[LM24] Le Mans 2008 - Entry List/Driver News

[supermario21]

I think the YGK car is the first retirement, the Courage Mugen will probably be reliable. Is the Terramos car works supported at all by Mugen? I know the car was entered by Mugen Motorsports in the JLMC the last two years and the car was part of the now nulled agreement between Courage and Mugen. But with regards to the Porsche drivers, I noticed a few points saying Lieb is Felbermayer's and Henzler is Lizard's. While that may seem true, they are likely no more than property of Porsche, and as factory drivers, they will go anywhere the factory tells them to. But yes, Massen in the Essex car could give it an edge over van Merkjistein, even though Bleekemolen is a talent as well.

[WMUCarGuy]

I wish Long were in the Lizard's Porsche. I'd love to see him win in an American Porsche.

[TIMELORD]

Using relative performances in qualifying so far this year, I've come up with this list of predicted qualifying times for Le Mans. The pole time is based on the fact that, at the circuits visited by LMS so far this year, the pole time has been markedly quicker than in 2007.

Pos	No	Class	Team	Car	Prediction
1	8	P1	Team Peugeot	Peugeot 908	3:21.6
2	7	P1	Team Peugeot	Peugeot 908	3:22.1
3	9	P1	Peugeot Sport	Peugeot 908	3:23.3
4	2	P1	Audi Sport NA	Audi R10	3:23.9
5	1	P1	Audi Sport NA	Audi R10	3:25.0
6	3	P1	Audi Sport Joest	Audi R10	3:26.2
7	10	P1	Charouz	Lola Aston Martin	3:27.1
8	6	P1	ORECA Matmut	Courage-Judd	3:29.0
9	16	P1	Pescarolo Sport	Pescarolo Judd	3:31.2
10	5	P1	ORECA Matmut	Courage-Judd	3:31.5
11	34	P2	Van Merksteijn	Porsche RS Spyder	3:31.5
12	14	P1	Creation	Creation AIM	3:32.3
13	12	P1	Charouz	Lola Judd	3:32.4
14	17	P1	Pescarolo Sport	Pescarolo Judd	3:33.0
15	33	P2	Speedy Racing	Lola Judd	3:33.5
16	20	P1	Epsilon Euskadi	Epsilon Euskadi Judd	3:34.1
17	18	P1	Rollcentre	Pescarolo Judd	3:34.5
18	31	P2	Team Essex	Porsche RS Spyder	3:35.1
19	32	P2	Barazi Epsilon	Zytek 07S	3:35.3
20	25	P2	RML	Lola MG B05-40	3:36.8
21	40	P2	Quifel ASM	Lola AER B05-40	3:36.8
22	19	P1	Chamberlain	Lola AER B06-10	3:37.0
23	45	P2	Embassy Racing	Embassy Zytek	3:37.9
24	44	P2	Kruse Schiller	Lola Mazda	3:39.0
25	35	P2	Saulnier	Pescarolo Judd	3:39.3
26	23	P1	Autocon	Creation Judd	3:39.8
27	22	P1	Tokai University	Courage-ORECA YGK	3:40.0
28	24	P1	Terramos	Courage Mugen	3:40.0
29	41	P2	Trading Performance	Zytek 07S	3:42.0
30	4	P1	Saulnier	Pescarolo Judd	3:42.9
31	26	P2	Bruichladdich	Radical AER SR9	3:43.4
32	007	GT1	Aston Martin	Aston Martin DBR9	3:44.5
33	11	P1	Dome	Dome Judd S102	3:45.0
34	64	GT1	Corvette	Corvette C6.R	3:45.4
35	63	GT1	Corvette	Corvette C6.R	3:46.0
36	30	P2	Racing Box	Lucchini Judd	3:49.5
37	009	GT1	Aston Martin	Aston Martin DBR9	3:50.0
38	59	GT1	Team Modena	Aston Martin DBR9	3:50.2
39	72	GT1	Luc Alphand	Corvette C6.R	3:50.4
40	53	GT1	Vitaphone	Aston Martin DBR9	3:50.8
41	78	GT2	AF Corse	Ferrari F430GT	3:51.0
42	97	GT2	BMS Scuderia Italia	Ferrari F430GT	3:52.0
43	55	GT1	IPB Spartak Racing	Lamborghini	3:52.5
44	50	GT1	Larbre	Saleen S7R	3:53.0
45	82	GT2	Risi Competizione	Ferrari F430GT	3:53.3
46	73	GT1	Luc Alphand	Corvette C6.R	3:53.7
47	80	GT2	Flying Lizard	Porsche 911 GT3	3:53.7
48	83	GT2	Risi Competizione	Ferrari F430GT	3:55.0
49	96	GT2	Virgo	Ferrari F430GT	3:59.0
50	77	GT2	Felbermayr-Proton	Porsche 911 GT3	4:00.1
51	90	GT2	Farnbacher	Ferrari F430GT	4:01.2
52	76	GT2	IMSA Matmut	Porsche 911 GT3	4:01.4
53	99	GT2	JMB Racing	Ferrari F430GT	4:03.2
54	85	GT2	Spyker Squadron	Spyker C8	4:04.7
55	94	GT2	Speedy Racing	Spyker C8	4:06.8

Predictions are based on driver line-ups as shown on:
http://www.planetlemans.com/le-mans-2008-entry-list/

I'd love to know what people think of the predicted lap times, as it is interesting for comparing the form of the various teams. I'm sure that some of the above times are way out, so I'll bow down to your superior knowledge and wait to be corrected!

[Sarthe82]

Interesting list there, great work! Wouldn't expect an invite to the Spyker pits anytime soon 'tho!

Having a quick perusal, and no doubt stating the obvious, what it doesn't show is just what a battle its going to be for pole between Audi and Peugeot. The likes of McNish and Kristensen are going to be really gunning it to stick it on pole and get their retaliation in early, if the weather plays ball Thursday night qualifying is going to be epic!

[SebringMG]

Interesting that you place the P1 Dome so low down the list when it has just proven quicker than the remainder of the petrol class while testing at Spa yesterday......i presume you did not have access to this info when creating your list ?

[Aysedasi]

That's a great piece of work TIMELORD, whatever everyone thinks about the likely accuracy!

[The Badger]

Your damn close to my pole prediction mate !!!

[prototype]

Good predictions. Looka like the Dome will go faster.

Something tells me Peugeot wont grab pole by 2 seconds over Audi. I think they will have pole, but 2 seconds?

[TIMELORD]

Originally Posted by SebringMG

Interesting that you place the P1 Dome so low down the list when it has just proven quicker than the remainder of the petrol class while testing at Spa yesterday......i presume you did not have access to this info when creating your list ?

Thanks SebringMG, I wasn't aware of that! It seems that the Dome could be capable of a 3:27 if it is potentially quicker than the Charouz Lola.

[Stephan2738]

Great achievement TIMELORD!

It seems that the GT2 class is too quick though. I think they are not capable of breaking the 4 minute barrier, furthermore I can't see the GT2 frontrunners beat the Lamborghini in GT1.

But very well done and now I'm even more anxious to see the first times of the testday and offcourse later that month qualifying!

[arakis]

yeah, times at monza were maybe a second quicker this yar for the gt2, so I would expect a 2 sec quicker times at most at Le mans, so around the 4:01 Quailify, and 4:03 best lap

[minimangler]

Originally Posted by prototype

Good predictions. Looka like the Dome will go faster.

Something tells me Peugeot wont grab pole by 2 seconds over Audi. I think they will have pole, but 2 seconds?

Yep, i think maybe by more, nishy or no nishy.

And Lambo will be much faster at LM, you've included FIA GT qualifying, where both sessions have been weird and very beneficial to GT2.

[arakis]

the explanation for Marc Lieb not being in the Felmbayer Proton car this year is that he has studieing obligations in june. so we are probaly not be seing him this year, wich is a great shame becouse he is a very fast driver.

here is were i got the news http://www.motorsport-aktuell.com/artikel_3562.html its in german youl need to translate it

[The Badger]

Ahhh ******** !!!

I can see seth Neiman in that car then . Hope its Bernhard or Pilet though .

[arakis]

someone needs to email Af Corse, Bms Scuderia and Flying lizard, team for any inside info on who are candidates for Le mans, Lizard know their lineup for sure, becouse they are set to fly to France this week.

[WMUCarGuy]

My guess for the Lizards will be Bergmeister/Henzler/Van Overbeek.

With so many great drivers already in the Lizard family, I don't see them reaching out for other drivers.

[arakis]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

My guess for the Lizards will be Bergmeister/Henzler/Van Overbeek.

With so many great drivers already in the Lizard family, I don't see them reaching out for other drivers.

henzler is in the Felmbayer car

[RacersGroup]

Hello there,

just wanted to join this great forum. The thread's are always very informative and sometimes funny.
I will go to Le Mans for the 13th time in a row this year. And can't wait to see the upcoming GT2-Battle! Hope Porsche will take a win and beat the Ferrari's. (Flying Lizard )

[RacersGroup]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Ahhh ******** !!!

I can see seth Neiman in that car then . Hope its Bernhard or Pilet though .

I think the same. I would like to see Pilet in the car. His performance in the last races was outstanding. Maybe he will take the third drive in the Lizard-Porsche because he's a frenchman. My dream team: Bergmeister/van Overbeek/Pilet.

But Neiman was always part of Lizard LM-line up. So i think this year the same! And only a small chance for another Porsche win in Le Mans...

[arakis]

welcome to the forum, those words are musik to my ears

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by RacersGroup

I think the same. I would like to see Pilet in the car. His performance in the last races was outstanding. Maybe he will take the third drive in the Lizard-Porsche because he's a frenchman. My dream team: Bergmeister/van Overbeek/Pilet.

But Neiman was always part of Lizard LM-line up. So i think this year the same! And only a small chance for another Porsche win in Le Mans...

Hi

Ive had my dream team smashed today .

I wanted to see Bergmeister-Overbeek-Lieb .

I know that Nienam is normally part of the team , but normally there are more Porsche's at Le Mans , and if their serious about winning they have to crew the car better than what they intend to !!!

I think the IMSA car have a very big chance of winning again , as long as Salo or Melo or Bruni doesnt take it out !!!

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by RacersGroup

I think the same. I would like to see Pilet in the car. His performance in the last races was outstanding. Maybe he will take the third drive in the Lizard-Porsche because he's a frenchman. My dream team: Bergmeister/van Overbeek/Pilet.

But Neiman was always part of Lizard LM-line up. So i think this year the same! And only a small chance for another Porsche win in Le Mans...

As I remember it, Ferrari outnumbered Porsche last year as well and Porsche still won, and it seems like Porsche has considerably closed the big gap Ferrari had last year, so I wouldn't be suprised at all to see Porsche win again. They're Porsche after all.

[arakis]

lets quit ferrari Porsche bikering in this thread, just post the latest news of line up, or i have a sneaky suspision that the moderator patience it going thin

[Aysedasi]

Thank you.........

[The Badger]

What free spaces are there left now ?

1 seat in the Lambo ? ..... maybe Bouchet . He would partner Kox very well indeed .
1 seat in the Epsilon ?
1 seat in the Saulnier LMP2 ?
1 seat in the Radical ?
2 seats for Racing Box ?
2 seats at Larbre ? ..... maybe Bouchet & Haliday .
1 seat at BMS ?

Not many places left now .

Wasnt there something about "savoldi" who was with Racing Box , he said he was looking for a drive for Le Mans , maybe with Saulnier .