[LM24] OFFICIAL 2013 LE MANS ENTRY LIST

[Simmi]

Awesome to see Karun Chandhok and Kamui Kobayashi testing for AF Corse!

Would be great to have Karun back and Kamui in sportscars.

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...nce-15800.html

The Ferrari Pro seats were intriguing me and now they are REALLY intriguing me. Luca Filippi also in the mix. I wonder if he'd be rated Platinum to scupper his Am chances? What do you reckon Victor?

Also, is Vilander done? Bertolini? We know Beretta will do Le Mans but there are some clashes with his Risi duties in the ALMS coming up.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Awesome to see Karun Chandhok and Kamui Kobayashi testing for AF Corse!

Would be great to have Karun back and Kamui in sportscars.

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...nce-15800.html

The Ferrari Pro seats were intriguing me and now they are REALLY intriguing me. Luca Filippi also in the mix. I wonder if he'd be rated Platinum to scupper his Am chances? What do you reckon Victor?

Also, is Vilander done? Bertolini? We know Beretta will do Le Mans but there are some clashes with his Risi duties in the ALMS coming up.

I have a feeling we'll see Vilander and Bertolini back.

[TF110]

If Kobayashi could do what Nakajima has done in terms of speed, he'll be a good bet. He has experience on every circuit but LeMans, but Nakajima was a rookie as well and set some blazing times. Pity he ran into the little black delta. I'm rooting for him.

[wewantourdarbyback]

If you look at Nakajima's time in F1 you'll see he always had fantastic outright and race pace, just with a tendancy to throw it off the course. As for Kobayashi he has a little less outright pace but, I think, a little more control, so I see no problem with him in WEC racing.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by wewantourdarbyback

If you look at Nakajima's time in F1 you'll see he always had fantastic outright and race pace, just with a tendancy to throw it off the course. As for Kobayashi he has a little less outright pace but, I think, a little more control, so I see no problem with him in WEC racing.

A little more control? Laughable!!!

...no offense, but Kobayashi is called "Kobash" for a very good reason. Just think back to the 2012 Korean Grand Prix.

As for the Ferrari deal, I've done a little more thinking. Karun Chandhok has shown his mettle in the WEC and it would be a crying shame for him not to get a spot. There's certainly plenty in LMP2, which is why I am a little bit confused that he is obviously trying out for GTE. He's always been an LMP and Formula driver, not really a GT driver. As for Kobayashi, same thing. LMP2 would suit him better. Davide Rigon would be a perfect fit for the #71 in Le Mans and the WEC.

Here's how it could roll out...

Situation #1: No full-time Beretta in WEC because of ALMS duties and no Bertolini... three open spots for the #71 Le Mans and two for full-time WEC

Situation #2: No full-time Beretta in WEC because of ALMS duties, Bertolini returns... two open spots for Le Mans for the #71 and one for full-time WEC

Situation #3: Vilander at Le Mans, no open spot for #51

Situation #4: No Vilander at Le Mans, one spot for #51

A lot of different things could happen. One can only wait for the next news clip. I expect we'll hear by the beginning of March... significant time after the test for them to evaluate their options and make a good decision.

One more thing... why is Melo "out of Ferrari factory duties" this year?

[Beryl]

Originally Posted by wewantourdarbyback

If you look at Nakajima's time in F1 you'll see he always had fantastic outright and race pace, just with a tendancy to throw it off the course. As for Kobayashi he has a little less outright pace but, I think, a little more control, so I see no problem with him in WEC racing.

Only if you think Rosberg is god in a racing car. Look, Kobayashi was far closer to Perez in terms of pace than Nakajima was to Rosberg. Nakajima never had outstanding race pace in F1, I rate Kobayashi as the better F1 driver in almost every criteria.

Originally Posted by Beetle

A little more control? Laughable!!!

...no offense, but Kobayashi is called "Kobash" for a very good reason. Just think back to the 2012 Korean Grand Prix.

Are you joking or are you making a fool of yourself?

Kobayashi was never crash prone in his time in F1, especially for someone who was always in the midfield and was an aggressive overtaker. His teammate Perez crashed out of more races. So did Michael Schumacher. Obviously he did have a moment or two where carbon fiber was shattered (in 2012, Korea and Valencia), but so did almost every driver on the grid. Kobayashi is, looking at the overall picture, reliable hands.

[FstrthnU]

Since ESM is moving to P2 in ALMS, the status of their GTE-Am entry is in question.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

Since ESM is moving to P2 in ALMS, the status of their GTE-Am entry is in question.

Well they still own 2 cars so they could participate if they didn't use the budget in acquiring the P2 hardware.

[The Badger]

From ESM's Scott Sharp :

It’s unclear the status of ESM’s entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the Florida-based team had entered a Ferrari in the GTE-Am category. Sharp, however, said they will continue their relationship with Ferrari in the GRAND-AM GT class and Ferrari Challenge.

If its pulled , then the next entry on reserve is :

98 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin Vantage V8 – Stuart Hall

[GT6]

Well another Aston would be nice

[The Badger]

Question ..... as im not sure . Can ESM change their class , or was it they can change their chassis .

Wasnt that how Lister ended up at Le Mans with their P1 ..... won the Fia Gt with a Lister GT1 , and were allowed to race in P1 ..... or am I missing something ?

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Question ..... as im not sure . Can ESM change their class , or was it they can change their chassis .

Wasnt that how Lister ended up at Le Mans with their P1 ..... won the Fia Gt with a Lister GT1 , and were allowed to race in P1 ..... or am I missing something ?

Simple answer: no they can't. If they come to Le Mans, they will have to keep one of the Ferraris and run it there.

[wewantourdarbyback]

Originally Posted by Beetle

A little more control? Laughable!!!

...no offense, but Kobayashi is called "Kobash" for a very good reason. Just think back to the 2012 Korean Grand Prix.

If you can pick out five times he threw his car off the track to end a race I will give you a smartie.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Simple answer: no they can't. If they come to Le Mans, they will have to keep one of the Ferraris and run it there.

Ok , they can change chassis , but not class .

[Erw]

No driver from Holland this year it seems

[Simmi]

Can't say I'm surprised to see ESM potentially ducking out.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Can't say I'm surprised to see ESM potentially ducking out.

They say they're keeping one 458 so who knows?

[vincegail]

Originally Posted by Erw

No driver from Holland this year it seems

Not even Bleekemolen? Strange.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

They say they're keeping one 458 so who knows?

Hopefully they will make the trip. They can learn a few things for the future and, as was mentioned in the ALMS thread, it frees them up a lot logistically.

[Victor_RO]

Well this is as far out of left-field as far out of left-field goes... Jota have drafted in Lucas Luhr for Le Mans. http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...cus-15887.html

Which shows further that speculations about LMP2 line-ups are pointless until teams announce line-ups.

[Simmi]

Definitely left field, but happy to see Lucas back in the mix all the same.

Will be interesting to see Turvey's pace but with Dolan coming on so much this will be a trio to watch.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Definitely left field, but happy to see Lucas back in the mix all the same.

Will be interesting to see Turvey's pace but with Dolan coming on so much this will be a trio to watch.

Yeah, a fast gentleman driver (i.e. Dolan, DHH, Thiriet, Perez-Companc) plus two seasoned pros is a mighty combination in LMP2.

[pettersolberg29]

Not sure where to fit this as the speculation thread has been locked but there is substantial rumours suggesting Petter Solberg will be competing in the LM24h this year with the Oreca team - from Norwegian press.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by pettersolberg29

Not sure where to fit this as the speculation thread has been locked but there is substantial rumours suggesting Petter Solberg will be competing in the LM24h this year with the Oreca team - from Norwegian press.

With what Oreca team? There's 8 LMP2 Orecas run by 8 different teams (none of them being the "factory" team).

[pettersolberg29]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

With what Oreca team? There's 8 LMP2 Orecas run by 8 different teams (none of them being the "factory" team).

I'm afraid that's all the information I have - I'm not a Le Mans expert I'm afraid but I know LM24 is in his plans, and Norwegian press have been reporting his previous links with Oreca (did some tests for them 3 or so years back) will come to fruition this year. If I hear more I'll put it on here.