Le Mans Series – Nurburgring 1000 Kms – Preview
It Just Gets Better And Better

The Nurburgring – yes, the new one, a track which was ‘poo poo’d’ when it was built, but has become, with no changes to itself, a classic European track. One of only two circuits to host a Le Mans Series race every year (since the series began in 2004), and just two weeks after Le Mans, it seems certain to set a record for the number of starters at an LMS event.

51 entries are on the list, and that speaks volumes for the determination of all the Le Mans teams to be ready to race again so soon afterwards. Hugh Chamberlain remarked two years ago that the number and quality of the LMS entries in this era far exceeds that of the Group C period – and that was two years ago. In June/July 2007, the quality throughout really is the best it’s been in the short history of the Le Mans (Endurance) Series. GT1 may hold a select, but high quality, seven, but in the other three classes you couldn’t really ask for any more.

So what might the Nurburgring have in store? Two of the three LMS races here have been classics – and this one seems set to be too. Last year’s race probably wasn’t (a classic), but the excellent 2004 and 2005 events had threads that link neatly to 2007.

What role will the weather play in this crazy European summer? More rain (the UK is suffering its wettest June ever) – or will the Eifel Mountains deliver some summer sun?

LMP1
Let’s get the Peugeots out of the way first – and also think back to 2004. It was the Veloqx year, and in each of the four LMES races that summer, the Audi drivers went at it hammer and tongs. Martyn Pass at Audi had to help out at the ‘Ring – because there was so much happening involving the two R8s, as the weather changed and changed again, that we couldn’t keep up with it all.

So what we’d like from Peugeot is a full scale battle between the two 908s. There seems to be some ill feeling between the crews anyway - and how will they cope without Bourdais? The 908s will probably ‘pootle about’ in practice, then set some blinding qualifying times, which will leave everyone wondering what they’ve been doing prior to the qualifying session. Logically, they’ll run away at the front in the race (will wet weather change that?) – which will leave us to concentrate on the ‘petrol LMP1’ race. And that is set to be a thriller.

Henri Pescarolo’s team tended to have it all its own way last year, but this year’s two races have been subtly different (although works team developments were hampered by customer deliveries). But Henri’s cars were where you would have expected at Le Mans – but there will be one more challenger in the petrol class in Germany.

While others have been rebuilding their cars, Arena Motorsport has been ready to go – and the team’s truck was on its way to Germany as early as Monday evening. Shimoda and Chilton: do those names revive memories of 2005? These two won from the back of the grid in a six hour thriller, and this track has historically suited the Zyteks.

Logically then, it suits the Creation too, and Mike Jankowski and Ian Bickerton are determined to show what their team can really do, with their own chassis – after a Le Mans nightmare of epic proportions. If you see Bickerton walking around with a large piece of ‘four by two’, that will be the big stick he’ll be using if any one of his drivers leaves the tarmac and meets something solid…

“I’m hoping for the ‘petrol pole’,” says Mike Jankowski, “and to finish in the top three.” They’re not unreasonable expectations – for a team that has excelled here in the past. JC-W has been whistling round Road Atlanta in the Autocon Creation since Le Mans, and will be as keen as anyone to show what the exotically-liveried 07 car can do. And if you see Nic Minassian with a large felt pen, warn him about Bicks’ piece of wood….

Rollcentre and Charouz – what an interesting pair of entries. One gets results through consistency and good behaviour, the other has tended to be fast and furious.. but also gets good results. Which method will win at the Nurburgring? “Henri will help us with any set-up changes for the new bodywork,” suggests Martin Short. Mucke vs. JC-W vs. Shimoda or Chilton for the petrol pole? Or Barbosa? Two on Dunlops, two on Michelins.

Or will Jean-Marc Gounon or Jonathan Cochet have something to say about the ‘petrol pole’? It’s been a tough first few races for Courage Competition and the AER-engined LC70s – as it has for Jan Lammers. The Dome seems to be a ‘Le Mans special’ in some respects, a low downforce Dome once again. Racing for Holland had a really tough Le Mans.

Swiss Spirit’s wasn’t exactly troublefree either: they’ll be hoping it stays dry throughout for the Lola Audi. The gentlemen in the Chamberlain-Synergy Lola will probably be hoping for the same – or at least not torrential rain. They showed their credentials, over 24 hours, with a fine finish, despite a couple of hurdles in the way.

And that leaves the Lavaggi. What to say?

LMP2
Le Mans for the P2 boys was as eventful as expected – just like Valencia and Monza. If someone, anyone, has a troublefree run they should win – unless this is the European LMP2 race to end LMP2 races.

The likes of Warren Hughes – back in the Embassy Radical for the LMS – and Miguel Amaral both thought it unlikely that two P2s would tough it out to the finish at Le Mans, and so it proved. Bill Binnie’s team had the best plan and the best execution – some of the rest just had the ‘execution’.

But Binnie's squad (right) hasn’t won in the LMS yet: this year, the winners have been Horag and Quifel ASM. Will any one team win more than once in 2007? RML is overdue a win, Bruichladdich is due at least another podium (but no Robin Liddell in the #21 Radical), Embassy is due a result of some sort, and testing form in the ‘Le Mans break’ suggests that that, when it comes, will be a very good one. The same applies to the Barazi-Epsilon entry: the fastest P2 car of the season, everywhere (Vergers didn’t get a clear lap in qualifying at Monza), but to finish first, etc…..

Or will there be a P2 upset, and a win for one of the outsiders? Not Noel del Bello: he’s done Le Mans, and quietly faded away… perhaps the Bruneau Pilbeam? What odds the T2M Dome?

GT1
If they’re troublefree, bank on Oreca to take the win: the Saleen typically wins or breaks (Le Mans was the exception). Larbre was back to its true form at Le Mans though, and don’t write off Team Modena or Luc Alphand’s Corvettes – they’re all Le Mans Series winners.

GT2
“The best racing is always in GT2,” say the entrants – and this class gets bigger and stronger.

It was Ferrari – Ferrari – Ferrari – Panoz – Ferrari at Monza, the lead GPC 430 taking us by surprise there, while Valencia was more of a Porsche affair. The consistency has come from the Virgo Ferrari in 2007, and why not with Simonsen and Bell at the wheel? Other teams go for three drivers, but these two pros. look very strong: neither drove a Ferrari at Le Mans, oddly (a Porsche and a Panoz for the Dane and Briton respectively).

But so do Lieb / Pompidou, Caffi / Zardo, Lietz / Narac, TK-S / Watts and Janis / Kox (look very strong). The Esperantes will be there to pounce if the top 430s and 997s are delayed, the Spykers are due a good result, the Danish Corvette is back, as is the James Watt Porsche – and there are quick guys in almost every entry (Mowlem in the other GPC car, Dirk Werner at Farnbacher, Anthony Beltoise in the Perrier Porsche for example): this has got all the ingredients of a classic race within a race.

Let’s not worry about the points position until after this, the third race of this six race season.