British teams miss the cut at Le Mans

Of the prototypes, British specialist marques Ascari and Harrier were ejected, after neither completed more than a few laps.

The Harrier open top car blew its Porsche engine after a couple of laps, and could not fit a replacement. Ascari continued to suffer gearbox maladies - which they had attempted to cure by commissioning a new gearbox. Sadly, the new component did not arrive in time for the test, and Ascari will consequently sit out the race.

This year, there was no official timing, and the invited cars were weeded down to 48 by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest selection panel.

A further casualty was the Roock GTS Porsche, which despite being a Le Mans stalwart, is showing its age. The GTS class is rapidly becoming a haven for US heavy metal, as the ORECA team Chrysler Vipers appear to be meeting their match in the Corvette C5Rs.

Only one team in the GT class failed to gain an entry to the race, the rest of the Porsche GT3Rs qualifying comfortably. The GT3R is the only car entered in the 'baby' GT class.