ALMS

2009 has been a season of financial turmoil and thin ice for professional motorsport around the world, and nothing is more refreshing than seeing a new stage being prepped for top tier sportscar competition.

This year will be the inaugural season of the new Asian Le Mans series. Created by the ACO in the image of the European LMS and the spirit of the erstwhile Japan Le Mans Challenge, this series promises more of the standard 4 class GT & LMP action already enjoyed by fans around the globe.

While optimistic about this untapped racing market, the ACO is not oblivious to the current financial situation, and is offering generous incentives to APLMS entrants. The top LMP & GT teams will receive complementary entries into the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the ACO has also offered all European and American teams free transport of their cars & equipment to the events in Japan.

There are two races scheduled for this season. In true LMS fashion, they will be 1000km events, however the track time will be separated into two points bearing three hour races for each event. The first event will be held in Japan at Okayama International, and the second held in China at the Shanghai GP circut, also visited by Formula One. An abstract schedule with dates can be found at the end of the article.

The official entry list contains 31 cars, attracting well established teams from the ALMS, LMS, FIA GT and Japanese Super GT (Formerly JGTC). Some highlights include the SORA racing Peugeot 908 HDi, the student entered Courage of Tokai University (An engineering university in Tokyo), and the LMP2 runner up for the 2009 24 of Le Mans campaigning a the fan favorite Porsche RS Spyder.

GT1 will see 24 hour entrants Luc Alphand Racing's Corvette and Team JLOC's Lamborghini Murcielago, as well as long time FIA GT entrant Larbre competition's Saleen S7R. GT2 favorites are the Felbermayer-Proton & IMSA Matmut Porsche GT3 RSRs and AF Corse Ferrari 430GT, one of only two Ferraris in the field. A full entry list will follow this article.

In short, the ACO sees potential in the growing Asian endurance racing market, and sports car fans all over the world get a new, professional endurance racing series. Despite the current fiscal climate and the toll it has taken on the sport as a whole, the silver lining of 2009 is undoubtedly the Asian Le Mans Series.

Authors Note:

Some critical information, such as television broadcast schedules and driver information was not available at the time of this writing. Please check back frequently as this and other breaking news will be posted as it emerges, along with race analysis and other relevant information for the 2009 APLMS series.

OFFICIAL 2009 SEASON SCHEDULE

Rounds 1 & 2: 1000km of Okayama, Okayama Japan, October 30th - November 1st

Rounds 3 & 4: 1000km of Shanghai, Shanghai China, November 7th - November 8th

OFFICIAL 2009 SEASON ENTRY LIST (by class & subject to change)

LMP1
Sora Racing - Pesacarolo Judd
Sora Racing - Pesacarolo Judd
Sora Racing-Pescarolo Sport - Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
Tokai University YGH Power - Courage Oreca LC70
Team Oreca Matmut AIM - Oreca 01 AIM
Team Oreca Matmut AIM - Oreca 01 AIM
Signature-Plus - Courage-Oreca LC70 Judd
Speedy Racing Team Sebah - Lola Aston Martin

LMP2
OAK Racing - Pescarolo Mazda
OAK Racing - Pescarolo Mazda
NAVI Team Goh - Porsche RS Spyder
KSM - Lola Mazda
Speedy Racing Team Sebah - Lola Judd

LMGT1
Luc Alphand Aventures - Corvette C6.R
Team Nova - Aston Martin DBR9
JLOC - Lamborghini Murcièlago R-GT
Larbre Competition - Saleen S7-R

LMGT2
Drayson Racing - Aston Martin Vantage GT2
Team Felbermayr-Proton - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
Team Felbermayr-Proton - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
Team Hong Kong Racing - Aston Martin Vantage GT2
Hankook-Team Farnbacher - Ferrari F430 GT2
Team Daishin - Ferrari F430 GT2
Robertson Racing LLC - Ford GT
Endurance Asia Team - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
Hankook-KTR - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
IMSA Performance Matmut - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
AF Corse SRL - Ferrari F430 GT2
China Racing FYI - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR

Todd Bodine's three lap adventure brought the state of NASCAR's field fillers sharply into focus over the weekend. A small group of teams and drivers who are doing nothing for NASCAR in the short term, and could even be damaging it in the long term.

The reception from almost every NASCAR fan and NASCAR writer has been negative.

There have been questions as to exactly why the teams exist; that their entire business plan is flawed, that they're doing nothing but line the pockets of the team owners and that they're damaging the credibility of a sport where that commodity is already too often wafer thin.

Unfortunately they're very difficult to stop. NASCAR had floated the idea that the cars of these start and park teams would be scrutinised to see whether their posted reason for retirement was genuine, or simply an excuse so they had to spend no more money that was necessary.

As of this moment, I haven't knowingly seen a start and park team being to "go out there and race" by NASCAR. This either suggests that the teams are telling the truth (personally I doubt this) or NASCAR aren't paying as much attention as they are telling us.

However, NASCAR seem to be ignoring another solution.

Minimum distances.

The solution would work like this. Before a race NASCAR would establish a percentage of the total race distance that a team would have to complete before being eligible for points and, more importantly, prize money. This percentage would vary from race to race, based on statistics from past races.

The distance may be further for the intermediate tracks, shorter for the short tracks and road courses, where contact is more likely to put cars laps down.

The lack of prize money for the lowest finishers would also help sponsors. Either the race sponsors could afford to scale back the prize money fund, or roll the prize money up to the higher place finishers, providing more funding for the other teams.

However, no system is perfect, and with this solution there are bound to be innocent victims.

The American Le Mans Series, which uses a similar system, but only for points, is littered by unlucky teams. Of the 26 teams that took the green flag at the championship's curtain raiser at Sebring none was intending to complete only a handful of laps before pulling into the pits.

However, at least half those teams, including two-thirds of one of the race classes, left the track with nothing to show for their weekend other than an awful lot of used tyres and spent money.

Similarly with NASCAR, no matter how perfectly the minimum distances for the race are calculated there will always be unlucky drivers who will fall below the percentage by no fault of their own. Take Matt Kenseth's six lap Las Vegas race before his engine decided it didn't want to run anymore.

There is no-one on earth who will suggest Matt and Roush came to Vegas intending to start and park, and no-one can doubt the legitimacy of his retirement, judging by the amount to smoke.

Unfortunately in any war there will be collateral damage, and the war against start and park teams is no different.

Thus these teams will be forced, presuming they want points and money, to race up to the minimum distance, using tyres and fuel, spending money. And with that expenditure in mind they might decide to try and finish as high as possible, to get as much money as possible and maybe try and attack some sponsorships to balance their out-goings.

They might even finish a race!

Audi took the checkered flag at America’s premier road racing event, the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. 

Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen were victorious in the debut of the Audi R15 TDI in a close finish with the French Peugeot team.

The winning team made the R15 TDI Audi’s third prototype to win in its race debut, joining the R8 in 2000 and R10 TDI in 2006.

McNish crossed the finish line 22.279 seconds in front of Franck Montagny in the Peugeot. The two diesel powered LMP-1 prototypes staged an epic sports car battle with the two cars staying on the same lap throughout the 12 hours, renewing their battles from last year’s 24 Hours of Lemans Petit Le Mans.

“This one for me was better than Le Mans, because we came here with a new car and at the end of every stint it was at the maximum for the entire 12 hours,” Capello said. “To come here with a new car really says something for Audi.”

The two Audis and two Peugeot 908 HDis swapped the lead 23 times. With 42 minutes to go in the 12-hour race, McNish took the lead for good when Montagny made his final fuel-only stop.

McNish stepped up the pace and built a big enough gap from the Peugeot to allow time for a quick splash of fuel with 14 minutes to go.

“I knew I had 55 seconds to get in and out with a comfortable gap,” McNish said. “But if a yellow came out after they pitted and prior to our stop, it was all out the window. We were lucky because I think everyone drove exceptionally well until the end.

"The poker aspect is played by the engineers, not by the drivers; the pit strategy is by the guys behind the wall. We are just given instructions to do things and that was drive very, very quickly.”

For teammate Tom Kristensen, this victory was his record fifth overall race at Sebring and also owns a record eight Le Mans victories.

“Coming with such a young car to such a tough race track and make the distance record with three yellows, it was really extraordinary and shows the knowhow from the last three cars: the R8, R10, and now R15,” said Kristensen.

“I was really impressed with what the team did the last few days. This is such a huge team effort. I am humble and proud to be a part of teams like this. Victories like Le Mans and Sebring belong to a lot of people, and that’s what I enjoy is sharing it.”

The race also set records for fastest average speed (117.986 mph), distance covered (1,417 miles) and laps completed under the current 3.7-mile, 17-turn configuration (383).

Montagny along with Sebastien Bourdais and Stephane Sarrazin, lead a combined eight times but had to pit out of sequence with a suspected punctured rear tire.  The car replaced its rear tires on the emergency stop, which forced a change of strategy for the rest of the race.

The second Audi of Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller, and Marco Werner finished third. It led four times in the race.

Both of the new Acura LMP-1 cars failed to finish the race dues to mechanical issues.  The Patron-Highcroft racing car finished the race in 15th place, and the pole winning De Ferran Motorsports entry ended the day in the 18th spot.

LMP-2

Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz in the Acura ARX-01b took their first ever LMP-2 victory over their main competitors of Dyson Racing’s two Mazda-powered Lola B09/86 coupes, which struggled with mechanical woes.

Lowe’s Fernandez Racing is now the lone Acura, with De Ferran Motorsports and Patron-Highcroft Racing teams moving up to the LMP-1 class.

"We just had to focus and keep a secure pace,” Diaz said. “After that, it was just a matter of not losing the concentration. Lap after lap, it’s hard to keep the concentration so it became a challenge of not making mistakes.

"The Dyson Mazdas did not score points and we got a lot, so it gives us a cushion. But our goal is to win every single race this year. That is the pressure for ourselves. We want to prove we are the best team.”

The win was Acura’s second P2 victory in past three years at Sebring. Fernandez and Diaz placed second in class in 2007 and last year they  finished third overall before the car was disqualified after post-race inspections.

GT1

Johnny O’Connell, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia won their second consecutive GT1 victory in the Corvette Racing C6.R.  This is was the final race for the GT1 version of the Corvette C6.R at Sebring.

The second Corvette of Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Marcel Fässler finished one lap behind their teammates.

“It was a really good battle,” said O’Connell, who extended his record for Sebring victories to eight. “The No. 4 car had a better setup for qualifying, but we improved our car some and both cars were within 20-30 seconds throughout.

"We closed up during some cautions, but our crew did a great job. The No. 4 car is full of fighters and they kept pushing every bit.”

GT2

For the second time in three years the Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT, driven by Mika Salo, Pierre Kaffer and Jaime Melo won by over two laps in GT2 with the Advanced Engineering Pecom Racing Ferrari coming in second completing a first ever Ferrari 1-2 finish at Sebring. 

This 2009 victor was less dramatic than the exciting 2007 victory by a race-record of only 0.202 seconds.

The Risi Competizione Ferrari was forced to start the race from the back of the grid after Melo did not arrive at the circuit until Friday morning. The Ferrari tore through the field and took the lead in the second hour that they never relenquished.

Under ALMS rules, all drivers must participate in night practice to acclimate themselves to the conditions. Melo’s late arrival precluded this which caused the start penalty.

The Ferrari also caught a break when it was included in an early wave-by under caution to pick up the leading prototype. As a result, the Ferrari gained nearly a full lap on nearly the rest of the field.

“I have to thank these two guys working on the setup this week, making a good setup for the race and making the sacrifice for me starting at the back,” Melo said. “It’s good to start with a win like this.

And we get to see against the Porsches and the BMW to see how quick they can go. We still have a long way to go for the championship but this is a good start.”

The dominant Porsche teams failed to reach the podium with various on track and mechanical issues.  The Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR was knocked out from on-track contact, and the GT2 Class pole winner Farnbacher Loles Racing suffered mechanical difficulties.

Gianmaria Bruni, Mathias Russo, and Luis Companc in the Advanced Engineering Pecom Racing Ferrari ended the race in second ahead of the Panoz Team PTG’s Panoz Esperante GTLM of Dominik Farnbacher and Ian James.

57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida
Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.

Saturday’s results

1. (2) Allan McNish, Scotland; Rinaldo Capello, Italy; Tom Kristensen, Denmark; Audi R15 TDI (1, P1), 383.
2. (5) Franck Montagny, Brignoles France; Sebastien Bourdais, France; Stephane Sarrazin, France; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (2, P1), 383.
3. (4) Mike Rockenfeller, Germany; Marco Werner, Germany; Lucas Luhr, Germany; Audi R15 TDI (3, P1), 381.
4. (7) Luis Diaz, Mexico; Adrian Fernandez, Mexico; Acura ARX-01B (1, P2), 360.
5. (3) Pedro Lamy, Lisbon Portugal; Christian Klien, Austria; Nicolas Minassian, England; Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (4, P1), 356.
6. (12) Jan Magnussen, Denmark; Antonio Garcia, Spain; Johnny O’Connell, Flowery Branch, GA; Corvette C6.R (1, GT1), 349.
7. (11) Oliver Gavin, England; Olivier Beretta, Monaco; Marcel Fässler, Switzerland; Corvette C6.R (2, GT1), 348.
8. (27) Mika Salo, Finland; Jaime Melo, Brazil; Pierre Kaffer, Germany; Ferrari F430 GT (1, GT2), 332.
9. (15) Gianmaria Bruni, Italy; Mathias Russo, Argentina; Luis Companc, Argentina; Ferrari 430 GT (2, GT2), 330.
10. (17) Dominik Farnbacher, Germany; Ian James, England; Panoz Esperante GTLM Ford (3, GT2), 329.
11. (14) Jörg Bergmeister, Germany; Patrick Long, Oak Park, CA; Marc Lieb, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (4, GT2), 326.
12. (24) Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA; Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Darren Law, Phoenix, AZ; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (5, GT2), 326.
13. (23) Nic Jonsson, Sweden; Eric van de Poele, Belgium; Tracy Krohn, Houston, TX; Ferrari F430 GT (6, GT2), 325.
14. (16) David Murry, Cumming, GA; Andrea Robertson, Ray, MI; David Robertson, Ray, MI; Doran Ford GT MK 7 (7, GT2), 303.
15. (6) David Brabham, Australia; Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL; Dario Franchitti, Scotland; Acura ARX-02a (5, P1), 302, Drive line.
16. (13) Dirk Werner, Germany; Richard Lietz, Austria; Wolf Henzler, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (8, GT2), 274.
17. (19) Joel Feinberg, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Chris Hall, Daytona, FL; Ritchie Holt, Davie, FL; Dodge Viper Comp Coupe (9, GT2), 251, Clutch.
18. (1) Gil de Ferran, Brazil; Simon Pagenaud, France; Scott Dixon, New Zealand; Acura ARX-02a (6, P1), 246, Mechanical.
19. (20) Robert Bell, UK; Paul Drayson, London, UK; Jonny Cocker, UK; Aston Martin Vantage GT2 (10, GT2), 204, Engine.
20. (9) Chris McMurry, Phoenix, AZ; Tony Burgess, Canada; Bryan Willman, Kirkland, WA; Lola B06/10 AER (7, P1), 151, Electrical.
21. (10) Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Marino Franchitti, Scotland; Ben Devlin, England; Lola B09 86 Mazda (2, P2), 149, Mechanical.
22. (26) Dirk Müller, Germany; Tom Milner, Leesburg, VA; BMW E92 M3 (11, GT2), 140.
23. (8) Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Guy Smith, England; Andy Lally, New York, NY; Lola B09 86 Mazda (3, P2), 127, Mechanical.
24. (22) Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, TX; Eric Curran, Easthampton, MA; Lucas Molo, Brazil; Chevrolet Riley Corvette C6 (12, GT2), 89, Mechanical.
25. (25) Clint Field, Dublin, OH; Chapman Ducote, Miami, FL; Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Lola B06/10 AER (8, P1), 77.
26. (18) Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, CA; Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; BMW E92 M3 (13, GT2), 27, Mechanical.
27. (21) Nicky Pastorelli, Netherlands; Hans Stuck, Germany; Johannes Stuck, Austria; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (14, GT2), 0, Withdrawn.
28. (28) Richard Westbrook, England; Marc Basseng, Germany; Lance David, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (15, GT2), 0, Withdrawn.

Photos and Quotes Courtesy of ALMS

Acura shocked the field when it qualified on the pole position for this weekend's American Le Mans Series 12 Hours of Sebring race...

The de Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-02a LMP1 proved lightning quick as IRL driver Scott Dixon beat out the mighty diesel-powered Audi and Peugeot prototype cars to start first in tomorrow's race.

“I did hope that we would be up there in the top three or four but we have had such a mixed time in testing this week that it was really hard to predict anything,” said Dixon in an interview afterwards.

“It's been a really crazy week and although I have been here four or five days I have only really completed about 18 laps. You don't really get much of a chance to 'read' the car.

“Earlier in the week the track seemed nicer to drive but as the week went on I was really finding a lot of understeer in turns 15 and 16; you had to take it very easily around there you really can't throw the car around.

“I thought the Audis were handling the track better but I think the heat this afternoon helped us and the more laps we did the quicker the car. I am not used to that!”

Scott Dixon will be the third driver in the car along with ALMS drivers Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud.

Behind the de Ferran Acura is the Audi R15 of McNish/Capello/Kristensen. Acura's second ARX-02a, run by Patron Highcroft Racing qualified sixth, with Acura's LMP2 car run by Lowe's Fernandez Racing right behind in seventh.

The 12 Hours of Sebring will commence this weekend, so check your local listings for possible coverage. Below are the qualifying times for the field for tomorrow's race:

1. de Ferran/Pagenaud, Dixon de Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-02a 1min 45.278secs LMP1

2. Capello/Kristensen/McNish Audi Sport North America Audi R15 TDi 1min 45.360secs LMP1

3. Lamy/Minassian/Klien Peugeot Sport Peugeot 908 HDi 1min 45.462secs LMP1

4. Luhr/Werner/Rockenfeller Audi Sport North America Audi R15 TDi 1min 45.551secs LMP1

5. Sarrazin/Montagny/Bourdais Peugeot Sport Peugeot 908 HDi 1min 45.559secs LMP1

6. Brabham/Franchitti/Sharp Patron Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-02a 1min 46.504secs LMP1

7. Fernandez/Diaz Lowe's Fernandez Racing Acura ARX-01B 1min 49.686secs LMP2

8. Dyson/Smith/Lally Dyson Racing Porsche RS Spyder 1min 51.534secs LMP2

9. Field/Field/Ducote Intersport Racing Lola B06/10-AER 1min 52.323secs LMP1

10. McMurry/Willman/Burgess Autocon Motorsports Lola B06/10-AER 1min 51.598secs LMP1

11. Leitzinger/Franchitti/Devlin Dyson Racing Lola B09/86-Mazda 1min 51.840secs LMP2

12. Gavin/Beretta/Fassler Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R 1min 57.882secs GT1

13. O'Connell/Magnussen/Garcia Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R 1min 58.203secs GT1

14. Henzler/Werner/Lietz Farnbacher Loles Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 2min 03.051secs GT2

15. Bergmeister/Long/Lieb Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 2min 03.433secs GT2

16. Companc/Bruni/Russo Advanced Eng/Pecom Ferrari 430 2min 03.487secs GT2

17. Salo/Melo/Kaffer Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 2min 03.829secs GT2

18. Robertson/Robertson/Murry Robertson Racing Doran Ford GT Mk7 2min 04.333secs GT2

19. Muller/Milner Rahal Letterman Racing BMW E92 M3 2min 03.514secs GT2

20. Farnbacher/James Panoz Team PTG Panoz Esperante 2min 04.437secs GT2

21. Hand/Auberlen Rahal Letterman Racing BMW E92 M3 2min 04.566secs GT2

22. Feinberg/Hall/Holt Primetime Race Group Dodge Viper 2min 05.619secs GT2

23. Cocker/Drayson/Bell Drayson-Barwell Aston Martin Vantage /B> 2min 05.692secs GT2

24. Pastorelli/Stuck/Stuck VICI Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 2min 05.805secs GT2

25. Gigliotti/Curran/Molo LG Motorsports Corvette C6 2min 06.678secs GT2

26. Krohn/Jonsson/van de Poele Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 2min 08.386secs GT2

27. Law/Neiman/van Overbeek Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 2min 10.912secs GT2

28. Westbrook/Basseng/David VICI Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR no time GT2

In an interview published in British-based motorsport magazine Autosport, the multiple rally world champion Sebastien Loeb has cast doubt on whether he will continue in the sport when the category introduces Super 2000 regulations, culminating in a complete switchover by 2011.

The five-time world champion, who also heads the 2009 standings after wins in both of the opening events, is quoted as having some damning opinions of the new regulations.

"I have a good idea of the speed [of S2000 cars], and the times are quite slow."

"The dream for the spectators won't be the same. When they are standing and watching a car thinking "maybe my own car is faster than this one," the excitement will not be the same as it is with the World Rally Car."

The S2000 rules are being introduced partially in the hope of boosting the flagging WRC and is part of the cost-cutting measures that many racing series are introducing to combat the economic downturn, especially that affect car sales.

However, Loeb is skeptical as to whether the purely economic benefits are worth the loss of the current specification. He said "I know it's important that we make some savings with the costs, but I don't think the turbo is expensive."

The turbo is the only major loss to the series should it switch to S2000 regulation (four wheel drive is allowed in S2000 rally cars, the only difference between them and the better known Touring Cars).

However, it seems Loeb is still to be convinced of the merits of the new rules.

Many have commented that Loeb could leave the WRC as soon as the end of this year, when his current contract with Citroen ends.

But what would he do next?

Loeb seems to be more than interested in the world of sportscars. He already has a second place in the Le Mans 24 hours to his name, when he completed the 2006 with Pescarolo Sport.

He already has a deal to test Peugeot's diesel 908 sportscar (Citroen and Peugeot are basically the same company) and is due to complete the test  "some time this season," he claims.

At first, it may appear this could in preparation to return to Le Mans with Pescarolo, who have entered a customer 908 in this year's race.

It would make sense, it keeps Loeb in the Peugeot-Citroen family and reunites him with Henri Pescarolo, and Loeb satisfies his main driver criteria, by being French.

However, hold the various racing calendars side by side, and you will see that this year's Acropolis Rally clashes directly with this year's La Sarthe race on the 12-14 June weekend, and Loeb would not miss a round of the WRC to compete, would he (would he?)

This makes it look like a long-term plan to move to sportscars with Peugeot, and the fact he is testing this year seems to suggest that any move is coming sooner rather than later.

Source and Quotes: Autosport, March 5

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), organisers of the Le Mans 24 Hours every June have released the list of the lucky 55 entries who can look forward to racing round the Circuit de la Sarthe, along with the 10 reserve teams who will look to take advantage of any ill fortune for the 55.

Earlier this month the ACO publically announced they had received 82 entries from which to pick the field for the 77th running of the world's premier sports car race.

Unfortunately this "long list" is never released to the public, so we have no way of knowing what teams have not had their entries taken up. However, of the 65 entries that have been named there are plenty of stories to follow in the four months until the race.

The biggest story is arguable the very make-up of the field. Over half the 55 first choice entries are prototypes. 33 to be exact. This is nothing short of phenomenal, especially given the dwindling fields in the P1 and P2 classes that have blighted ACO regulated race series of recent years.

Take the ALMS for example, last year only a handful of teams were found in P1, and this year only three teams are lodged as P2 entries.

Within the prototype classes there are several stories. The ACO's press release focuses on the number of works entries in the P1 class. There are three of the new Audi R15's, tow run under the Joest banner and a third under the Team North America name, a reverse of what has been the case in previous years.

They are joined by three works Peugeot 908 cars, as was confirmed by the manufacturer a few weeks ago.

These diesel goliaths are joined by not one, not two, but three of the brand new Aston Martin P1 cars. This is despite only having five drivers confirmed for its two full time European Le Mans Series, leaving at least four drives up for grabs. It is also noteworthy that the third Aston is officially entered by a team named "AMR Eastern Europe."

Believe none of this, this is going to be a works entry in all but name. The Czech flag next to the entry points to the presence of Jan Charouz, already a confirmed LMS driver and the man behind the team than ran the Lola-Aston coupe at Le Mans last year. That was not a completely private team, neither will this be.

On the other hand the fourth Aston Martin, entered by Speedy Racing Team Sebah is likely to be a private entry, infact I doubt they will be running one of the brand new models, more likely something closer to the coupe Charouz campaigned last years.

However, perhaps the biggest news is the fourth Peugeot. Henri Pescarolo, a man so French he probably bleeds bleu, blanc and rouge and snores in the tune of Le Marseillaise has brought himself a 908! In doing so he looks to become the first customer team to run on of the French diesels.

The 908 will form half of the Pescarolo Sport, alongside one of the familiar Pescarolo chassised cars. The reason for this choice is unknown. However, it is widely known that the number of Pescarolo chassis the team has at it's disposal is dwindling, despite the fact that the team has entered two of the in the LMS this year.

And yet more P1 stories. The class also sees two Kolles run Audi R10s, making 2009 (to my mind) the first year when two models of Audi have competed at Le Mans. It is widely expected that this team will run in the LMS as a thinly veiled works entry, with mechanical help from Audi themselves, possibly testing some things for the new R15.

However, will this co-operation disappear when the R15 and the R10 are against each other (how embarrasing would it be for the old car to win?)

The ORECA team are also back with two cars, opening the door to Petter Solberg for Le Mans, and as I predicted the Spanish Epsilon Euskadi team are back, with one firmly accepted car in the field and a second on the reserve list, the same situation the team was in last year.

I myself am a little disappointed that both teams are not on the confirmed list as they represent a team doing everything themselves (engine aside) rather than buying other's chassis.

P2 is a much less grand looking affair. Last year's winner Van Merksteijn are absent (I have a copy of Autosport magazine with their RS Spyder for sale in it), but three of the Porsche prototypes are present. The first is run by last year's runners up Team Essex, the second by Japanese "Navi Team GOH"—they obviously saw the Autosport advery as they are the new owners of Van Merksteijn mahine—and the third by Team Vitaphone.

This is the same Team Vitaphone that are probably best know for their Maserati MC12s in the FIA GT series, and who ran a GT1 Aston Martin at Le Mans last year.

Otherwise all the normal P2 names are represented. RML have a new Lola-Mazda coupe, Quifel ASM have a P2 version of the Ginetta Zytek and Bruichladdich Radical, renamed Bruichladdich Bruneau after a new investor return with a AER engine—the only AER badged engine in the field.

The big unknown are two entries by a new name - Oak Racing. However, they are a new name only, being basically the same outfit that ran two Pescarolos (one in P1 and one P2) as Saulnier Racing.

However, they have moved to a completely P2 based entry and have switched powerplant to the newly popular Mazda unit. Rather worrying is the return of Racing Box, who's 2008 Lucchini entry was unsafe to the point of being laughable. However, this year they come with a more recognised combination of Lola chassis and Judd engine.

The only really sad news from today's announcement is the state of GT1. With pull out of the works Astons the way is clear for Corvette domination, with two factory C6.Rs alongside what is becoming a standard entry from Luc Alpand consisting of another two of the latest generation Corvette.

Again, as I predicted in an earlier article the pull out of Aston Martin is not complete. Two customer teams have found their way in. The better known, Jet Alliance, have been running in the FIA GT series for a number of years with Aston, finishing third in the class standings last year.

Just behing them in those standing where British based Gigawave, who are backing the second Aston on the list.

For the final two entries in GT1 you have to look to Lamboghini and look east. Firstly to Russia and the IPB Spartak outfit, who ran last year in the same car, narrowly falling into the black hole of finishers but not classified.

The second Lamboghini comes from further east—Japan and the JLOC (Japanese Lamboghini Owner's Club). They too have history at Le Mans, running in 2007. Unfortunately they faired worse than their Russian counterparts, completing only one lap after a huge crash forced them to change chassis.

GT2 looks like it will be the normal Porsche v Ferrari battle with all the big names we have grown to expect represented. IMSA Performance, Felbermayer-Proton and Flying Lizard for the Porsches, Farnbacher, AF Corse, Virgo, and two Risi Ferraris are joined by Team Modena who have dropped a class from their Aston GT1 effort last year.

However, there is some variety. A single Spyker C8 (with another deep in the reserves) along with the Drayson Racing Aston. However, I think they're main aim is finishing.

There are even stories in the reserves. First reserve is yet another GT2 Ferrari, entered by Team Seattle Advanced Engineering, curiously labelled Italian and counting actor Patrick Dempsey among it's driving staff. Second reserve is a Chinese Porsche 997, which if in the final field could be the first competitor from the country.

Disappointing is the position of Barazi Epsilon as fourth reserve. Given their history and commitment to ACO racing I expected them to be in the confirmed list and against such a strong list their chances of the necessary four withdrawls is limited.

Of course there are also stories of what is not there. Perhaps most suprisingly there are no Domes. None at all. However, given that the new Dome proved to be a bit of a mobile chicane last year, and the Japanese entered RS Spyder, this is one case where I can forgive the ACO if they thought twice about accepting a different car.

There are also very few American teams. This may be purely down to economics, but there is no Autocon, who made the race last year, no Intersport and neither the new Acura or BMW are in the race.

We have also lost Embassy, Chamberlain Synergy and Rollcentre from last year's list. Embassy are casualties of economic times. Rollcentre have sold their Pescarolo to an American team. The only real unaccounted for team is Chamberlain, and sadly we will never know whether they tendered an entry for the race.

There are also unlikely to be any Saleens in the race. The only one on the entire list, resides as reserve number nine, run by Larbre Competition, another team with history at Le Mans who can count themselves unlikely to be so low on the list.   

I make it only 107 days until the tricolore drops.