Our Team By Team Guide The Guide

Team. Car.

Oreca 908 HDi FAP @

90%

Progress bar shows our opinion on the performance relative to the class, plus a helpful percentage score. The Guide

If the team has a Twiiter, we have included their address so you can keep up to date.

Oreca The tyre manufactures are HDi FAP @oreca shown here. 10 Loïc Duval (FRA) Classes are easily distinguished (FRA) by the colour of their door card. 90% (FRA)

Driving team listed here with nationality in brackets.

LMP1 is the top class in Le Mans racing. Purpose built prototypes LMP 1 with engines up to 3.4 litres aspirated petrol, 2.0 litres turbo 1 petrol and 3.7 litre turbo diesel. Red door card, numbers 1-25.

LMP2 is the second class, featuring purpose built cars with a cost LMP 2 cap: cars must cost less than 400,000 Euro. Each car must fea- 26 ture at least one gentleman (non professional) driver.

GTE Pro is the top production based category at the 24. The cars GTe pro must share a basic resemblance and some components with their 51 road car cousins. The Pro class features all professional drivers. GTE Am share the same technical regulations as GTE Pro, but the GTe AM car must be at least one year old. Driving teams must feature at 81 least two amateur drivers.

LMp Entries All artwork by Andy Blackmore Design andyblackmoredesign.com

Photo: Dan Bathie Sport Team Joest & North America @audisport 1 (DEU) Roman Dumas (FRA) 95% (DEU) 2 Marcel Fässler (CHE) André Lotterer (DEU) 90% Benoît Tréluyer (FRA) 3 Allan McNish (GBR) 95% (DNK) (ITA)

Audi goes into this race as fa- of preparedness with them and Nish, Dindo Capello and eight vourites, of that there is no for good reason so if anything time winner Tom Kristensen doubt, but the distance by should go wrong, they are in are hardly likely to give much which they are favourite nar- the best position possible. away. In car two, the drivers rowed considerably after The drivers leave little to be are probably the least stellar Peugeot’s sensational Spa suc- desired across the three cars. by reputation but carry a great cess. The strongest line up, arguably, amount of talent between The car has proved fast as is the number one car of Mike them. Marcel Fässler never well as consistent, with strong Rockenfeller, Timo Bernhard fails to impress with both his pace all through the practice and , who won speed and consistency, while sessions in Belgium, though the race in 2010. They prob- Frenchmen André Lotterer and race pace was shaky. 24 hour ably carry a slight (extremely Benoît Tréluyer should impress. consistency could be lacking, slight) advantage in pace over Nothing less than outright but if anybody can fix it, Audi their more illustrious friends in victory is acceptable for a team can. The team carries an aura the three car, though Allan Mc- with nine successes already.

The official travel partner of l’endurance magazine. speedchills.com Total & Peugeot 908 @peugeotsport 7 (GBR) Alex Wurz (AUT) 90% Marc Gené (ESP) 8 (FRA) Stéphane Sarrazin (FRA) 95% (FRA) 9 Sébastien Bourdais (FRA) (FRA) 90% (PRT)

Peugeot Sport arrive at Le Mans to their German opposition. Simon Pagenaud and the vast- with the weight of a nation on The pick of the cars is number ly experienced Pedro Lamy in their shoulders. Up until Spa, eight, with charger Stephane nine. they’d been cast as outsiders Sarrazin joined by fellow fast The team are a different en- thanks to rumours of Audi test Frenchmen Franck Montagny tity in attitude and experience pace and a pair of significant and Nicolas Minassian. Expect from the squad that produced accidents that had seriously a pole shot from Sarrazin. so many errors before, and the hampered their pre season ef- Neither of the other two cars mistake strewn performances forts. are badly crewed, with rapid are a thing of the past. Their Their confidence will have Anthony Davidson joined by su- display last year taken a significant boost af- per solid Alex Wurz and Span- (with Joest like tactical nouse ter success in the Ardennes, iard Marc Gene in seven and ensuring the victory) cemented though. ex Champ Car ace (and darling their place alongside, rather Drivers wise, they are giv- of ) Sebastien Bourdais than beneath, Audi in the Le ing away little (if anything) joining Highcroft’s Sebring star Mans racing heirachy. Oreca Peugeot 908 HDi FAP @oreca 10 Loïc Duval (FRA) Olivier Panis (FRA) 85% Nicolas Lapierre (FRA)

For Oreca, 2011 started on the ACO dictates) but will be joined by two Frenchmen who a euphoric high at Sebring, consistent and, should there are far from rank amateurs. but came down to earth with be trouble ahead, they are in Nicolas Lappiere is a rising a bump with a disappoint- line to take advantage. star in this corner of the rac- ing display at Spa. The team, The line up is strong, as was ing world, while Olivier Panis is running the old spec 908 HDi proved by the solid run to Se- vastly experienced. Definitely FAP Peugeot, will no doubt be bring victory. Loic Duval in par- one to creep up the order as slower than the works cars (as ticular has impressed but he’s the race progresses.

Aston Martin Racing () AMR1 @amr_official

007 (GBR) Stefan Mücke (DEU) 30% (AUT) 009 (CHE) (GBR) 25% Adrian Fernandez (MEX)

Aston Martin Racing will not be lapse at Silverstone. The second car is weaker, with enjoying reading any of the pre There’s no shortage of tal- Adrian Fernandez teamed with Le Mans paraphanalia in 2011. ent behind the wheel, espe- Harold Primat and Briton Andy It is fair to say that AMR-One cially in the 007 car. Prodrive Meyrick, but is still far from a has so far been a disaster, nei- stalwarts Darren Turner and poor line up. ther fast, reliable nor pretty. Stefan Mucke (if he is allowed Even a finish, though, would The team are facing an uphill to start) are joined by Chris- be a bonus for a car that is battle, which was not helped tian Klien to make one of the clearly in severe trouble be- by Stefan Mucke’s unfortunate strongest line ups on the grid. fore the race. Hope Racing SwissHyTech 5 (CHE) (NLD) 85% 20% (DNK)

Hope Racing arrive at Le Mans of the sixties, but it’s unlikely completed the battery test. with a valiant effort, entering that the car will challenge the The line-up is solid, with Ste- the first ever hybrid car at the leaderboard. The car has lit- ve Zacchia joined by ’88 win- 24 hours. It is arguably the tle development under its belt, ner (and favourite son of many most interesting technological having arrived at the test day a British fan) Jan Lammers and advance since the gas turbines unfinished: they only recently ’09 P2 winner Elgaard. Lola B10/60 @rebellionracing 12 Nicolas Prost (FRA) (CHE) 70% NLD) 13 (ITA) Jean-Christophe Boullion (FRA) 70% Guy Smith (GBR)

Rebellion Racing come into race wins in the Le Mans Se- 13 is full to the brim with ex- 2011 on the back of a boost ries. perience, featuring regulars in the shape of Toyota engines Car 12 features super rapid Jean Christophe Boullion (co- and feature strong line ups in Swiss Neel Jani and French- incidentally starting his thir- both cars. The Japanese pow- man Nicolas Prost alongside teenth Le Mans) and Andrea erplant has been fairly solid, experienced and pacy Jeroen Belicchi joined by 2003 winner though the rest of the package Bleekemolen. Jani has been Guy Smith. has suffered a number of mala- stellar since his move to Re- Reliability, though, is a huge dies and the team are yet to bellion and has put Prost in question mark and it’s difficult turn promising performances the shade on a few occasions, to see either car reaching the and blistering (at least against though he will struggle to do chequered flag without major petrol opposition) pace into the same to Bleekemolen. Car delay, if at all. Oak Racing OAK @oakracinglive 15 (FRA) (FRA) 60% (PRT) 24 Richard Hein (FRA) (FRA) 55% Jean-François Yvon (FRA)

OAK Racing, confusingly now sive French youngster Matthieu Pierre Ragues joined by rapid the ‘works’ Pescarolo effort, Lahaye, but they should have Guillaume Moreau and ex tour- are putting a lot of effort into the presence to find consist- ing racer Tiago Monteiro. The this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, ency. second car is certainly slower, running four cars across the In LMP1, the two Gulf col- with team owner Jacques Nico- two prototype classes. Two oured cars feature a mixed bag let joined by Richard Hein and heavy shunts have hampered of professionals, journeymen Jean-Francois Yvon to make a their preparations, and the and gentleman drivers. Car 15 reasonable, if not particularly team are still missing impres- is probably the stronger, with pacy, line-up.

Quifel ASM Team Zytek 09SC Zytek 20 (FRA) (FRA) 85% (GBR)

Quifel ASM return to Le Mans regular calls for him to step traditionally the Zytek engine and the Portuguese team have into a works team. The regu- has not been the most power- a solid driving line up in their lar drivers are joined by Briton ful, there was good pace at the Zytek 09SC for their step into Warren Hughes, who always Le Mans Series opener at Le the LMP1 class. Team owner shows well on his forays into Castellet. Expect a very fast Miguel Amaral is a consistent this class. qualifying lap from Pla, then a performer while Frenchman The car is also a well devel- fairly quiet run to a finish. Olivier Pla is a superstar, with oped package now, and though Pescarolo Team Pescarolo 01 Judd @pescaroloteam 16 (FRA) (FRA) 70% (FRA)

Pescarolo Team make a much bination is almost exactly as it stalwart Christophe Tinseau welcomed return to Le Mans, was when it was garaged at the and new boy Julien Jousse. but their days of challenging end of 2010 and, should the All three drivers are fast and the works cars are well in the team avoid the gearbox woes consistent, and all will stick to past. ’s expe- that were previously their Pescarolo’s solid ‘no mistakes’ rienced outfit stuck around Achilles’ Heel, they should be mantra like gospel. when the finances went awry in for a strong finish come four Almost certainly the strong- and their reward was victory o’clock Sunday afternoon. est petrol LMP1 over 24 hours in their first race back at Paul In the car, veteran French- and could make the top six Ricard. man Emmanuel Collard is back, with luck and a following wind The and engine com- joined by fellow Pescarolo to help.

Kronos Racing (Marc VDS) Lola Aston Martin @marcvdsracing 22 (BEL) (BEL) 70% (BEL)

Kronos Racing’s entry was fairly mixed bag. Vanina Ickx makes his Le Mans debut but saved at the eleventh hour by comes with lots of experience has shown to be fast in every Marc VDS, who agreed to run (she ran in this car last year, car he has driven so far. the Aston Martin LMP1 at this too) and, though she is unlikely Should they avoid trouble, 85% year’s 24 hours. They were in- to be setting any fastest laps, they have an outside chance vited in from the reserves with she is metronomically consist- of a top six and an extremely the departure of Highcroft but ent. Bas Leinders is fast on his strong chance of both outpac- they should show well. day but has little experience of ing and outlasting the works The all Belgian crew are a the car, while Maxime Martin effort.

Find us on Facebook.com/lendurance SIGNATECH Nissan 26 (FRA) Lucas Ordoñez (ESP) 85% (FRA)

Signatech are amongst the (it hasn’t thus far) it will be up Ayari and Franck Mailleux to favourites in the class, and there. GT Academy winner Or- make one of the class’s best should their car prove reliable doñez is joined by experienced line ups. Level 5 Lola B11/80 HPD @level5racing 33 Scott Tucker (USA) (FRA) 35% Joao Barbosa (PRT)

Level 5 come to Le Mans well unlikely to be fast or reliable. man Bouchut and rapid Portu- prepared (and with an all but At least the line up is solid, guese driver Barbosa. A finish uncontested Sebring win) but with team owner Scott Tucker is probably the best they can with a car and engine package joined by experienced French- hope for. RML HPD ARX-01d @rmlgroup 36 (BRA) Mike Newton (GBR) 75% Ben Collins (GBR)

RML are back at Le Mans af- competent, with Brazilian star et, consistent run (something ter a miraculous turn around joining Newton and ex Stig Ben this team can do) is their best from Mike Newton’s scary Spa Collins. The car has proved a hope. Should they finish, a po- shunt. The driving team is little off the pace, so a qui- dium is certainly on the cards. Oak Racing OAK Pescarolo 01 Judd BMW @oakracinglive 35 Frédéric Da Rocha (FRA) Patrice Lafargue (FRA) 85% 65% Andrea Barlesi (BEL) 49 Nicolas de Crem (BEL) (JAP) 75% (CZE)

OAK Racing’s LMP2 effort is lesi. Barlesi will probably be is joined by ex Le Mans Series split over two cars, with the the fastest in a car destined to champion Jan Charouz and second (49) car being run by go steadily rather than run off Nicolas de Creme, who has experienced squad DAMS. The chasing the leaders. The pink shown well for Boutsen Energy Gulf liveried 35 car features DAMS car has a fast line up. Ex in the LMS this season. Though Frenchmen Frédéric Da Rocha Courage (and F1) man Shinji the Pescarolo will not be the and Patrice Lafargue joined Nakano returns to Le Mans for fastest in class, it should be 35% by rapid Belgian Andrea Bar- the first time since 2008 and reliable. PEcom racing Lola B11/40 Judd BMW 39 Luis Pérez Companc (ARG) Matias Russo (ARG) 75% (DEU)

Luis Pérez Companc’s team low Argentinian Russo is back With a reliable run, could defi- switch to LMP2 for 2011, with and should show well, with nitely trouble the podium. a Lola Judd, again under the German ace Kaffer likely to be 75% stewardship of AF Corse. Fel- as fast as anyone in the class.

Follow us on Twitter @lendurancelive Race Performance Oreca 03 Judd BMW 40 Michel Frey (CHE) Ralph Meichtry (CHE) 55% (FRA)

The Swiss team in LMP2 switch- French chassis to feature the of this team) and Michel Frey. es from the venerable Radical Judd engine. Expect a steady They will be aiming for a finish, into Oreca machinery for 2011, performance from Rostan and and could last better than the and is the only one of the Meichtry (who are stalwarts Nissan powered cars. Greaves Zytek 07S Nissan 41 (KSA) Tom Kimber-Smith (GBR) 75% (FRA)

Greaves arrive at Le Mans on anyone in the class and Karim Mans and has very little LMP ex- the back of looking perfor- Ojjeh has plenty of experience perience of any kind, though. mances this season. Rapid Brit in this car now. Olivier Lom- The car, like all LMP2 cars, will Tom Kimber-Smith is as fast as bard steps up from Formula Le struggle to be totally reliable. HPD ARX-01d @strakkaracing 42 (BRA) (GBR) 85% (GBR)

Strakka Racing may have suf- good fuel mileage should help his shaky reputation with every fered with their heavily re- them. Danny Watts and Jon- passing race. stricted HPD so far this season, ny Kane are both top drawer but a solid driver line up and while Nick Leventis is shedding Extreme Limite AM Paris Norma M200P Judd BMW 44 Fabien Rosier (FRA) Phillipe Haezebrouck (FRA) 55% 25% Jean-René De Fournoux (FRA)

Extrême Limite arrive at Le pilots to have any real expe- should be pretty reliable. A Mans with an unproven pack- rience at this level, with the finish would be like a win for age, both in terms of their car other two almost totally new this team. and their driving squad. De to this. The chassis, too, looks Fournoux is the only one of the shaky though the Judd BMW Team Oreca Matmut Oreca 03 NISMO @oreca 48 75% Alexandre Prémat (FRA) (FRA) 85% (AUT)

Oreca’s works effort has a top Ex-Audi driver Prémat is joined experienced French pilot Da- drawer line up and should be by Dominick Kraihamer, who vid Hallyday to make a team to in amongst the podium places has been excellent for Boutsen match any that others have of- should the car hold together. Energy so far this season, and fered in the second tier.

Your ad Here [email protected] 85%

gte Entries All artwork by Andy Blackmore Design andyblackmoredesign.com

Photo: Flying Lizard AF Corse 458 Italia @afcorse 51 (ITA) (ITA) 95% (FIN) 71 Robert Kauffman (USA) (USA) 45% Rui Aguas (PRT)

AF Corse have got to be one of in their car, the Italian being Kauffman complete a medio- the favourites despite never not only extremely fast but vir- cre line-up. having won at Le Mans, an all tually error free, exactly what The is somewhat of pro driver line up of Fisichella, you need around La Sarthe. Vi- an unknown; the car has shown Bruni and Vilander being one of lander joins the Italian pair for it’s, fast if not the fastest; the the strongest around. Fisichel- Le Mans; the Finn is not quite question is how it will stand la has taken to the GT2 spec as quick as Bruni but that’s like up in the reliability depart- Ferrari a lot better than he saying Pepsi isn’t as good as ment having not competed in did the F1 car; a victory at the Coke - the difference is mar- a 24 hour race before. Sebring last round in Spa together with ginal. The second car sees showed up a few weaknesses Bruni showed he has speed NASCAR’s Micheal Waltrip, who but that was at the start of and constancy, while his team brings a lot of enthusiasm but the development and no doubt mate Gimmi Bruni is a driver little know how for Le Mans, Michelotto have already ironed most team owners would have while Rui Aguas and Robert these out. BMW Motorsport BMW M3 @bmwmotorsport 55 (BRA) Jörg Müller (DEU) 95% (DEU) 56 (GBR) Dirk Müller (DEU) 95% (USA)

After a comprehensive 1-2 last year, success at La Sarthe with ease and have Le Mans ex- at Sebring, BMW would have since the overall victory in perience from last year along been the easy choice for vic- 1999 looks very possible. with Werner, while Dirk Müller tory at Le Mans; however af- Driver wise both cars have has multiple Le Mans under his ter the 458’s pace at the Spa top line ups; the 55 car has Au- belt. Hand is a Le Mans rookie 1000km Le Mans looks like we gusto Farfus, Jörg Müller and but there is no doubt he will will have a very close scrap in- Dirk Werner behind the wheel, impress. deed. The M3, now in its third while the 56 car consists of Choosing between these line year of competition, has had Andy Priaulx, Dirk Müller and ups is impossible and will prob- big development over winter Joey Hand. Touring car stars ably come down to which car which leaves BMW in much Priaulx and Farfus and Jörg has the most luck on the day. better shape for Le Mans than Müller have converted to GT A win is the target

The official travel partner of l’endurance magazine. speedchills.com Ferrari 458 Italia 58 (FRA) François Jakubowski (FRA) 75% (FRA) 59 Stéphane Ortelli (FRA) Frédéric Makowiecki (FRA) 90% (BRA)

Despite being a new team, Lux- Risi, (who are not racing this has Anthony Beltoise, François ury has gone about endurance year) has competed in many Le Jakubowski and Pierre Thiri- racing properly. Step 1: Get ar- Mans and has 2 class wins to his et ehind the wheel, a line up guably the best GT car. Step 2: name. The Brazilian however which is not as fast the 59 car. Hire a star driver line up; the is known for being occasion- So, Step 3: Win Le Mans? Well 59 car has a great line up in the ally wild. Ortelli is a perfect when you look at in on paper form of Frédéric Makowiecki, driver for Luxury, with plenty the 59 car has a good a chance Jaime Melo and Stephane Or- of Le Mans experience. He is as any. Going on previous re- telli. Makowiecki is a Le Mans very consistent and despite not sults in the ILMC you can’t help rookie but is fast and consist- being quite as quick now he is but feel that they may fade ent, while Melo on loan from still a decent peddler. The 58 away during the race.

Follow us on Twitter @lendurancelive Lotus JetAlliance racing Lotus Evora GT2 64 Oskar Slingerland (NLD) Martin Rich (GBR) 50% John Hartshorne (GBR) 65 Jonathan Hirschi (CHE) (GBR) 70% (GBR)

Lotus are back at Le Mans, and us that there is a lot of work siter is fast but doesn’t have in good hands. Austrian team still to do on the blue and white previous in endurance races. JetAlliance have taken up the machine. Even a finish will be Hirschi competed for Matech task of developing the new an achievement, but if they do in last year’s 24 hours so has Evora, the team only have one you can be sure it will make a recent knowledge of a GT car Le Mans start to their name but lot of British fans happy. around Le Mans. All in all it’s plenty of other endurance rac- The driver line up in the 65 a trio that should keep the car ing experience, so if anyone car of Jonathan Hirschi, John- out of the barriers and give can make the Evora quick they ny Mowlem and James Rossiter good feedback, and at the mo- can, however it will not hap- is solid and. Mowlem brings a ment that’s what the Lotus pen overnight and Spa showed lot of experience, while Ros- team need. JMW Ferrari 458 Italia @jmwmotorsport

Livery TBC 66 Rob Bell (GBR) (GBR) 90% (NLD) This year is probably JMW’s Ricard in the opening round of anything he has driven before, best chance of winning the the Le Mans Series. so the Ferrari should be no ex- GTE category. The combina- Rob Bell continues to lead the ception. tion of and the driver line up and is as fast as Expect JMW to have a close Ferrari 458 Italia work well ever, while Sudgen has plenty battle with the shod together and the team has al- of previous Le Mans knowledge AF Corse Ferrari, just like at ready claimed a victory at Paul and Maassen has been quick in Spa. Corvette Racing Corvette ZR1 @corvetteracing 73 (MCO) (USA) 95% Antonio Garcia (ESP) 74 (GBR) (DNK) 95% (GBR)

Pratt & Miller are one of the tion of Richard Westbrook and petitors in strategy over the 24 finest squads around and they Tommy Milner for this year. hours, so expect them to be know how to win Le Mans, but They will be out to avenge a at the sharp end of the class they are up against tough op- 2010 that promised much but throughout the race. Choos- position in GTE this year. The delivered little and arguably ing between the two line ups Corvette may not be the fast- take the victory they deserved is tough but Gavin, O’Connell est car over a single lap but last year. The team’s experi- and Westbrook should have a the driver line is second to ence means that it’s hard to slight edge on pace. none especially with the edi- see them lose out to their com-

Prospeed Competition 997 GT3 RSR

Livery TBC 75 (DEU) (BEL) 85% (NLD)

A factory blessed effort for the 24 hours, which all adds its age now and will struggle to the Belgian team sees works up to a very solid line up. The keep up with newer machin- driver Marco Holzer partnered team is very experienced, es- ery. A podium is not out of the with veteran Marc Goosens and pecially with the 997, though question if cars ahead suffer Dutchman Jaap Van Lagen for the Porsche is starting to show trouble. performance Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 76 Raymond Narac (FRA) (BEL) 85% (FRA)

The Rouen based team are al- will make his third start at Le the weak link in the line-up but ways a force to be reckoned Mans this year and has already he is not short of previous vis- with at La Sarthe and will be shown to be rapid. He is joined its to the legendary circuit. hoping to add another class by Nicolas Armindo who has victory to their 2007 success. impressed immensely. Third Factory driver Patrick Pilet driver Raymond Narac will be Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 77 (DEU) (AUT) 90% (DEU) 88 (GBR) Abdulaziz Al Faisal (SAU) 70% (USA)

The top German squad will none in this class. (with JMW in 2010) but the car be looking to repeat last year’s In the second car experi- could surprise given a chance. victory and to do so they are enced and The Porsche may not have back with the same line up. F3 driver Nick Tandy is paired the single lap pace of the new- Factory drivers Marc Lieb, with GT3 racer and relative er cars but it is known quantity Richard Lietz and Wolf Henzler unknown Abdul Al Faisal and over 24 hours, so come Sunday are all at the top of their game American Bryce Miller. Only afternoon you could see the 77 and the line-up is second to Miller has Le Mans experience car at the top of the class. Vantage @jotasport 79 (GBR) (GBR) 65% (GBR)

A tough debut GTE season so plagued by reliability issues Le Mans rookie Simon Dolan in far for the British team. The so it will be hard to see the a line up which at times could Vantage has shown speed, Aston lasting the full distance. show some good pace but is especially with Hancock be- Hancock and fellow Brit Chris unlikely to have the staying hind the wheel, but has been Buncombe are teamed up with power to match it. Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 RSR @flyinglizard_ms 80 Jörg Bergmeister (DEU) (USA) 90% (DEU)

Flying Lizard are back to try time, with Jorg Bergmeister, However it is possibly a year and claim the French classic Patrick Long and Lucas Luhr too late in aged machinery, that has so far alluded them. behind the wheel. It’s an- but saying that the reliabil- The new GTE class structure other line-up that leaves little ity of the Porsche could also has allowed the Lizards to run to be desired, in what is an prove to be crucial come the an all pro line up for the first extremely competitive field. finish.

Find us on Facebook.com/lendurance Hankook team farnbacher Ferrari 458 Italia 89 (DEU) Allan Simonsen (DNK) 90% (USA)

Farnbacher have a real chance the 24 hours without issues. Keen showed well with the of repeating, or even bet- Driver wise the trio is up there team last year. The Hankook tering, their second place at with the best. Simonsen is tyres also seem a match Le Mans last year. The Fer- extremely rapid, Farnbacher for Michelin and Dunlop, at rari 458 is arguably the fast- has grown to be a respected least over a single lap, so it est car over a single lap, but and consistent performer, wouldn’t be surprising if Si- there are doubts it can last while the lesser known Leh monsen put the car on pole.

Larbre Competition Corvette ZR1 50 (FRA) (FRA) 90% (CHE) 70 Christophe Bourret (AUT) Pascal Gibon (FRA) 65% Jean-Philippe Belloc (DEU)

Last year’s GT1 winners Larbre they should be strong in the take over the second IMSA have switched to Corvette for race after a podium at Spa. Porsche, which should be on 2011 and linking up with the The line up is a good one, for a steady run with French works squad at the test will with two of last year’s win- ace Jean-Philippe Belloc in the have improved their under- ners (Gardel and Canal) back car. standing of the car for sure. and joined by experienced Despite a setback at Sebring, pilot Bornhauser. They also Ferrari 430 GT2 @krohnracing 57 (USA) Niclas Jönsson (SWE) 90% (ITA)

Krohn having previously been to Le Mans as favourites, the of podium finishes. Top draw heavily linked up with Risi are team has also had great suc- gentleman drivers complete a now going it alone, and doing cess at the 24 hours previously very strong team that has past a good job of it. Class win- with a string of consistent pedigree suggesting they will ners at Sebring mean they go performances and a couple do well. Gulf AMR Middle East Aston Martin V8 Vantage @gulfamrme 60 (FRA) Roald Goethe (DEU) 35% Michael Wainwright (GBR)

Gulf AMR Middle East will proved no more reliable than though Giroix did finish fifth at struggle to make an impression its predecessor and the driv- Le Mans in 1995 for Mclaren. the race. The new Vantage has er line-up is unremarkable, AF CORSE Ferrari 430 GT2 @afcorse 61 Marco Cioci (ITA) Piergiuseppe Perazzini (ITA) 60% Sean Paul Breslin (ITA)

AF Corse run an Am F430 for competitors in the class, don’t and a couple of podium fin- Italians Perrazini and Cioci, expect fireworks but a solid, ishes. Top draw gentleman who are joined by Ireland’s cautious run. The car should drivers complete a very strong Sean Breslin. Like all their be bulletproof.performances team. CRS racing Ferrari 430 GT2 @crsracing 62 Pierre Ehret (DEU) Shaun Lynn (GBR) 60% Roger Wills NZL)

Ultra experienced CRS come Shaun Lynn and Roger Wills is solid rather than spectacu- to Le Mans with an Am line joined by experienced Ferrari lar but should finish the race if up made up of historic racers man Pierre Ehret. The line up they avoid trouble. Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 63 Horst Felbermayr Jr (AUT) Horst Felbermayr Sr (AUT) 75% (DEU)

Felbermayr’s Am class car is are joined by team regular consistent as they have been full to the brim with experi- Christian Ried. A podium is a in the past, especially given ence. Horsts senior and junior great possibility if they are as their machinery. Robertson Racing Doran Ford GT @robertsonracing 68 David Robertson (USA) Andrea Robertson (USA) 70% David Murry (USA) Robertson’s effort is one of the GT driven by rapid David Murry car could be fast and has had a most courageous on the grid, and husband and wife duo An- Petit Le Mans pole, but might with an entirely self built Ford drea and David Robertson. The struggle to finish. Flying LIzard Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 RSR @flyinglizard_ms 81 (USA) (USA) 70% (USA)

Flying Lizard have, for a long man, Pumpelly and Law. It know what not to do at this time, been a top Porsche team makes another line up that level, and is hardly short of and bring an Am car for Nei- should know the basics and experience.

JMB Racing Ferrari 430 GT2 83 Manuel Rodrigues (FRA) Jean-Marc Menahem (FRA) 65% Nicolas Marroc (FRA)

JMB are not a team short of seater driver Marroc, ex Hexis hem. These guys should know experience at this level and GT3 and Kolles Audi man Rod- how to bring a car home. bring their F430 for single rigues and Jean-Marc Mena-

A massive thanks to Andy Blackmore, who provided the fantastic drawings in this guide. Please respect his hard work and remember that all the art is copyrighted. andyblackmoredesign.com Next Issue: Le Mans Look out for our massive Le Mans review special, featuring reports, views and our experiences as well as all the reports from the Tourist Trophy and around the wall. Out June 25th