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Le Mans Series, 6 Hours Of Le Castellet - Preview Pt 2 - LMP2 and LMPC LMP2 38 RML D HPD ARX
-01d Mike Newton Tommy Erdos Ben Collins The big question for LMP2 is whether we’ll see changes to the running regulations to allow the P2 car to break free from a growing problem, the current power allowed simply isn’t enough to give the cars a significant performance advantage over either the FLM Orecas or the GTE class cars – both the other classes are too closely matched in terms of acceleration and ultimate top speed meaning that there is only really one place where overtaking can take place – under braking – and with top pro GT squads mixed in with some mixed ability FLM and GTE Am teams that could be a recipe for disaster – It doesn’t have to be so and we hope the ACO agree. That said we think there are only 8 crews that could compete for podium places on merit, the Extreme Limite Norma Judd (BMW) just doesn’t seem to have that level of pedigree in the depth of driver talent available. The return of the Norma is welcome news but we just can’t see anything other than attrition bringing this one to the surface.
Certainly on the list of potential podium sitters though are the pair of HPD chassis (now badged as Hondas) with RML bringing their ex de Ferran Racing chassis to match up against the Strakka racing car. Strakka proved a dominant force last year but faltered once too often allowing RML’s now mothballed HPD engined Lola to take the title. Both have continued to use HPD powerplants, albeit now the new for 2011 2.8 litre twin turbo V6 rather than the stunningly able 2010 spec racing V8. The HPD though was simply gutless at the pre season test, albeit not assisted by a high downforce package on the RML car – but all who have used the V6 in its current form have reported serious concerns about the output the unit is currently allowed to produce. That’s particularly vexing for RML who are simply delighted with their ‘new’ chassis and are champing at the bit to take the fight to Strakka on a more level playing field in 2011.
Both Honda/ HPD teams bring unchanged driver line-ups to the fray but for Strakka at least there’s a change of strategy for 2011 - Jonny Kane is nominated to start and finish all five rounds of the LMS this year, meaning that if the race strategy goes to plan, he’ll do two driving stints in each six hour race, while his team-mates will do one each (presumably with Danny Watts doing a substantial mid race stint.) There’s a singleton Zytek chassis for the now renamed Greaves Motorsport squad, this one of a trio of Nissan engined entries, the powerplant proving dominant in terms of pace wherever it has run thus far. The squad have dispensed with the services of Thor Christian Ebbesvik after his car damaging testing shunt at Imola (though the timing of his signing elsewhere (see below) suggests that he was, perhaps, already on the move! Instead will now host the return to racing of Tom Kimber Smith, the 2006 Le Mans GT2 Champion joining Gary Chalandon and Karim Ojjeh. TKS is aboard for the full LMS but not confirmed for Le Mans. DSC has been tracking reports of a test run planned for Alex (son of Martin) Brundle and of perhaps another for World Series By Renault racewinner Jon Lancaster - Any of those three will add fire to the belly of the team's June attack Ebbesvik instead should arrive at Le Castellet in the colours of Race Performance, the Swiss team’s Oreca 03 unique in its deployment of the Judd BMW powerplant. Michel Frey and Ralph Meichtry complete the line-up aboard the #40 car. The remaining pair of Oreca 03 chassis both feature the Nissan V8 powerplant with the Boutsen Energy squad moving up from FLM with previous FLM regulars Dominik Kraihamer and Nicolas de Crem, both could show real form. TDS Racing were by far the quickest in the class in the pre season test at le Castellet and they’ve added Jody Firth to their Test Day pairing of experienced FLM racer Mathias Beche and the fast learning Pierre Thiriet, potentially a very well matched trio – This squad could feature strongly if the Oreca Nissan package can show reliability to match its pace.
Finally there’s a pair of very different Lola Judds, one, half a decade old, the other amongst the newest cars on the grid. The #43 RLR Msport MG Lola now has the BMW based Judd V8 installed for the team’s second year of ACO rules competition. Reliability rather than blinding pace is the key for this team with the enthusiasm and speed of Rob Garofall, coupled with the rapidly improving Barry Gates and Simon Philipps tasked with keeping the now remarkably mature MG Lola EX265 rolling. That very reliability though could bring rewards beyond even the driver squad’s own (very limited) expectations.
Finally Pecom Racing are the ‘Argentinian’ team fielded and serviced by AF Corse for 2010 GT2 customers Luis Perez Companc and Matias Russo bolstered very considerably indeed by ex Audi factory LMP1 man and current Ferrari favourite Pierre Kaffer. The trio are campaigning the first cost capped Lola B11/40 to be raced in Europe, this in fact the only dorsal finned LMP currently entered in the LMS!
The #39 car was very
reliable indeed in the pre season test (though it suffered a major shunt at
Estoril in Companc’s hands), Kaffer professed himself highly impressed with his
new mount, but its ultimate competitiveness, as with the remainder of the LMP2
field will depend almost entirely on decisions made by the rulemakers rather
than the race engineers 91 HOPE RACING M FLM
Oreca- 09 Luca Moro Michael Tinguely Zhang Shan qi A quintet of Oreca FLM 09s are on the list for Le Castellet JMB and Hope racing are the class returnees, with JMB, based at the circuit, currently featuring the TBA Brothers on the entry list.
Hope Racing have the Chinese racer Zhang Shan Qi (worth well over 30 in Scrabble!) who is bound for the team’s LMP1 Oreca Hybrid squad. He joins team returnee Luca Moro and newcomer Michael Tinguely in a rather strange ly unbalanced looking squad. Pegasus Racing have been unable to find interest enough out there to field its LMP2 Courage so far but father and son Schell will be in the paddock taking charge of Mirco Schultis’s refreshingly brightly liveried Oreca shared with Patrick Simon.
Genoa Racing are, on the face of it an odd addition to the LMS, the team a regular ALMS entry last season. Jens Petersen, Elton Julian and Christian Zugel could prove well good enough to score well at Ricard. Finally there’s the first British entered FLM squad, Britcar graduates Neil Garner Racing are bringing some home spun charm (and proper tea!) to the task. John Hartshorne moves over from JMB for 2011 and he’s joined by super enthusiast Steve Keating and the man rumoured to be Ben Collins’ replacement the ever understated and unfeasibly fast Phil Keen – We’d be surprised to see Keen anywhere other than leading if he starts the race and if the classes haven’t been better balanced we’d put money on him out-qualifying a fair chunk of the LMP2 grid too.
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