2008 24 Hours of Le Mans

The officiall entry list for the 24 Hours of Le mans has been released by the ACO. 55 entries plus 8 reserves which will all show for the Test Days the first weekend of June, two weeks before the race.

The list is currently as follows:

LMP1 (20 cars)

#1
Audi Sport North America - Germany
Audi R10
Audi 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel)

#2
Audi Sport North America - Germany
Audi R10
Audi 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel)

#3
Audi Sport Team Joest - Germany
Audi R10
Audi 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel)

#5
Team Oreca-Matmut - France
Courage-Oreca LC70
Judd 5.5L V10

#6
Team Oreca-Matmut - France
Courage-Oreca LC70
Judd 5.5L V10

#7
Team Peugeot Total - France
Peugeot 908
Peugeot 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel)

#8
Team Peugeot Total - France
Peugeot 908
Peugeot 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel)

#9
Peugeot Sport Total - France
Peugeot 908
Peugeot 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel)

#10
Charouz Racing System - Czech Republic
Lola B08/60
Aston Martin 6.0L V12

#11
Dome Racing Team - Japan
Dome S102
Judd 5.5L V10

#12
Charouz Racing System (Team Cytosport) - Czech Republic
Lola B07/17
Judd 5.5L V10

#14
Creation Autosportif - Great Britain
Creation CA07
AIM 5.0L V10

#16
Pescarolo Sport - France
Pescarolo 01
Judd 5.5L V10

#17
Pescarolo Sport - France
Pescarolo 01
Judd 5.5L V10

#18
Rollcentre Racing - Great Britain
Pescarolo 01
Judd 5.5L V10

#19
Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport - Great Britain
Lola B06/10
AER 4.0L Turbo V8

#20
Epsilon Euskadi - Spain
Epsilon Euskadi EE1
Judd 5.5L V10

#22
Tokai University/YGK Power - Japan
Courage-Oreca LC70
Judd 5.5L V10

#23
Autocon Motorsport - United States
Creation CA07
Judd 5.0L V10

#24
Terramas - Japan
Courage LC70
Mugen 4.0L V8

LMP2 (12 cars)

#25
Ray Mallock Racing (RML) - Great Britain
MG-Lola EX265
MG 2.0L Turbo I4

#26
Team Bruichladdich Radical - Great Britain
Radical SR9
AER 2.0L Turbo I4

#30
Racing Box - Italy
Lucchini LMP2/04
Judd 3.4L V8

#31
Team Essex - Denmark
Porsche RS Spyder Evo
Porsche 3.4L V8

#32
Team Barazi-Epsilon - France
Zytek 07S/2
Zytek 3.4L V8

#33
Speedy Racing Team Sebah - Switzerland
Lola B08/80
Judd 3.4L V8

#34
Van Merksteijn Motorsport - Netherlands
Porsche RS Spyder Evo
Porsche 3.4L V8

#35
Saulnier Racing - France
Pescarolo 01
Judd 3.4L V8

#40
Quifel ASM Team - Portugal
Lola B05/40
AER 2.0L Turbo I4

#41
Trading Performance - Belgium
Zytek 07S/2
Zytek 3.4L V8

#44
Kruse Schiller Motorsport - Germany
Lola B05/40
Mazda 2.0L Turbo I4

#45
Embassy Racing - Great Britain
Embassy WF01
Zytek 3.4L V8

GT1 (10 cars)

#007
Aston Martin Racing - Great Britain
Aston Martin DBR9
Aston Martin 6.0L V12

#009
Aston Martin Racing - Great Britain
Aston Martin DBR9
Aston Martin 6.0L V12

#50
Larbre Competition - France
Saleen S7-R
Ford 7.0L V8

#53
Vitaphone Racing Team - Germany
Aston Martin DBR9
Aston Martin 6.0L V12

#55
IPB Spartak Racing (Reither Engineering) - Russia
Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT
Lamborghini 6.0L V12

#59
Team Modena - Great Britain
Aston Martin DBR9
Aston Martrin 6.0L V12

#63
Corvette Racing - United States
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
Chevrolet 7.0L V8

#64
Corvette Racing - United States
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
Chevrolet 7.0L V8

#72
Luc Alphand Aventures - France
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
Chevrolet 7.0L V8

#73
Luc Alphand Aventures - France
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
Chevrolet 7.0L V8

GT2 (13 cars)

#76
IMSA Performance Matmut - France
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
Porsche 3.8L Flat-6

#77
Team Felbermayr-Proton - Germany
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
Porsche 3.8L Flat-6

#78
AF Corse - Italy
Ferrari F430GT
Ferrari 4.0L V8

#80
Flying Lizard Motorsports - United States
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
Porsche 3.8L Flat-6

#81
Tafel Racing - United States
Ferrari F430GT
Ferrari 4.0L V8

#82
Risi Competizione - United States
Ferrari F430GT
Ferrari 4.0L V8

#83
Risi Competizione - United States
Ferrari F430GT
Ferrari 4.0L V8

#85
Spyker Squadron - Netherlands
Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R
Audi 4.0L V8

#90
Farnbacher Racing - Germany
Ferrari F430GT
Ferrari 4.0L V8

#94
Speedy Racing Team - Switzerland
Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R
Audi 4.0L V8

#96
Virgo Motorsport - Great Britain
Ferrari F430GT
Ferrari 4.0L V8

#97
BMS Scuderia Italia - Italy
Ferrari F430GT
Ferrari 4.0L V8

#99
JMB Racing - Monaco
Ferrari F430GT
Ferrari 4.0L V8

And here are the eight reserve entries. If any team on the entry list drops out between now and the race in June, the reserve will take their place in the order shown here, regardless of the class.

1st reserve
LMP1
Saulnier Racing - France
Pescarolo 01
Judd 5.5L V10

2nd reserve
GT1
IPB Spartak Racing - Russia
Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT
Lamborghini 6.0L V12

3rd reserve
LMP1
Epsilon Euskadi - Spain
Epsilon Euskadi EE1
Judd 5.5L V10

4th reserve
GT2
IMSA Performance Matmut - France
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
Porsche 3.8L Flat-6

5th reserve
LMP1
Creation Autosportif - Great Britain
Creation CA07
AIM 5.0L V10

6th reserve
GT2
Spyker Squadron - Netherlands
Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R
Audi 4.0L V8

7th reserve
GT2
Team Felbermayr-Proton - Germany
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
Porsche 3.8L Flat-6

8th reserve
GT1
Larbre Competition - France
Saleen S7-R
Ford 7.0L V8

It's good to see at least one Saleen S7R and Murcielago R-GT.

And a Vitaphone Aston Martin? Interesting.

dougiemeats

And a Vitaphone Aston Martin? Interesting.

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Not much of a surprise given that the MC12 still doesn't meet the ACO regulations(even while the FIA and IMSA have allowed it to compete), but its a welcome change though.

I usually bring up threads on big race events. However, it's nice to see the 2008 Le Mans thread started. It's February, but we aren't extremely far from June. Thanks for starting this up, The359.

I always thought GT2 mainly had porsche 911s. So many Ferraris now.

The Ferraris have become more successful. Most teams have begun to switch in order to be more competitive.

So would you say that the Ferraris are the new "it" cars of GT racing?

JohnBM01

So would you say that the Ferraris are the new "it" cars of GT racing?

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For now at least, but those teams who decided to stick with Porsche will have a strong package this year. The 997 GT3 RSR has been upgraded during winter, and should provide an even match for the revised F430.

Must say I`m keen on the BMW M3 GTR as of next season though. Would be nice if something else than a Porsche or a Ferrari were competitive in GT2.
I´m not forgetting the Panoz Le Mans win, but seriously...
The Spykers are not very competitive either, but there will be some new faces in the Le Mans series in the US and over here in Europe, such as Corvette, Viper CC, Ford GT, Aston V8 Vantage.

Next year looks very interesting indeed!

The 2008-spec GT3-RSR is still a maybe though, as they are currently untested. Ferrari also performed upgrades to the F430.

Nice to see some Porsche RS Spyders in the LMP2 line-up. Shame they're not Penskes.

Entirely a shame that none of the eligible ALMS LMP2 teams are heading for Le Mans. It's understandable that Dyson and Penske are staying home (they've both said in the past they don't want to spend their own money to go to Le Mans) but a crying shame that not one Acura is going.

And, quite frankly, Tokai Freaking University???? They hold Creation and Epsilon to one car each with their team cars on reserve, but allow this to run? Is it just me, or does this smack of the ACO protecting the diesels from the potential that with a bit of on-track data and development a privateer with a customer car might actually have an LMP1 faster than the oil-burners?

Layla's Keeper

And, quite frankly, Tokai Freaking University???? They hold Creation and Epsilon to one car each with their team cars on reserve, but allow this to run? Is it just me, or does this smack of the ACO protecting the diesels from the potential that with a bit of on-track data and development a privateer with a customer car might actually have an LMP1 faster than the oil-burners?

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Well, I highly doubt the Creation or Basque cars are going to be challenging for podiums anyway over the Peugeots and Audis, and even the Pescarolos who will be flying the petrol flag.

On one hand, its nice to give a tiny team like the one from Tokai University a chance to participate at LeMans, so I feel happy for them, but its unlikely theyll finish the race.

Tokai has the support of YGK, who are using this program to launch their LMP1 engine.

The Epsilon Euskadi is unproven, and Creation has yet to run with their new engine, so there's hardly any conclusive evidence that they'd be able to fight the diesels.

Hmmmm, YGK, haven't heard or seen anything from them in a while. As far as competition, Unless you have an Diesel or the big two have some huge failure(which I doubt will happen), No else one is gonna win and now that Audi is in both the LMES and the ALMS with Peugeot, I don't see a petrol car anywhere on the podium anytime soon.

RACECAR

Hmmmm, YGK, haven't heard or seen anything from them in a while. As far as competition, Unless you have an Diesel or the big two have some huge failure(which I doubt will happen), No else one is gonna win and now that Audi is in both the LMES and the ALMS with Peugeot, I don't see a petrol car anywhere on the podium anytime soon.

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I agree it will be very hard for a non diesel car to win.

YGK attempted to get into sportscars a few years ago, backing the Reynard 02S. However when Reynard went belly up, YGK quickly pulled out of the project.

YGK's attempt at Petit Le Mans

The Spykers havn't been that these past two years but their reliability lets them down. But they're getting stronger I think.

And I though the Ferrari had a 4.3l V8, hence its name - 430?

It doesn't feel right without Rollcentre

GTveteran

And I though the Ferrari had a 4.3l V8, hence its name - 430?

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In order to compete at their current weight, they run with a 4.0L V8.

Its interesting to see Vitaphone entered in a DBR9- wonder what Maserati think of this?

notsofast

Its interesting to see Vitaphone entered in a DBR9- wonder what Maserati think of this?

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Seeing as their MC12 doesn't meet the ACO's regulations, they can't really say much about it. I doubt they'll cross their arms and turn their back on vitaphone racing with this fact in mind though.

Danachronism

It doesn't feel right without Rollcentre

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Huh?

The359

#18
Rollcentre Racing - Great Britain
Pescarolo 01
Judd 5.5L V10

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dougiemeats

In order to compete at their current weight, they run with a 4.0L V8.

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I see. I'm not that keen on Ferraris so I don't follow them. I wonder if Aston will do the same thing with the Vantage?

I was also quite surprised to see no Panozes in GT2. They did well last year.

dougiemeats

Huh?

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Oh! I completely missed that!

GTveteran

I see. I'm not that keen on Ferraris so I don't follow them. I wonder if Aston will do the same thing with the Vantage?

I was also quite surprised to see no Panozes in GT2. They did well last year.

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They did well?? Two starting cars, one DNF and one finished some 12 laps behind the GT2 winner... 5th in class though... good??
They won the class in -06 though, if that is what you mean.

But it is sad that they are not
entered. The more the marrier!

They won the class in -06 though, if that is what you mean.

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Yeh thats what I meant. I get confused between the years. Last year I was working (in a race team funnily enough) and I didn't get much of a chance to keep up with the race.

And I agree that the bigger the variation of cars, the better. Next year should be pretty good then.

GTveteran

I see. I'm not that keen on Ferraris so I don't follow them. I wonder if Aston will do the same thing with the Vantage?

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From what I understand, the V8 Vantage GT2 will have its engine enlarged to 4.5 litres.