2006 24 Hours of LeMans entry list

  • Thread starter The359
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should be very interesting to see of all cars, the Lamborghini Murcielago, race at Le mans.
 
It's been awhile since I've seen a Murcielago race... it's a shame that it doesn't have much support, its a good looking car. I want to see how well the privateer teams do with the C5-R and Aston Martins. It's also good to see ACEMCO in there with a Saleen (So are they just running Le Mans this year and no series?). Too bad team Oreca pulled their Saleen entry.
 
1) I'm excited to see the Murc and F430 in the game this year
2) I'm interested in how well the S7R will perform
3) Where is the Mosler MT900R?
4) Spyker is racing? Hmmm, interesting...

Its going to be a good race. Overall I'm rooting for Corvette Racing (dee dee dee), but I'm also pulling to see Aston do well after the troubles last year. I'm sure the R10 will win it overall, and hopefully it will spark some interest in diesel here in the US.
 
The Saleens have run for a few years, without any success. ACEMCO is apparently not running ALMS, not sure what their plans are for 2006 besides LeMans (assuming they even run that).

There are no Moslers because not many are built and they don't fit into either class (the closest thing is G2 class in FIA GT).

Spyker's been at LeMans since 2001 I believe, with some decent performances.
 
Murcielagos also race in FIA GT (Reiter Engineering ran one)

Also Dick Barbour attempted to run 2 in ALMS.
 
Speaking of Le Mans, Rollcentre racing has received a Radical SR9. check out these shots.
 

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The359
Murcielagos also race in FIA GT (Reiter Engineering ran one)

Also Dick Barbour attempted to run 2 in ALMS.
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No - I mean that (one of) the Murcielagos entered at 2006 Le Mans 2006 also runs in the 2006 SuperGT (JGTC) series - the Japan Lamborghini Owners' Club one.
 
Since Le Mans is somewhat separate from the ALMS, the C6-Rs will be running without the ALMS restrictions, right?
 
I believe the recent ALMS restrictions are identical to the LeMans restrictions. If they aren't, they cars wont be unrestricted, they were merely be restricted differently.

And yes Famine, the Murcielago is one of the 2 JLOC Murcielagos run in SuperGT GT300 class. I assume they were be unrestricted.
 
i am excited that there are two spykers racing. hopefully theyll do well.

and the C6's should par well too :)

cant wait man...im going to TiVO it...wait, i dont have TiVo...oh well
 
I wish those Pescarolos would win Le Mans. They came so close last year. But with the new R10 in the field, that ain't gonna happen.

I'd like to see how the battle between the Astons and Corvettes would turn out.

Besides that Lambo in GT1, that F430 in GT2 and that Lister Storm LMP1, everything else is about as interesting as that tree in your backyard (assuming you even have a backyard). Despite that, I'll be watching it on TV.
 
You think so? I think it will be interesting. There's a lot of new cars in the field and we have no idea how they will perform. I think its too early to call the winners, especially in a 24 hour race. Audi certainly has a good chance but it is a brand new car. They saw problems at Sebring and I'm sure they learned a lot about the car during the race that will help them get ready for Le Mans, but it certainly does not mean that the Pescarolos having nothing in store for them.

As it was for Sebring, GT2 will be exciting. I will admit that I was never a big fan of the GT2 class until recently. Its quickly becoming my favorite class because of the competition.
 
I really have to applaud the ACO. This has to be the strongest entry list in years. Other than the WR, I can't find a weak link in any of the four classes. There are only a few cars I would have liked to have seen added to the list, like the second Zytek with Johnny Herbert and Guy Smith, who weren't invited (can't blame the ACO, the second Zytek doesn't even exist at the moment), and the Oreca Saleens, who withdrew.

There's a great mix of chassis between the four classes and quite a few teams have changed chassis, engines, tires and even classes, this year more than previous years. So, until we see most of them run the LMS opener at Istanbul next weekend, it's hard to handicap the field.

As for the Corvettes, I believe they will be able to shed the extra restrictors and extra weight they had to carry at Sebring, as those penalties were handed down from IMSA, not the ACO. They will still have to abide by the weight and restrictor rules of the ACO. Plus, I believe they and the Astons will have to carry an extra 35 kg. of ballast, since both went under the 3:55 "recommended" lap time set by the ACO.

BTW The359, are you planning to host a Le Mans 24 hours race like you did last year?
 
kylehnat
Diesel and spark in the same sentence? Heresy!! :)
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I wasent sure if anyone would notice. I did do it intentionally, but I didnt think it would be funny if I pointed it out...
 
Anyone know what Porsche's plan was concerning and Le Mans P2 entry? I think I remember reading that they weren't planning on competing in this year's Le Mans. But I wonder, had they won in Sebring and received an automatic bid, would they have accepted?
 
dougiemeats
Anyone know what Porsche's plan was concerning and Le Mans P2 entry? I think I remember reading that they weren't planning on competing in this year's Le Mans. But I wonder, had they won in Sebring and received an automatic bid, would they have accepted?
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I Believe that the top podium finishers (the top three) get the invite to le mans, but I could be wrong.
 
Actually, I believe only the class winners of the Petit Le Mans get an invitation to Le Mans. Unfortunately, Sebring doesn't seem to count for much in international sports car racing these days.

(Off-topic dream scenario: the ALMS and LMS team up and open their seasons with a joint race at Sebring. Sign DHL to load all the LMS cars on a plane, fly them across the pond and have 65 of the best LMP and GT cars in the world fight it out on the roughest circuit in the world.)

As for Porsche, it was never in the plans for them to go to Le Mans this year. I believe they will sell customer versions for next year, and what the customers do with them, who knows? I believe we will see a couple of RS Spyders on the Le Mans grid next year.
 
No, Sebring does count, that's why a lot of European teams show up for it.

1st in each class for Sebring, 1st in each class at Petit, 1st in each class in the points standings for ALMS, 1st in each class in the points standings in European LMS, and 1st in each class from the previous year's LeMans get automatic entry.
 
From www.mariantic.co.uk/lmp/lemans06.asp (A great site for keeping up with ever-changing entry lists.)
The entry list for Le Mans is limited to 50 cars spread across the 4 categories. 24 entries are "pre-selected", that is to say if they enter, their entry will be accepted. This only applies if the entry is to the same category as it was pre-selected for. This privilege belongs to the team and is not related to car or engine make. The pre-selections in each category are:-

1st and 2nd at 2005 Le Mans in each category
1st and 2nd in 2005 LMES in each category
1st at 2005 Petit Le mans in each category
1st in 2005 ALMS or 2nd in ALMS in each category if winner also won Petit Le Mans

I wish there was an automatic invitation for winning at Sebring. It might encourage a few more European teams to come over. True, quite a few European teams make the trip to Sebring, but it's still little more than a regular ALMS race with a few extras. I would like to see Sebring regain its place as one of the premier international sports car events. A combined ALMS/LMS field would be larger than Le Mans and the racing would be better. Probably a good reason for them not to do it.
 
I think there's a lot of confusion, even from me, about Sebring. As Mulsanne stated, there's no automatic entry for winning Sebring, but a good showing will certainly help your resume when decision time comes for the ACO.
 
Unfortunately, with the advent of the Le Mans Series, you don't even have to come to Sebring or any other ALMS race. If you show up and impress at the Paul Ricard Test Day, you can still get an entry. Look at the Icer Brakes Ferrari. No past LMS or LM history, didn't go to Sebring, but they went to the Test Day and impressed and they got in. (I'll admit, part of that had to do with the ACO wanting a second Ferrari in the GT2 field.)

Others who got in with new cars who haven't yet run a race are Creation, Courage and Rollcentre. The ACO does not like to admit cars that have not run yet, unless they're French. ;) But I believe the ACO gave them a break for their history of supporting Le Mans and the Le Mans Endurance Series. And I think the Entry List is stronger with their presence.

As for Rollcentre and the Radical, I'm with you. The car looks great and impressed at the Test Day. (www.dailysportscar.com has a nice story of the development of the car. They're running a free sample, so you might want to check it out.) I wish them all the best with the SR9.
 
Sometimes I don't understand the way the ACO makes decisions. Last year the works Zytek did not get an entry and another car (was it the TVR?) did not get in as well. If I can remember right... these cars did very well in the LMES with both teams winning the opening (or second) race in their respective classes.

I wish it wasn't so, but I do feel that the French teams get a little break when it comes to decisions and rulings. Remember last year's Le Mans, the Aston Martin spent quite a bit of time serving penalties for going off track?
I can recall seeing the Oreca Audi doing the same with no penalties... not to mention one of the drivers almost hitting a pit crew member from another team! I've got nothing against Oreca... its the ACO I don't like at times.

Little bit off topic.... Is that SR9 coming to the ALMS during the last part of the season? I remember reading that the car would make an appearance but I forget which team was planning on running it.
 
Totally agree. The ACO makes some crazy decisions sometimes. Like you pointed out, last year it was the factory Zytek and the LNT TVRs that were the victims of those decisions. The French teams get such a break with the ACO. That's the only way to understand how the WRs end up at Le Mans year after year. They rarely compete in any other races, but still get on the list. I just don't understand. But it's the ACO's race, so they can say to hell with us and choose who they want. (Plus I hate the "recommended" lap time rules. You shouldn't tell someone exactly how fast they should go. It's a race. Let them get on with it!)

As for the Radical, the answer is YES! Van der Steur Racing, who currently use a 2000 Lola B2K/40, have announced they have purchased a Radical SR9. The debut was originally reported as the Lime Rock round, but I believe it has been pushed back to Petit Le Mans. So we should see it for at least the last two races. Hopefully, Rollcentre will come over for PLM and Laguna (depending on the scheduling of the Monza replacement), or Sebring '07. Plus, there's talk of a Zytek coming over after Le Mans. (fingers crossed)
 

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