More Changes To The Le Mans 24 Hours Entry

A snap Press Conference this evening at Spa saw the ACO announce three further withdrawals from the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Peka Racing Corvette C6.R withdrew on Thursday, the team telling dsc this evening that after the fire which befell their car at Silverstone they simply have neither the time nor the resource to fulfil their GT1 World Championship season commitments and prepare and race the car at Le Mans.

A bitterly disappointed Anthony Kumpen told Joost Custers: "I really wanted to race at Le Mans nd thought that we had a very good chance to win the class.  My programme for the year was going to be Belcar, the Spa 24 Hours and Le Mans.  Now Le Mans is gone and it is a big disappointment."

That withdrawal allowed the next nominated GT car to be elevated to a full entry, the second AF Corse Ferrari will now therefore be on the grid next month with Toni Vilander, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jean Alesi on the driver roster.

The ACO then revealed that this morning they received confirmation of the withdrawal of the Pescarolo Judd LMP1s entered by both Sora Racing and Pescarolo Sport.

That allowed first the final remaining LMP car on the reserve list, the Kruse Schiller Motorsport Lola Judd, and then in turn the next GT reserve on the list, the second Matech Competition Ford GT into the race.

Kai Kruse and Hardy Schiller could not disguise their delight at gaining the team's third consecutive entry: "We were disappointed at first to be on the reserve list," said Kai Kruse, "but we have retained constructive dialogue with the ACO since then and are delighted to bring what we think is by far our most competitive package yet to Le Mans.  Hardy Schiller confirmed that both Hideki Noda and Jean de Pourtales will definitely race at Le mans for the team with the third and final driver due to be announced "very shortly".

Kruse also though reflected on the sorrow that Henri Pescarolo would not be involved at Le Mans this year. "I feel for Henri very deeply.  He lives for Le Mans and so do I we will all miss him this year."

Martin Bartek from Matech meanwhile was looking forward to the increased opportunity and challenge that a two-car entry will bring to his young team:

"The ACO have been supportive of the Ford GT programme from the very beginning.  We were already looking forward to the challenge of racing the car at Le Mans.  This just makes the challenge all the tougher and more exciting.  We have experience of racing and winning in 24 hour races, we won here at Spa last year in the GT3 class, but Le Mans, and GT1 is a new level and a new challenge."

Bartek later told dsc that whilst the team were keeping a seat open in the #61 car for the recovering Natacha Gachnang, "The decision from the doctor will come in the next two weeks.  We are ready with alternatives if needed.  For the #60 car we are looking at several possible drivers including all of those that are racing with us this weekend."

Fabrice Bourrigaud, Director of Marketing and Communications for the ACO told dsc later that whilst there is still one car remaining on the reserve list (the second Spyker Squadron car) the ACO were not currently expecting the list as it stands to change any further.

"It is good news that we have teams of such high quality to step in to the entry even at this late stage but of course that is mixed with sadness, in particular at Henri not competing this year."

dsc does believe however that at least two existing LMP2 teams have expressed their willingness and readiness to step up as reserves should the need arise.  That was something that Fabrice did not count out should the need arise.