[LM24] Entries For Le Mans 2009 (Speculation)

[Mal]

Originally Posted by isynge

Astonished by Audi only taking up two works entries - unless they're reprising 2001 and running two works along with a pair of privateers.

This probably paves the way for 2 or 3 of the Audi works drivers to run LMS and Le Mans with Kolles - otherwise with 3 works cars at Le Mans, if Kolles ran works drivers in LMS he would have no drivers for Le Mans

[Marcel ten Caat]

Err, you guys do remember that Audi said this: "Audi Sport Team Joest will field three new R15 TDI prototypes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans." ?

If Audi had taken up that third automatic entry there would have been 2 North America cars and only 1 Team Joest. They know the ACO will accept a third R15 anyways, so they decide not to take up the second NA entry and apply for a second Team Joest car. (maximum number of cars per 'team' = 2)

If those Joest cars take first and second and North America car finishes outside the top 2 there is another problem solved as Joest will have two automatic entries and North America name is officially gone from Le Mans then.

(Ditto story for Team Goh mentioned before. Better to win Le Mans under your own banner than racing it and seeing "Van Merksteijn Motorsport" in the history books.)

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Stranger

Err, you guys do remember that Audi said this: "Audi Sport Team Joest will field three new R15 TDI prototypes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans." ?

If Audi had taken up that third automatic entry there would have been 2 North America cars and only 1 Team Joest. They know the ACO will accept a third R15 anyways, so they decide not to take up the second NA entry and apply for a second Team Joest car. (maximum number of cars per 'team' = 2)

If those Joest cars take first and second and North America car finishes outside the top 2 there is another problem solved as Joest will have two automatic entries and North America name is officially gone from Le Mans then.

(Ditto story for Team Goh mentioned before. Better to win Le Mans under your own banner than racing it and seeing "Van Merksteijn Motorsport" in the history books.)

You are probably right - but it is not beyond possibilites that things have changed and when the opportunity to sell two R10's to Kolles came along they decided to save the cost of building one of the R15's. It all depends in what is in the terms of the 'Service agreement'

[Jennifer_ni]

Anyone know if Creation plan to enter this year?

[The Badger]

Not sure what their planning at all to be honest . They did write off the LMS saying that there was little chance , but said that they would more than likely do the ALMS , or at least some of it ..... but that seems to have petered out . Maybe they will just do the big events like Sebring and PLM ?

Do they deserve an entry at Le Mans ?

I think they bit off more than they could chew . Mignt be better for them to regroup in LMP2 ? Shame really ..... I loved it when that car went well .

About the 3rd R15 , if they enter one , can you see the ACO turning them away ?

[Jennifer_ni]

Personally i do think they deserve an entry. Their car is always well preparedd and they are a very professional team and when it all comes together for them they have proved in the passt they can get the results.

[Le Vieux]

I'm confused (not for the first time!)

GM were ion doubt because of the credit crunch, they's run out of money etc., but they have accepted their two automatic entries in GT1.

Aston, however, have remained silent, but have not taken up a GT1 entry. Does this mean no Astons in GT1, or will there be a works-supported private entry or two?

Conversely, does it mean that all of AM's efforts will go into P1? If so, will it still be with a Lola chassis?

Does anyone have any information/suggestions/wild guesses?

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Jennifer_ni

Personally i do think they deserve an entry. Their car is always well preparedd and they are a very professional team and when it all comes together for them they have proved in the passt they can get the results.

Yeah well , Le Mans is a little bit more special than an average LMS race . Would you turn away a better car to let a Creation in ?

Creation sadly , have lost their way , and as much as they might deserve an entry , they dont on past recent results ..... at all !!!

When was the last few times that it has come together for Creation ?

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Le Vieux

I'm confused (not for the first time!)

GM were ion doubt because of the credit crunch, they's run out of money etc., but they have accepted their two automatic entries in GT1.

Aston, however, have remained silent, but have not taken up a GT1 entry. Does this mean no Astons in GT1, or will there be a works-supported private entry or two?

I believe AM have said they'd support GT1 teams capable of getting a result. That probably means Gigawave and possibly Jetalliance, at least there was some talk about them applying.

Conversely, does it mean that all of AM's efforts will go into P1? If so, will it still be with a Lola chassis?

From what I've read: Built by Lola for Aston Martin. Different design than last year's.

[Le Vieux]

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

I believe AM have said they'd support GT1 teams capable of getting a result. That probably means Gigawave and possibly Jetalliance, at least there was some talk about them applying.


From what I've read: Built by Lola for Aston Martin. Different design than last year's.

Thanks for the clarification Dead Eye

[Pilgrimage]

So did AM give a statement about not taking up auto GT1 spots?

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Jennifer_ni

Anyone know if Creation plan to enter this year?

Both Le Mans and the ALMS are on their list as of a few days ago. Whether or not the ACO will grant the invite? Or they will actually make the ALMS grid? But I hope so!!


L.P.

[isynge]

Creation are one of the squads that I think warrant an entry. I know there'll always be a debate between people like me who like the diversity and romance of the enthusiatic guys who have a go and sometimes have things come good for them, and those who'd like another R15 or 908 on the grid, but Creation have been solid supporters of sportscar racing on both sides of the Atlantic for many years, and they deserve some credit for that.

There is also the issue that the CA07 isn't a bad car at all. It's clearly capable of lapping quickly, especially when you think about it being on Dunlops, and a lot of their on track problems in recent years can be put down to simple bad luck (JC-W's accident at Monza, Nakano's propensity to drive into things in 2007 for example) and while off track they've unquestionably had their issues I'd not hold that against them as far as letting them come along in June.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by isynge

Creation have been solid supporters of sportscar racing on both sides of the Atlantic for many years, and they deserve some credit for that.

They certainly deserve credit .

Overall , Le Mans is the biggest race in the world , and some level of success and reliability should accompany an entry .

I certainly dont like the idea of more than 2 Audi's & Pug's doing the rounds .

But I want to see a car that will be reasonably reliable and put on a good show ..... which sadly Creation cant do , or at least has never done up until now anyway .

Why not let in a Lavaggi then ..... and a customer one as well .

[Sirius Motorspo]

It looks like danish squad Poulsen Motorsport will be racing the Essex Porsche Spyder inthe 24H this summer with Kristian Poulsen, Casper Elgaard and possibly Sasha Maassen in the driver line-up and John Nielsen as Team Manager..

Maassen had an entry in his guestbook about this topic late yesterday evening, but it was gone this morning, so something is up, for sure..;-)

People very close to management i Essex Invest have already comfirmed the rumour on danish forum motorsporten.dk

http://www.motorsporten.dk/forum/Sho...stID=9523#9523 (Danish Only..)

[The Badger]

Nice one ..... whats this Poulsen like ?

The car will still have to be entered under the Team Essex banner though . Porsche obviously are helping out a bit here , Maassen is a works driver , and up until last week his 2009 calender was still open .

Any word about that West-Tec Spyder rumour ?

[isynge]

Originally Posted by The Badger

They certainly deserve credit .

Overall , Le Mans is the biggest race in the world , and some level of success and reliability should accompany an entry .

I certainly dont like the idea of more than 2 Audi's & Pug's doing the rounds .

But I want to see a car that will be reasonably reliable and put on a good show ..... which sadly Creation cant do , or at least has never done up until now anyway .

Why not let in a Lavaggi then ..... and a customer one as well .

In principle I wholly agree - I'd love to see a Lavaggi at Le Mans, although he's consistently said he can run a number of races for the price of a run at the 24 hours. In particular I can see this argument having validity for a 2nd Creation entry - in 2006 and perhaps 2007 an argument could have been made for them warranting a second car, this is much less strong a case now.

That said, Lavaggi aside, what car is being kept out by a single Creation? ECO Radical perhaps?

Aside from that I see Rollcentre have put an entry application in to run their Pescarolo (which clearly hasn't sold). Hope they get an invite (even if this does run contrary to my "oh no not yet another" argument) - another great team that's brought a lot to the race over the years.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by isynge

That said, Lavaggi aside, what car is being kept out by a single Creation? ECO Radical perhaps?

Maybe a decent LMP2 , GT1 or GT2 .

[HORNDAWG]

Confirmation of Creation's application for Le Mans. here



L.P.

[The Badger]

Will they do a full ALMS campaign ..... hope so ?

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Will they do a full ALMS campaign ..... hope so ?

Seems to be their plans/hopes!



L.P.

[FIRE]

Memo Gidley joins Racing Box for Le Mans. Source: Marshall Pruett @ RLM

[Jamesy-18]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Seems to be their plans/hopes!



L.P.

Don't get me started on that. Hopefully they return to the LMS soon though.

Anyway, i'm amazed Horag won't take up their entry. They have been one of my favourite LMP2 teams, so to see them not enter is dissapointing.

[Jennifer_ni]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Confirmation of Creation's application for Le Mans. here



L.P.

Excellent!!

[The Badger]

Im just wondering if we will see Fernandez at Le Mans with his Acura LMP2 ?

He says that he has the budget for ALMS from Lowes ..... Lowes sponsored him at Le mans in 2007 , and he says its basically unfinished business for him and he wants to do it again .

Be great to see that LMP2 car at Le Mans !!!