In 2007, the duel between the major manufacturers Audi and Peugeot fulfi lled all its promise.
Three Audis were at the start and only one at the finish but in that all important 1st place (2nd consecutive win for a diesel in the Le Mans 24 Hours and 7th for Audi).
Peugeot was back for the first time since1993, and was in the hunt for victory with one of its 908 HDi FAPS finishing in second place, some 10 laps behind the winner.
The 2008 race will obviously be a revenge match and both teams have clearly announced their colours: victory!
Inter-company battles, conquering market shares, sporting excellence and a dynamic image are among the reasons that drivethe major manufacturers to compete in the greatest endurance race in the world. This year, they are making an all-out effort with 3 cars each entrusted to handpicked drivers.
A NEWFOUND PARADISE FOR F1 DRIVERS
Although the fi nal driver line-ups will not be announced until after practice on 12th June, the profile of those in the major teams is oriented towards performance, experience and F1. Peugeot has again put its trust in the squads that won the 2007 Le Mans Series backed up by former or current F1 aces.
This highlights the fact that the performance level of cars competing in the Sarthe is now so high that the Le Mans 24 Hours have become the motor racing equivalent of a second life of an F1 driver.
In 2008, Christian Klien, Franck Montagny, Jacques Villeneuve, Alexander Wurz and Ricardo Zonta will beat the wheel of the Peugeots, whose drivers have accumulated 393 F1 grand prix and 32Le Mans 24 Hours. They’ve all said: “winning Le Mans is our dream!”
Audi has renewed its faith in drivers who have racked up Le Mans victories like Tom Kristensen (Mr. Le Mans with 7 wins,the record) and young chargers such as Alexandre Prémat and Mike Rockenfeller.
One of the main outsiders in a petrol-fuelled LM P1 is the Judd-powered Courage-Oreca with popular Frenchman Olivier Panis on board. Olivier says what he thinks and expresses thefeelings of his fellow racers: “no driver can remain indifferent to the magnetic pull exercisedby the Le Mans 24 Hours.” Well said!
55 cars invited to the Le Mans 24 Hours
A list to inspire dreams!
Endurance rhymes with excellence. 55 cars plus 8 reserves out of the 88 entriessent in to the ACO have been selected, among them the cream of endurance driversand some of the best in Formula 1.
No LM P1 NAT. TYRES CAR Ccs*
1 AUDI SPORT NORTH AMERICA DEU MICHELIN AUDI R10 5 499 T2 AUDI SPORT NORTH AMERICA DEU MICHELIN AUDI R10 5 499 T3 AUDI SPORT TEAM JOEST DEU MICHELIN AUDI R10 5 499 T5 TEAM MATMUT ORECA FRA MICHELIN COURAGE-ORECA JUDD 5 496 A6 TEAM MATMUT ORECA FRA MICHELIN COURAGE-ORECA JUDD 5 496 A7 TEAM PEUGEOT TOTAL FRA MICHELIN PEUGEOT 908 5 500 T8 TEAM PEUGEOT TOTAL FRA MICHELIN PEUGEOT 908 5 500 T9 PEUGEOT SPORT TOTAL FRA MICHELIN PEUGEOT 908 5 500 T10 CHAROUZ RACING SYSTEM CZE MICHELIN LOLA ASTON MARTIN 5 993 A11 DOME RACING TEAM JPN MICHELIN DOME JUDD S102 5 496 A12 CHAROUZ RACING SYSTEM CZE MICHELIN LOLA JUDD 5 496 A14 CREATION AUTOSPORTIF LTD GBR DUNLOP CREATION AIM CA07 5 496 A16 PESCAROLO SPORT FRA MICHELIN PESCAROLO JUDD 5 496 A17 PESCAROLO SPORT FRA MICHELIN PESCAROLO JUDD 5 496 A18 ROLLCENTRE RACING GBR DUNLOP PESCAROLO JUDD 5 496 A19 CHAMBERLAIN - SYNERGY MOTORSPORT GBR LOLA AER B06 - 10 3 997 T20 EPSILON EUSKADI ESP MICHELIN EPSILON EUSKADI JUDD 5 496 A22 TOKAI UNIVERSITY - YGK POWER JPN YOKOHAMA COURAGE-ORECA YGK 3 998 T23 AUTOCON USA DUNLOP CREATION JUDD 5 000 A24 TERRAMOS JPN MICHELIN COURAGE MUGEN 3 997 ANo LM P2 NAT. TYRES CAR Ccs*25 RML GBR MICHELIN LOLA MG B05 - 40 1 995 T26 TEAM BRUICHLADDICH RADICAL GBR DUNLOP RADICAL AER SR9 1 995 T30 RACING BOX SRL ITA DUNLOP LUCCHINI JUDD 3 395 A31 TEAM ESSEX DNK MICHELIN PORSCHE RS SPYDER 3 396 A32 BARAZI EPSILON FRA MICHELIN ZYTEK 07S 3 396 A33 SPEEDY RACING TEAM SEBAH CHE LOLA JUDD 3 394 A34 VAN MERKSTEIJN MOTORSPORT NLD MICHELIN PORSCHE RS SPYDER 3 396 A35 SAULNIER RACING FRA MICHELIN PESCAROLO JUDD 3 395 A40 QUIFEL - ASM TEAM PRT DUNLOP LOLA AER B05 - 40 1 995 T41 TRADING PERFORMANCE CHE MICHELIN ZYTEK 07S 3 396 A44 KRUSE SCHILLER MOTORSPORT DEU DUNLOP LOLA MAZDA 1 997 T45 EMBASSY RACING GBR MICHELIN EMBASSY ZYTEK 3 396 ANo LM GT1 NAT. TYRES CAR Ccs*007 ASTON MARTIN RACING GBR MICHELIN ASTON MARTIN DBR9 5 993 A009 ASTON MARTIN RACING GBR MICHELIN ASTON MARTIN DBR9 5 993 A50 LARBRE COMPETITION FRA SALEEN S7R 6 997 A53 VITAPHONE RACING TEAM DEU MICHELIN ASTON MARTIN DBR9 5 993 A55 INTERPROGRESSBANK SPARTAK RACING RUS MICHELIN LAMBORGHINI MURCIELAGO 5 988 A59 TEAM MODENA GBR MICHELIN ASTON MARTIN DBR9 5 993 A63 CORVETTE RACING USA MICHELIN CORVETTE C6.R 6 993 A64 CORVETTE RACING USA MICHELIN CORVETTE C6.R 6 993 A72 LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES FRA MICHELIN CORVETTE C6.R 6 993 A73 LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES FRA MICHELIN CORVETTE C6.R 6 993 ANo LM GT2 NAT. TYRES CAR Ccs*76 IMSA PERFORMANCE MATMUT FRA MICHELIN PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997) 3 795 A77 TEAM FELBERMAYR-PROTON DEU MICHELIN PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997) 3 795 A78 AF CORSE SRL ITA MICHELIN FERRARI F 430 GT 3 996 A80 FLYING LIZARD MOTORSPORTS USA MICHELIN PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997) 3 795 A81 TAFEL RACING USA MICHELIN FERRARI F 430 GT 3 996 A82 RISI COMPETIZIONE USA MICHELIN FERRARI F 430 GT 3 996 A83 RISI COMPETIZIONE USA MICHELIN FERRARI F 430 GT 3 996 A85 SPYKER SQUADRON b.v. NLD MICHELIN SPYKER C8 LAVIOLETTE 4 000 A90 FARNBACHER RACING DEU FERRARI F 430 GT 3 996 A94 SPEEDY RACING TEAM CHE MICHELIN SPYKER C8 LAVIOLETTE 4 000 A96 VIRGO MOTORSPORT GBR DUNLOP FERRARI F 430 GT 3 996 A97 BMS SCUDERIA ITALIA SPA ITA PIRELLI FERRARI F 430 GT 3 996 A99 JMB RACING MCO MICHELIN FERRARI F 430 GT 3 996 ACAT RESERVE NAT. TYRES CAR Ccs*LM P1 R1 SAULNIER RACING FRA MICHELIN PESCAROLO JUDD 5 496 ALM GT1 R2 INTERPROGRESSBANK SPARTAK RACING RUS MICHELIN LAMBORGHINI MURCIELAGO 5 988 ALM P1 R3 EPSILON EUSKADI ESP MICHELIN EPSILON EUSKADI JUDD 5 496 ALM GT2 R4 IMSA PERFORMANCE MATMUT FRA MICHELIN PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997) 3 795 ALM P1 R5 CREATION AUTOSPORTIF LTD GBR DUNLOP CREATION AIM CA07 5 496 ALM GT2 R6 SPYKER SQUADRON b.v. NLD MICHELIN SPYKER C8 LAVIOLETTE 4 000 ALM GT2 R7 TEAM FELBERMAYR-PROTON DEU MICHELIN PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997) 3 795 ALM GT1 R8 LARBRE COMPETITION FRA SALEEN S7R 6 997 A
