 went airborne - 2013 FIA WEC 6h Circuit of the Americas - YouTube

[Ecnelis]

December 1, 2013
Audi is ready for a new era

The countdown to an exciting future has begun. At round eight of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), a technological era came to an end. 2014 will mark the beginning of a new epoch in which nothing but maximum energy efficiency counts. This is what a completely new race car generation stands for. Exactly eight days after the season’s finale, World Endurance Champion Audi will provide an initial glimpse of the future of its LMP sports car.

[Chernaudi]

More for '14, but at the end of this 2013 Audi WEC highlights video, are the first teasers of what the '14 Audi LMP1 will look like:

Harder than a marathon - The WEC season 2013 - YouTube

[henk4]

Testday Le Mans 2014.
Toyota Audi and Porsche yesterday are all lapping around 3.23-3.24. Which is way of the mark that has been set by the ACO who would like to see laps around 3.30. (The non factory/non hybrid Rebellion petrol car did 3.31)
Now the question is of course whether the amount of energy supplied for 24 hours will allow 3.4-3.25 laps for the whole of the race. So far I have not seen cars significantly slowing down because of lack of fuel (apart may-be from the second Toyota at Silverstone), but it remains to be seen whether we'll a full 24 hour race or part of the race being driven as parade laps.

[RacingManiac]

Mulsannes Corner has an interesting blurb on the testing time...

Mulsanne's Corner News, May/June 2014 (http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsmay14.html)

So not surprisingly there are probably lots of sandbagging involved...I think we'll be in high-mid teens comes race weekend...

[henk4]

Mulsannes Corner has an interesting blurb on the testing time...

Mulsanne's Corner News, May/June 2014 (http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsmay14.html)

So not surprisingly there are probably lots of sandbagging involved...I think we'll be in high-mid teens comes race weekend...

perhaps, but for how long? remember this is Group C revisited.

[henk4]

It was a fantastic day up there Sunday for the WEC. Missed the ELMS but how quick is that Porsche out of Lulfield, on the run to Woodcote. Like getting shot out of a cannon

Steve

why do you post this in 2018?