The 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans Preview
The recipe for success at Le Mans requires a lot of different ingredients. Gary Watkins looks through the entry list to see who has what it takes
LMP1
Audi Sport North America/Team Joest Audi R10 TDI
No. 1
Marco WERNER (D)
Emanuele PIRRO (I)
Frank BIELA (D)
No. 2
Allan McNISH (GB)
Tom KRISTENSEN (DK)
Rinaldo CAPELLO (I)
No. 3
Lucas LUHR (D)
Alexandre PREMAT (F)
Mike ROCKENFELLER (D)
Audi arrives at Le Mans on the back of three defeats in the Le Mans Series at the hands of Peugeot. That makes the German manufacturer second favourite for another victory in the 24 Hours. The gap between the R10 and the Peugeot 908, even on the fast circuits such as Monza, suggests it will be outpaced around the Circuit de la Sarthe.
The Audi's ability to race near to its qualifying pace and the renowned serviceability of its cars, combined with superior fuel consumption, are its only hopes. Expect the sportscar superteam of McNish, Kristensen and Capello to lead the chase of the 908s.
We say: Second favourite, but still right in the fight
Saulnier Racing Pescarolo-Judd 01
Jacques NICOLET (F)
Marc FAGGIONATO (MC)
Richard HEIN (MC)
The Magny-Cours-based team that bears the name of Peugeot Sport team manager Serge Saulnier (he sold out at the end of 2006) is now part of Group Pescarolo Automobiles. That explains the decision to swap from the solo Courage LMP2 it ran last year to a pair of Judd-powered Pescarolo O1s, this one in LMP1, and the first factory-built P2 version of the car.
The P1 entry is pedalled by a squad of amateur drivers, including team boss Nicolet. They haven't starred in the Le Mans Series and will need to exploit the Pescarolo's strong reliability to the full to get near the top 10.
We say: LMP1 backmarkers with a good chance of finishing
Team ORECA Matmut Courage-ORECA-Judd LC70
Soheil AYARI (F)
Loic DUVAL (F)
Laurent GROPPI (F)
No. 6
Olivier PANIS (F)
Nicolas LAPIERRE (F)
Simon PAGENAUD (F)
ORECA boss Hugues de Chaunac ramped up his latest bid to win Le Mans by buying Courage Competition last September. A revised version of the Courage LC70, which retains little of the original apart from the monocoque, has put the Judd-powered car right behind the Lola-Aston in the petrol-powered speed stakes.
Top-line drivers (including sportscar newcomer Panis and single-seater graduate Lapierre), ORECA's experience, and the fact that it is running two strong cars, put it among the favourites to win the unofficial petrol class. It will be doing well if it can repeat either its fourth or fifth-place finishes from 2001 and '02, however.
We say: Should be right in the hunt for petrol honours
Team Peugeot Total/Peugeot Sport Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
Nicolas MINASSIAN (F)
Marc GENE (E)
Jacques VILLENEUVE (CDN)
No. 8
Stephane SARRAZIN (F)
Alex WURZ (A)
Pedro LAMY (P)
No. 9
Franck MONTAGNY (F)
Ricardo ZONTA (BR)
Christian KLIEN (A)
Pole position for Sarrazin this time last year proved the 908 had the one-lap pace. On the evidence of its improvement on the Le Mans Series trail this year, it will be even faster this time. What chance a 3m20s pole time?
More importantly, it should have the race speed to go with it. There'll be no backing off this time to make the finish. Question marks still remain over the reliability of the 908 - witness two driveshaft failures at Monza - and its ability to be repaired in a hurry. Three strong driver line-ups could give it a further edge over Audi.
We say: Clear favourite, but doubts remain over reliability.
Charouz Racing System (Prodrive) Lola-Aston B08/60
Tomas ENGE (CZ)
Stefan MUCKE (D)
Jan CHAROUZ (CZ)
Czech entrant Antonin Charouz had a Lola coupe on order and Prodrive saw the potential to exploit new rules designed to encourage production-based engines.
The link between them is Enge (he's driven for Prodrive since 2002 and been managed by Charouz for even longer), and the result is a B08/60 powered by the DBR9 GT1 engine.
The project might have started late, but the results have been spectacular: the Lola-Aston has been fast, although not as reliable as a debut podium suggested it would be. Expect Enge, Mucke and Charouz to lead the chase of the diesels early on.
We say: Fastest petrol car, but the jury is out on reliability
Dome Racing Team Dome-Judd S102
Daisuke ITO (J)
Tatsuya KATAOKA (J)
Yuji TACHIKAWA (J)
Japanese constructor Dome has come out all guns blazing with a ground-up coupe design. It makes no secret of its desire to try to attract manufacturer backing for 2009, which is why it has taken the running of the Judd-powered S102 in house (and employed three Toyota drivers!).
Early testing suggests the Dome will have the pace to get in among the petrol frontrunners, but doubts remain over its reliability.
The car was scheduled to arrive at the Test Day with just four short tests under its belt after a delayed start to the programme. The all-Japanese driver line-up, without any Le Mans experience, may not get the most from the car.
We say: Delayed car will struggle to make the finish
Charouz Racing System (Jota) Lola-Judd B07/10
Jan LAMMERS (NL)
Klaus GRAF (D)
Greg PICKETT (USA)
This entry flies the Charouz flag, but the Lola-Judd is again run by the British Jota team, this time on behalf of Pickett's US CytoSport squad.
Team regular Graf has brought in former co-driver Lammers (they shared a Panoz at Petit Le Mans back in 1999) to bolster the line-up. Lammers is still quick at 52, Graf has led Le Mans (again in a Panoz), while former Trans-Am man Pickett faces a steep learning curve trying to learn the Circuit de la Sarthe the age of 61.
It adds up to a decent package that deserves its place on the Le Mans entry list.
We say: An outside bet for petrol honours
Creation AIM/Autocon Creation-AIM/Judd CA07
Stuart HALL (GB)
Johnny MOWLEM (GB)
Marc GOOSSENS (B)
No. 23
Chris McMURRY (USA)
Michael LEWIS (USA)
Bryan WILLMAN (USA)
This should be Creation's best Le Mans yet. A link-up with Japanese design consultancy AIM brings much-needed finance and a wide-angle version of Judd's 5.5-litre V10, and there are also development tyres from Dunlop.
The latest version of the CA07 has proved its speed in the Le Mans Series and has the potential to be up there with the best of the petrol cars, though recent management changes and the absence of Jamie Campbell-Walter through injury won't help its cause.
Creation runs a second, Judd-powered CA07 for the US Autocon team, which gained a Le Mans entry by virtue of driving around behind the Audis in the ALMS last year.
We say: Potential is likely to be untapped this year
Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo-Judd 01
Emmanuel COLLARD (F)
Romain DUMAS (F)
Jean-Christophe BOULLION (F)
No. 17
Benoit TRELUYER (F)
Christophe TINSEAU (F)
Harold PRIMAT (CH)
Pescarolo is unlikely to make it four podiums in four years, given that there are now six diesels, but it's definitely in with a shout for top honours in the unofficial petrol LMP1 class.
The Judd-powered Pescarolo always goes well at Le Mans - generally better in the race than in qualifying - and is a well-proven package with a good reliability record in the 24 Hours.
In Collard, Boullion and Dumas it has one of the best driver line-ups in the race. A top six, and first petrol contender home, has to be Pescarolo's target. The second car is probably best described as just that.
We say: In the mix for best in the petrol class
Rollcentre Racing Pescarolo-Judd 01
Joao BARBOSA (P)
Stephan GREGOIRE (F)
Vanina ICKX (B)
Martin Short's Rollcentre squad has been a giant-killer whenever it has competed in the LMP1 division. Remember its heroics at Le Mans with the Dallara LMP1 in 2005 and then fourth place last year?
A repeat is unlikely, given the step up in the quality of the opposition in P1 this year, but its steady run to points-paying positions in the first two Le Mans Series races means a position well into the top 10 is a realistic target.
Joining team leader Barbosa in Rollcentre's Pescarolo are the improving Ickx and former IRL driver Gregoire, who's back at Le Mans after five years away.
We say: Wait for the race for Rollcentre to shine
Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport Lola-AER B06/1
Bob BERRIDGE (GB)
Gareth EVANS (GB)
Amanda STRETTON (GB)
The team that bears the name of crowd favourite Hugh Chamberlain (who handles its relations with the organisers) is back with its regular AER-engined Lola B06/10 for a third season.
The big news at this tiny team is the arrival of Stretton, team boss Berridge's partner, and her bid to become the first British women in 30 years to take part in the 24 Hours.
The underrated Berridge will give it a go in qualifying, but after that it will be a case of trying to get the car to the chequered flag and improving on last year's delayed finish in 20th position.
We say: Unlikely to compete on pace; reliability questionable
Epsilon Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi-Judd EE1
Angel BURGUENO (E)
Miguel Angel DE CASTRO (E)
Adrian VALLES (E)
The Epsilon Euskadi is the brainchild of former Benetton team manager Joan Villadelprat and is designed by former Penske Champ Car man John Travis, along with the Italian Nisci engineering consultancy.
The belated result of their efforts is the beautiful Judd-powered EE1 coupe, which had barely turned a wheel prior to the Le Mans Series opener.
The car is improving all the time in the LMS and appears to like fast circuits, which bodes well for Le Mans. Its lack of mileage doesn't. The 24 Hours has come around just too soon for the Spanish team to achieve much. The driver line-up is strong rather than spectacular.
We say: Expect the odd flash of speed before an early bath
Tokai University - Ygk Power Courage-ORECA-YGK LC70
Toshio SUZUKI (J)
Haruki KUROSAWA (J)
Masami KAGEYAMA (J)
This is one of the more bizarre Le Mans projects in the race's history: a full-house prototype powered by a V8 turbo built by a company better known for generator engines - and all run by a bunch of students.
The brains behind the project is Tokai professor Yoshimasa Hayashi, who designed the Nissan turbo engine that propelled Mark Blundell to Le Mans pole 18 years ago. He's come up with another twin-turbo V8, which has been installed in a new Courage-ORECA, albeit without the latest aero tweaks found on the works cars.
A lack of testing means the team's three-year plan to win Le Mans will get off to a slow start.
We say: Le Mans will be little more than a test
Terramos Courage-Mugen LC70
Hiroki KATOH (J)
Kazuho TAKAHASHI (J)
Yojiro TERADA (J)
Yojiro Terada's love of Le Mans knows no bounds and for his 29th participation in the great race he's put together his own squad again -Terramos is a vague abbreviation of the words Terada and Motorsport.
The 61-year-old is running a Courage LC70, previously fielded in the defunct Japanese Le Mans Challenge by Mugen, together with Mooncraft, which happened to build the Mazdas he raced in the 24 Hours a quarter of a century ago.
The fast but sometimes wild Katoh gets a deserved recall to Le Mans and adds some much-needed speed to the line-up.
We say: No more than a grid filler
LMP2
RML MG-Lola EX265
Tommy ERDOS (BR)
Andy WALLACE (GB)
Mike NEWTON (GB)
The British RML squad and its unchanged driver line-up of Erdos, Newton and Wallace is bidding for a third LMP2 victory in four years with the Lola-based car it now calls the MG EX265. A deal with MG's new Chinese owners is paying for development of the AER turbo powerplant, but that is unlikely to be enough to keep RML in the same race as the Porsches.
We say: A reliable RML car is still a potential winner
Team Bruichladdich Radical Radical-AER SR9
Marc ROSTAN (F)
Ben DEVLIN (GB)
Gunnar JEANETTE (USA)
The works Radical team has gone against its original plan and chosen
drivers on the strength of their talents rather than the size of their wallets.
Devlin, Jeannette and Rostan add up to a strong line-up, though propelling the SR9 anywhere near the sharp end of the LMP2 is a big ask for any of them. Question marks remain about the speed and reliability of the AER-engined SR9.
We say: Neither the fastest, nor the most reliable
Racing Box Lucchini-Judd XV
Filippo FRANCIONI (I)
Ferdinando GERI (I)
Andrea CECCATO (I)
This Lucchini LMP2 chassis has been around since 2006 and is on course to give the little Italian marque its first start since 1993. Whether it can achieve anything is another matter, even with the handy Racing Box team running the thing and a Judd V8 back in the engine bay. The car has yet to show much in the way of pace or reliability in the LMS.
We say: Good team, average car
Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder
John NIELSEN (DK)
Casper ELGAARD (DK)
Sascha MAASSEN (D)
The team managed by former Le Mans winner Nielsen steps up from Danish touring cars with a Porsche and big ambitions. Essex already has a victory to its name in the Le Mans Series, even though the decision to use Dunlop tyres, rather than the Michelin around which the RS Spyder was developed, has left it trailing the Verschuur Porsche on pace.
The arrival of factory Spyder driver Maassen can only strengthen this team's Le Mans assault and means Essex is one of only two LMP2 teams with a trio of professional drivers. That must make it an equal favourite for P2 honours, along with Verschuur.
We say: Drivers' Le Mans experience could give them a vital edge
Barazi-Epsilon Zytek 07S/2
Michael VERGERS (NL)
Juan BARAZI (DK)
Stuart MOSELEY (GB)
The Le Mans-based Epsilon team, which now has no formal link with the Spanish Epsilon Euskadi organisation, is a regular at the 24 Hours and was a class winner in last year's Le Mans Series with the first LMP2 Zytek.
Vergers was a regular pacesetter in P2 and was on the class pole at Le Mans, but then he did have the best car. That's no longer the case, though he'll still be disappointed if he's not up there snapping at the heels of the Porsches in qualifying. Epsilon will have to put its poor Le Mans record behind it if it's to register a decent result.
We say: Unlikely to be up front deep into the race
Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola-Judd B08/80
Andrea BELICCHI (I)
Xavier POMPIDOU (F)
Steve ZACCHIA (CH)
The LMP2 version of the Lola coupe proved its pace straight away at the Barcelona Le Mans Series opener. Despite minimum testing, the Speedy B08/80 mixed it with the Porsches and ended up second.
Le Mans should be the ideal hunting ground for this closed-top design and the latest Judd V8. The Swiss Speedy organisation made a smart choice when it picked Hugh Hayden's Sebah team to run the car, while the combination of Belicchi (possibly a sportscar star of the future), Pompidou (an ultra-experienced long-distance racer) and Zacchia (one of the revelations of this year's LMS) is among the best LMP2 line-ups in the race.
We say: Speedy indeed, but probably not for 24 hours
Van Merksteijn (Verschuur) Porsche RS Spyder
Jos VERSTAPPEN (NL)
Jeroen BLEEKEMOLEN (NL)
Peter VAN MERKSTEIJN (NL)
Verschuur is taking a massive step up from the world of one-make Renault Meganes and similar. Its job has been made somewhat easier by the level of support Porsche provides (at a price) to each of its teams, but the Dutch squad has gone about its graduation in a methodical way.
It undertook a 1000km test at Paul Ricard in March and has employed top-line drivers to share with car owner van Merksteijn. The team was a winner first time out in the Le Mans Series, so the smart money has to be on either Verstappen and Bleekemolen taking pole and a strong performance in the race.
We say: Must start joint-favourite with Team Essex
Saulnier Racing Pescarolo-Judd 01
Matthieu LAHAYE (F)
Pierre RAGUES (F)
Franky CHENG (PRC)
Saulnier's LMP2 programme is a little more serious than its P1 campaign. Its raison d'etre is to attract customers for the LMP2 version of the Pescarolo O1 chassis.
There's no evidence to suggest that this car is a Porsche-beater, even with Judd's new DB V8 powerplant, although it would have got on the LMP2 podium at Monza but for a stop-go penalty and did finish fourth at Spa.
Megane Trophy graduate Lahaye has impressed so far, belying his lack of experience at this level, while Ragues adds all-important Le Mans experience to the driver line-up. Reliability should be the car's strong suit.
We say: A dark horse for an LMP2 podium
Quifel-ASM Team Lola-AER B05/40
Guy SMITH (GB)
Olivier PLA (F)
Miguel AMARAL (P)
This Portuguese team run by sometime British Formula 3 racer Antonio Simoes was a frontrunner in LMP2 in the Le Mans Series in 2006-07.
Time doesn't stand still, however, and not only is the team's Lola B05/40 getting long in the tooth, but the arrival of the Porsche and the Lola coupe has moved the goalposts in LMP2.
What's more, ASM has so far failed to record a decent finish in the LMS this year - not the ideal preparation for Le Mans. The signing of 2003 Le Mans winner Smith - who drove this very chassis when it was run by Chamberlain-Synergy - can only help bring ASM back to the front.
We say: Good team, but a long shot for a podium
Trading Performance Zytek 07S/2
Karim OJJEH (SA)
Claude-Yves GOSSELIN (F)
Adam SHARPE (GB)
Le Mans regular Ojjeh has put together his own assault for 2008: his mum has bought the ex-factory Zytek; team-mate Gosselin is running the car out of Caen; and the entrant's licence is provided by Swiss financial company Trading Performance. Briton Sharpe comes in to reform the line-up that got on the podium with Belmondo in 2005.
We say: Not the fastest line-up in the class
Kruse Schiller Motorsport Lola-Mazda B05/40
Hideki NODA (J)
Jean DE POURTALES (F)
Jean-Francois YVON (F)
German entrant Kai Kruse is back at Le Mans for a third time in four years with a new structure and the Lola chassis that Fernandez Racing campaigned with Acura power in the ALMS last year. Now re-engined with AER's Mazda-badged turbo, this package has yet to deliver on its potential, not surprising given how late this deal came together.
We say: This is Kruse's strongest Le Mans campaign yet
Embassy Racing WF01-Zytek
Warren HUGHES (GB)
Jonny KANE (GB)
Joey FOSTER (GB)
Embassy has all the ingredients for success: good people (including ex-Bentley designer Peter Elleray); good drivers (including Hughes); and good equipment (including Zytek engines and Michelin tyres). The all-new WF01 is getting quicker, but Le Mans has come too early for a car that was delayed when the company making the tubs went bust pre-season.
We say: A finish might be too much to expect
GT1
Aston Martin Racing (Prodrive) Aston Martin DBR9
Heinz-Harald FRENTZEN (D)
Karl WENDLINGER (A)
Andrea PICCINI (I)
No. 009
Antonio GARCIA (E)
David BRABHAM (AUS)
Darren TURNER (GB)
Aston Martin and Prodrive defend their GT1 Le Mans crown in the emotive colours of Gulf Oil. Expect the Aston DBR9 to retain the narrow performance advantage it enjoyed over the Chevrolet Corvette last season, but some have raised doubts over its 2008 campaign: AMR arrives at Le Mans yet to race the DBR9 this season (as last year) and with a much changed driver line-up (as last year).
Three of the new drivers - Wendlinger, Garcia and Piccini - all know the DBR9 inside out, while the other one happens to be a grand prix winner, Frentzen. Expect another great Prodrive versus Pratt & Miller battle.
We say: There's little to separate Aston from Chevrolet
Larbre Competition Saleen S7R
Christophe BOUCHUT (F)
David HALLYDAY (F)
Patrick BORNHAUSER (F)
Larbre Competition has won everything in GT1 over the years (including the LMS, the FIA GT Championship and the Spa 24 Hours), but it hasn't triumphed in class at Le Mans since the less competitive days of the mid-'90s.
That drought is not going to end this year. The switch to the Saleen has yet to yield success in the international arena and, with only one entry for the 24 Hours, the team has not been able to put together an all-pro driver line-up. Car leader Bouchut hasn't lost his fire or his speed and will have something to prove in qualifying.
We say: Don't expect much after Bouchut's qualifying run
Vitaphone Racing Team (Strakka) Aston Martin DBR9
Peter HARDMAN (GB)
Nick LEVENTIS (GB)
Xandi NEGARO (BR)
Michael Bartels' Vitaphone squad - a double champion in FIA GTs - is dipping its toes in the Le Mans waters and has linked up with the British Strakka Aston Martin team. The Maserati MC12, remember, is ineligible for the 24 Hours. The result is a DBR9 liveried in Vitpahone's distinctive colours, to be run largely by Strakka's crew.
We say: Inexperience mitigates against a decent result
IPB Spartak Racing (Reiter) Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT
Peter KOX (NL)
Mike HEZEMANS (NL)
Roman RUSINOV (RUS)
The Reiter Engineering squad - Lamborghini's equivalent of Prodrive, only in a more modest way - is back at Le Mans with the support of a Russian bank and an improved version of the ageing Murcielago R-GT.
The car is edging ever closer to the privateer Astons and Corvettes in the LMS, but taking on the works cars is an entirely different matter.
We say: The strongest Lambo Le Mans bid so far
Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9
Terry BORCHELLER (USA)
Christian FITTIPALDI (BR)
Jos MENTEN (NL)
This ambitious British team is back for a third crack at Le Mans, though without its superstar LMS line-up because Antonio Garcia and Tomas Enge have been called up by Prodrive. They're replaced by Borcheller, Fittipaldi and Menten, a handy combination with good Aston experience. Modena will have to put its unreliable start to the LMS behind it.
We say: Should be right there behind the factory cars
Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
Jan MAGNUSSEN (DK)
Johnny O'CONNELL (USA)
Ron FELLOWS (CDN)
No. 64
Oliver GAVIN (GB)
Olivier BERETTA (MC)
Max PAPIS (I)
Stung by last year's Le Mans defeat at the hands of Aston Martin, Chevrolet and Pratt & Miller have left no stone unturned in their bid for revenge.
Its American Le Mans Series assault so far has been about preparing for the 24 Hours. Chevy is confident, despite admitting that the Aston has it covered on pace, at least over one lap.
There's much more to winning a 24-hour race than outright speed, it points out. The two crews have been evenly matched in America, though the luck has been with the Magnussen/O'Connell car in which veteran Fellows makes almost certainly his last appearance in the French enduro.
We say: Narrow favourites by virtue of a better record
Luc Alphand Aventures Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
Guillaume MOREAU (F)
Jerome POLICAND (F)
Luc ALPHAND (F)
No. 73
Patrice GOUESLARD (F)
Jean-Luc BLANCHEMAIN (F)
Laurent PASQUALI (F)
Former ski champ Alphand's team has turned into a slick privateer operation that appears to be on its way to the LMS GT1 crown. The lead car has won twice from three starts without a glitch along the way.
Even with the talents of young gun Moreau and old hand Policand, it is unlikely that the lead car can keep up with the factory entries and means it will need misfortune for others to make it onto the podium again. LMS regular Goueslard steps down to lead the driving squad in the second C6.R.
We say: Will battle with Modena for title of 'best of the rest'
GT2
IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
Richard LIETZ (A)
Patrick LONG (USA)
Raymond NARAC (F)
This Rouen-based squad, supported again by ORECA, is aiming to do a GT2 double at Le Mans with an unchanged driving squad. Porsche-contracted Lietz and Long, and the handy Narac add up to the best line-up in a 911 GT3-RSR at Le Mans. If the 911 RSR has the edge over the Ferrari, as appears likely, then IMSA must start as favourite.
We say: The best of the Porsches, at least on paper
Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
Wolf HENZLER (D)
Alex DAVISON (AUS)
Horst FELBERMAYR SR (A)
Porsche's factory-supported squad in the Le Mans Series, makes its full debut in the 24 Hours with works driver Henzler and team regular Davison leading the line-up.
If 63-year-old team owner Felbermayr Sr does a minimum of driving, they can challenge for victory on pace. If not, Porsche reliability will be the team's greatest asset.
We say: Chances depend on team politics
AF Corse Ferrari 430 GT
Christian MONTANARI (RSM)
Toni VILANDER (FIN)
Thomas BRAGI (I)
GT2 winners in the FIA GT Championship in each of the past two seasons, AF Corse makes a belated arrival at Le Mans looking to make a big splash.
With top-line drivers sourced from its FIA squad, it has the line-up to challenge for victory. However, the team's lack of Le Mans experience could prove telling over the twice-round-the-clock distance.
We say: New to Le Mans, but has won the Spa 24 Hours
Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
Jorg BERGMEISTER (D)
Johannes VAN OVERBEEK (USA)
Seth NEIMAN (USA)
Porsche's factory representative in the ALMS would be a clear favourite for GT2 honours at Le Mans had it picked the best three drivers from its multi-car US squad.
Instead, Bergmeister is the only factory driver in the solo Lizard 911 GT3-RSR. A driver who always flies at Le Mans will be joined by team owners van Overbeek (no slouch and a class winner in the ALMS) and Neiman. Whether Porsche's performance advantage around the Circuit de la Sarthe is enough for that crew to keep up with an all-pro Ferrari squad such as Risi remains to be seen.
We say: Don't expect Neiman to drive much
Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 GT
Jaime MELO (BR)
Mika SALO (FIN)
Gianmaria BRUNI (I)
No. 83
Eric VAN DE POELE (B)
Nic JONSSON (S)
Tracy KROHN (USA)
Risi dominated last year's ALMS, but had an early bath at the 24 Hours. This year, it has had a disastrous start to its US campaign, so sod's law says it is the team's turn for some Le Mans glory.
The combination of Melo, Salo and Bruni (who moves over from Virgo) easily adds up to the best driver squad in the class. The only problem is the Ferrari is no longer the dominant car in America and the latest evolution of Porsche's RSR is expected to have a significant edge down the long straights at Le Mans. US team owner Krohn again takes over in the second car.
We say: Best driver line-up, second best car
Spyker Squadron/Speedy Racing Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R
Peter DUMBRECK (GB)
Ralf KELLENERS (D)
Alexei VASILIEV (RUS)
No. 94
Andrea CHIESA (CH)
Benjamin LEUENBERGER (CH)
Iradj ALEXANDER (CH)
Dutch sportscar manufacturer Spyker is back at Le Mans for a sixth time with what is essentially an all-new car. The Laviolette GT2R is lighter, stiffer, more efficient aerodynamically and, with a four-litre version of its Audi-based V8, more powerful.
Those improvements haven't turned it into a car capable of running with the best Porsches or Ferraris, though the lead car has been in the running for a podium in the Le Mans Series this year. However, a lack of straight-line speed means Spyker has to be regarded as a long-shot for a top-three at Le Mans.
We say: Can't match a well-driven Porsche or Ferrari
Farnbacher Racing Ferrari 430 GT
Pierre KAFFER (D)
Pierre EHRET (D)
Lars Erik NIELSEN (DK)
This German team and its US sister organisation, Farnbacher Loles, are fighting on multiple sportscar fronts this year. The solo Ferrari that Horst Farnbacher's organisation campaigns alongside a fleet of Porsches has been a podium contender in the LMS with Pierres Kaffer and Ehret since swapping to Dunlop tyres for round two at Monza.
Ehret is one of the best amateur GT drivers around (he's won his class at the Daytona 24 Hours), but this car will have to rely on consistency if it is going to notch up a decent result.
We say: Not an outright contender for honours in GT2
Virgo Motorsport Ferrari 430 GT
Rob BELL (GB)
Tim MULLEN (GB)
Tim SUGDEN (GB)
The small but perfectly formed Virgo team makes its Le Mans debut with every chance of scoring a decent result. The number one Risi car should lead the Ferrari challenge, but the British squad shouldn't be far behind. Virgo loses regular driver Gianmaria Bruni to Risi and opts for the experienced duo of Mullen and Sugden to join up with team leader Bell.
We say: A lack of Le Mans experience could tell
Scuderia Italia Ferrari 430 GT
Paolo RUBERTI (I)
Matteo MALUCELLI (I)
Fabio BABINI (I)
This ex-F1 team returns to Le Mans with a Ferrari and a decent driver line-up after failing to make much of an impact in GT1 with Aston Martin in 2006-07. Ruberti needs little introduction, but Malucelli was one of the revelations in last year's FIA GT Championship aboard one of the team's Porsches. This is the only Ferrari to run on Pirellis.
We say: Could surprise the class favourites
JMB Racing Ferrari 430 GT
Alain FERTE (F)
Stephane DAOUDI (F)
Ben AUCOTT (GB)
Le Mans regular JMB is back in its own right this year after running the Ferrari that Adrian Newey raced under the AF Corse banner last year. British amateur Aucott returns and is joined by his regular partner since last year, former Jaguar and Mercedes Group C ace Alain Ferte. JMB regular Daoudi completes a very solid driver line-up.
We say: Reliable run could yield a podium finish
The 10 best GT3 cars since group debut in 2006
How over the course of two decades GT3 became modern motorsport’s greatest success
Why the WEC's BoP blackout is a bad call for all parties
How "making no mistakes" was pivotal in Toyota pipping Ferrari at WEC 2026 opener
WEC Imola: Giovinazzi snatches pole for Ferrari
Obituary: Sportscar pioneer Bob Tullius
How Porsche continued its IMSA dominance at Sebring but with intra-team drama
How Genesis is building up to a long-term future in the WEC
WRC Portugal: Ogier retakes lead after Solberg puncture drama
WEC Spa: BMW scores maiden Hypercar win in chaotic finish
Trackhouse MotoGP boss Brivio quits for factory Honda role in 2027
BTCC Brands Hatch: Sutton masterclass gives him qualifying race win
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments