Le Mans Series and Japan Le Mans Challenge

[dougiemeats]

I'm not sure how much interest there is here at GTP for other Le Mans-based racing series but this is a place for you to talk about the LMS (formerly LMES) and the new JLMC.

Unfortunately, I am unable to watch any of these events on tv but I do keep up as much as I can. SpeedTV shows some highlights here and there but I never seem to catch it on.

Round 1 of the LMS has come and gone and here is a brief overview of the race:

The Istanbul race was scheduled to be a 1000km race. However, the race was shortened by 4 hours due to a miscalculation of fuel. The announcement came during the middle of the race that over 8,000 liters of fuel was missing!

Winners were:

P1 - Pescarolo Sport (Pescarolo Judd)
P2 - Barazi Epsilon (Courage AER)
GT1 - Larbre (Aston Martin DBR9)
GT2 - GPC Sport (Ferrari 430 GT)

The next race is May 14 - 1000 km of Spa

I'll post next about the upcoming Japan Le Mans Challenge.

 

[JohnBM01]

This concept of the Japan Le Mans Challenge is something long overdue for Japanese motorsports- a pure sportscar racing series. As much as I love Autobacs Super GT, there is no real sportscar racing series like the ALMS or Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series. Japan has some wonderful race tracks for competition to commence. What tracks? Here are ones I know:

Suzuka - no introduction. Simply one of the greatest circuits in the world with many driver favorite votes.

Fuji (before H. Tilke f:censored: up the track) - still high-speed, but more technical.

Autopolis - a track with infinite potential. Prospective host of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan complete with many facilities and fancy-pants stuff in Oita, Japan. (Then) JGTC raced this course since 2003.

T.I. Circuit Aida - a balance of high-speed and moderate cornering. Keeps you on your toes.

I'd sure love to know more about this deal. An episode of "Street Fury" (love or hate the show) highlighted on the Japanese Le Mans Challenge when the Autobacs team was shown. Either that or somebody. All I know is that Team Goh's Audi Japan effort and Hitotsuyama Racing's Ferrari 550 Maranello was featured at the most recent Tokyo Auto Salon. I'll have to read more about the JLMC.

 

[Mulsanne]

For the JLMC, you might want to check out http://www.mariantic.co.uk/lmp/JLMC06.asp for a list of the potential entries. Really thin list right now, but I expect those numbers to rise. Rumor is there's a Courage LC70 bound for the JLMC to compete against the Zytek 04S. GT1 should also be exciting, with the Ferrari 550 up against the JLOC Lamborghinis. Schedule for this year is three 1000 kilometer races: Sugo (May 13-14), Motegi (July 1-2) and Okayama (Oct. 28-29). (The only one I'm familiar with is Motegi.)

I agree, it's about time Japan had a Le Mans Series of its own. Back in the Group C days, the JSPC had works entries from Toyota, Mazda and Nissan, plus plenty of Porsches and other cars. The ACO has been courting the Japanese manufacturers for some time, so with the announcement that Acura will join the ALMS next year, I would expect to see a few works-supported cars in the JLMC.

As for the Le Mans Series, I can't wait until Speed gets around to show the highlights (in between their wall-to-wall NASCAR coverage and "pimp my ride"-type shows...). For Spa, there's quite an entry list: http://www.mariantic.co.uk/lmp/spa06.asp I'd kill for an entry list like that over here. Spa will see the debut of the new Zytek 06S hybrid with two of the drivers that won the race last year. So I expect/hope they will take the fight to the Pescarolo.

About the Istanbul fuel incident, I honestly could not believe it when I read it. For a "professional" series to screw up so much on such an important component like the fuel is just insane. But hilarious.

 

[dougiemeats]

Mulsanne, you pull through yet again. Thanks for the link; I was sitting here using Google to translate the entry list from the official website, and it wasn't going too well.

If anyone has reliable information, please add-on or correct me. I will edit this post as needed. I have very limited sources at the moment and any help is appreciated. 👍

The Japan Le Mans Challenge is an interesting new series set to debut in two weeks time. From what I understand, Kazumichi Goh of Team Goh Racing was very involved in its creation. Audi Sport Japan Team Goh claimed the overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2004.

The rules and regulations of the JLMC is very unconventional compared to its European and American counterparts. In addition to current-spec prototypes, the old LMP900 and LMP675 classes will be able to compete without being handicapped with weight penalties and/or engine restrictions. Also eligible are non-ACO Toyota-powered prototypes used in a one make series (I will post a picture soon). Other entries include typical GT1 and GT2 entries such as the Porsche 996, Murcielago R-GT, and Ferrari 550 as well as the Mazda RX-7 and Mosler MT900R.

Because of its relaxed regulations, the JLMC gives teams from Europe and America a market to sell their old cars. For those accustomed to the LMS/ALMS/FIA-GT, this may not be the ideal series. This is a brand new series however, and they will certainly learn a great deal from its first official season. I expect this series to conform more strictly with ACO regulations as it matures.

The season will consist of 3 races; 1000km each. For an entry list, please refer to Mulsanne's post above. In case you're wondering what the “GC-21” is, it's the Toyota-powered prototype I mentioned earlier. The rumored Courage LC70 is to be powered supposedly by Mugen. If you're wondering why Mr. Goh hasn't entered his R8, I think this is because he believes there would be little competition for the Le Mans winner.

In 2008, the ACO plans to award the series champion with an automatic entry to the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans. With enough interest, this can become a serious series with big names competing for a championship.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

The JLMC is basically the modern day version of the old AJSPC (All Japan Sports Prototype Championship) which was the home stomping ground of many of Japan's finest Group C cars.

While they were often too fragile and too ill-developed aerodynamically for Le Mans, cars like the Toyota 88C series, Nissan R9 series, and Mazda 7 series all were hot blooded competitors - along with a host of suitably modified Porsche 962's, Marchs, Lolas, and others - in this short lived but dramatic series that often paralleled our own IMSA Camel GTP.

It should be an interesting series to pay attention to, however I do fear that if the Panzer brigade (Audi/Porsche) steamroll 2006 in traditional fashion, the JLMC will be the end target of the new Honda LMP project, instead of ALMS with an Acura badge.

After all, we all remember what happened the last time Audi, Porsche, and Penske were involved in a class of racing.....

 

[dougiemeats]

I don't think we have to worry about Audi/Porsche steamrolling into the series just yet. I'm sure they'll wait until the series gets some international attention before switching their focus. You may have a point about Honda though. Maybe Toyota will soon follow, but I'm not holding my breath.

I know you're not a big fan of the Audi R8 Layla's Keeper, so you'll have to forgive me when I say that I hope a few of the inactive R8's make their way into the series. Being a Dyson fan, I had a love/hate relationship with the R8, but I still want to see it race somewhere.

Also, since the DBR9 is increasingly the GT1 weapon of choice, maybe more teams will be selling their Ferrari 550s to Japanese teams.

 

[JohnBM01]

Think about the series like this. This will give teams like Team Goh some extra sportscar racing experience so that they aren't only "Le Mans or bust" competitors. Now when I think about the JLMC, I think about the failed Asia-Pacific Le Mans Series back in the first years of the American Le Mans Series. Of course, the memorable APLMS moment was seeing those crocodile Audi R8s zoom around the streets of Adelaide in the "Race of a Thousand Years." I can probably think back to the GTP days of the 1990s when Toyota and Nissan (and Mazda too?) competed in IMSA GTP competition. So there is some sportscar racing credence in Japan, just not as much as in America and especially not like Europe. But I think this will be a spark to hopefully light a burning flame for Japanese sportscar racing competition. Japan has the tracks, now they have to get and keep the series as its best. Can you imagine something like the 8 Hours of Suzuka Auto (my idea: around Suzuka Circuit - Full) or even a 24 Hour race around Suzuka?

An idea for competition like this has great potential. I just hope it lasts long enough to put Japan on the map (or back on the map) for sportscar racing competition. I don't think Japan has had an all-Japan spark since the awesome Toyota GT-One back since 1999. And what if Mazda decides, "hey. We won Le Mans 15 years ago, so why not REMAIN the only Japanese make to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans?" Like I said, this isn't going to be some amateur racing of no importance. They need the series to expand into something about as popular and successful as the ALMS. I'd hate to see Japan not have some quality sportscar racing action other than Super GT.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

Guys, it's not that I think the Audis and Porsches will overrun the JLMC, it's that I KNOW they've overrun the ALMS.

It's very simple, Acura is coming to play in ALMS's LMP2 division with LMP1 intents. They're going to be an engine supplier first, then progress to constructing a complete car.

This is - save for the Comptech Camel Lights program - entirely new ground for Honda/Acura and they're going up against a sportscar racing juggernaught. If there's one thing that Honda hates, it's a lack of results, and they hate waiting for results as well.

If Honda doesn't get wins/podiums quickly, they'll likely consider pulling the plug on the Acura program prematurely as per their past history. Adding fuel to the fire is the JLMC. Honda would definitely prefer Dominating a lesser field in front of the Home Crowd to losing to superior equipment in America.

By winning in the JLMC instead of losing in the ALMS, Honda would save face with the Japanese public, which they consider much more important than actual competition (case in point, Super Aguri).

 

[dougiemeats]

These prototypes are eligible for the P2 class in the JLMC:



I hope what you say isn't true (not yet anyways), Layla's Keeper... these guys wouldn't have a chance against a Porsche RS Spyder or a Honda-powered P2.

In the next few years I do hope big teams take a look at the series. Who's to say that privateers can't rise to the challenge? Intersport took it to Porsche at Sebring (granted, the Porsche had the speed advantage but its also about reliability). Pescarolo and Dyson as well as the various Zytek teams prove to be a worthy adversaries to the R8. I think there are privateer teams in Japan waiting for a big name to enter the series so they can mount a challenge.

 

[Mulsanne]

Re: Acura vs. Porsche

I think the Intersport car could run with the Porsches if they just switched their Goodyears for some French tires. Plus, you have the owner's son and a paying driver (not to slag either of them, they're good, but not on the level of the Penske pilots). Imagine that car with Michelins and two professionals behind the wheel. Plus, van der Steur will have a Radical SR9 by the end of the year. With the speed it showed at Istanbul, it should also be a contender. (Also, Porsche recently announced that they will sell cars to privateer teams, who may not be on the level as Penske. However, if Alex Job and Petersen get cars, they will still be very competitive.)

Remember Honda's first foray into CART in 1994. The engines were underpowered and suffered from a lack of reliability. They didn't even qualify for Indy and their main team (Rahal-Hogan) ditched them at the end of the year. Honda went back to the drawing board, spent a ton of money and ended up contending in 1995 and dominating in 1996. Also, how long have they been in F1 without serious results? This is not a company that gives up easily. I fully expect them to be challenging the Penskes next year (or whoever gets the Spyders) and challenging Audi and Peugeot in LMP1 in 2008. They said they wanted to race at Le Mans, where they will HAVE to take on the Audis. Why not compete against them in the ALMS first instead of dominating a third-tier series?

I can't wait to see the ALMS prototype field next year. Acura will be using both the Courage and Lola chassis. Multiple teams (rumored to be Andretti, Rahal and Newman-Haas) are expected to field the Acura cars. Plus a few privateer Porsches (Job, Petersen and Flying Lizard?), VdS with their Radical, B-K Mazda with a new chassis and perhaps a return of Miracle with a new chassis. But I'm going off the subject.

I'm hoping Honda/Acura will enter cars in the JLMC in addition to their ALMS program.

 

[Mulsanne]

Re: JLMC (the subject of the thread)

Today, it was revealed that M-Tec (Mugen) have indeed ordered a Courage LC70 LMP1 car to race in the JLMC. Photo: http://www.infoscourse.org/2006_LMS/00_Tests_MC_03.jpg

Indeed, Mr. Goh is behind the creation of the JLMC. I would hope he would bring out his R8, as with only two other LMP1 cars (that we know of) set to compete, they could use all the cars they can get. I don't see them steamrolling over the opposition, since there's a Zytek and brand-new, factory-backed Courage in the series.

I only hope this series will be able to hang on a year or two until they get their grid numbers up.

John - the race I was hoping to see on the schedule is the Suzuka 1000 kilometers. This used to be a major international race (I remember the BPR/FIA GT there in '96/'97). This year, it's a Super GT race. I would love to see the LMS race there (and in the U.S.) and make it a "world sportscar championship."

 

[dougiemeats]

I only hope this series will be able to hang on a year or two until they get their grid numbers up.

My fear is that this series will not take off. With the nation's focus on Super-GT, I don't know just how much interest this series will receive.

I know that Mr. Goh's Maserati missed the first race of the Super GT season because he didn't feel that his car was fast enough. I don't know if the Maserati is racing now but maybe Mr. Goh can race it in GT1 along with his R8 in P1 to get things going.

Television coverage here in the U.S. might be too much to ask for, but hopefully we will at least get some highlights during the winter.

 

[JohnBM01]

Same can be said for Grand-Am in relation to NASCAR. I like the ALMS more personally, but I would say that people love Daytona Prototype action about as much as a high-profile oval race. Part of the reason this is true is because the series was founded by Bill France Sr.(?), the guy who also owns NASCAR. ANY link to NASCAR here in America, many fans will usually buy into the idea unless you're a fan of Tony George's IndyCar Series.

The first few years, Super GT will still be better than the JLMC. That's only because few people will get to know about it. A series needs momentum and and reason for fans to be convinced about the type of racing involved. How do you think I gotten into the American Le Mans Series? Of course, it was around late 1998 when I began to have interest in auto racing. My all-time favorite car won Petit Le Mans, the Momo Ferrari 333SP. When NBC started showing the American Le Mans Series, my true love and favorite types of race cars (sportscar racing) was on a channel other than (then) Speedvision. It was beautiful with the lovely action, great drivers, wonderful race cars, and competitive racing. Look at the ALMS five years since 1999. They are still a highly-respectible and well-loved series, even if the GARRA fans have something to say otherwise.

The key point of this is that the series isn't going to surpass Super GT. That's like the ALMS or GARRA surpassing NASCAR. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Only way a less-popular series is going to surpass a popular one is if the bigger series becomes defunct in some fashion. The JLMC will still offer up a sweet diversion from the usual favorite series, Super GT. I like both series. I'm sure Team Goh will be a tour de force in getting more Japanese motorsports fans into the wonderful European-style of sportscar racing. And it isn't like most popular Japanese sports cars are completely foreign to pure sportscar racing. Only one popular sports car had a successful Le Mans campaign, and that was the Honda NSX back in 1996, winning in its GT2 class. Other than that, I heard the Toyota Supra and Nissan Skyline weren't as successful in world-class sportscar racing simply because they were too heavy. I think the cars have to weigh about 1100kg, or roughly 2600 lbs in our Customary system in Super GT.

I know your fear. Always give a new series a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years. That way, we'll know how a series has progressed. It has a future, but will it be a bright and positive future? We'll see in the next few years.

 

[Mulsanne]

My fear is that this series will not take off. With the nation's focus on Super-GT, I don't know just how much interest this series will receive.

If they can hold on long enough for the factories to get interested, it has a good chance of success. That means this year and next will be crucial, with the low grid numbers and little interest.

As others have mentioned, I also hope Honda/Acura's involvement will mean more Japanese manufacturers getting into Le Mans/LMS/ALMS/JLMC and naturally they will want to compete on home ground, thus leading to a AJSPC-type series with healthy grids and lots of spectator/sponsor interest.

Also, while he's not entering his R8 this year, I'm sure Mr. Goh is in line for a R10 once Audi decide to release versions to customer teams. Once that happens, I'm sure he'll be racing in the JLMC and Le Mans.

Television coverage here in the U.S. might be too much to ask for, but hopefully we will at least get some highlights during the winter.

If we can't even get any highlights of the FIA GT series over here, I doubt Speed will give us highlights of JLMC. Speed = 👎 👎

 

[JohnBM01]

I don't know. Since this is America, we should only care about NASCAR and some Saturday Night oval shows in cities people rarely hear of. I guess we should just be stuck supporting American racing and not giving anything non-American (even Canadian) any respect except if an American team or driver beats that someone in racing or automotive competition. How do you describe Cadillac winning SPEED GT over Porsches and stuff last year?

I long for the day when we actually get a hold of a world of racing that isn't relegated to regulars racing in America or American-based series. You'll have to get SPEED's attention on this deal if you want to make something happen. This is still the best racing to come to Japan since Super GT. All it needs is a supportive fan base. And who knows? Maybe Japan will finally have a chance at knocking off international sportscar competition since Mazda's victory at Le Mans in 1991. They may also avoid heartbreaks like Toyota in 1999, or even the highly unsuccessful Mazda RX-792P(?) in 1992 with the turbo fire problems it had.

 

[Mulsanne]

But it's really like a "chicken and egg" thing. You can't get exposure unless you have a large fan base, and how do you get a large fan base without exposure?

As a fan of both soccer and sports car racing, I am frustrated about how little exposure both get and how much negative assumption ("Sissy, elitist sports") there is about both in America. People just seem too locked in watching NASCAR and stick-and-ball sports.

And you had it right, the Mazda RX7-92P. One of the most beautiful GTP cars ever. A shame it was never able to show its potential.

 

[dougiemeats]

As a fan of both soccer and sports car racing...

Sorry that's the first thing that came to mind.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

The "Saturday Night Ovals" you speak of, John, are suffering the same as the sports car series because of NASCAR.

In fact, NASCAR poaching topnotch open wheel short track drivers which bring luster to series like USAC and eventually moved up to Indy is one of the biggest problems facing oval open wheel racing.

But, that really has NO RELEVANCE to a Japanese series that will have entry list struggles of its own because of a lackluster Japanese economy.

It's a pretty basic pattern.

Japanese Privateers have little money -> Japanese Privateers can't/don't buy first rate (internationally speaking) equipment -> Japanese Privateers can't/don't become competitive at Le Mans -> Japanese Privateers can't/don't get sponsorships -> Japanese Privateers have little money......

....until eventually you have no series at all.

Making matters worse is that the Japanese manufacturers are already committed elsewhere (Honda in ALMS with Acura, Toyota and Honda in F1, Honda in IRL, Subaru in WRC, Nissan no motorsports budget to speak of, Mazda engine supplier to Star Mazda, Formula Atlantic, and ALMS). No manufacturers just hurts more.

Japanese rounds of competition for the LMS, or a secondary "Pacific Championship" within the LMS that would include rounds in Japan, China, Malayasia, and Australia, would've made much more sense than the JLMC from a business standpoint.

 

[Mulsanne]

No prob, dougie. I really like that car/team and hope they do well at Le Mans (they're skipping Spa to change from a Mugen 4.0 to the Judd GV5 5.0 - the type Pescarolo ran last year).

NASCAR is also sucking the lifeblood out of those Saturday night short tracks, as people are staying home to watch NASCAR than going to their local track. Of course, NASCAR doesn't give a damn about this. As long as they get their money.

And NASCAR was/is really the only place for the USAC drivers to go. It's not like they were going to realistically get a shot in CART or even the IRL, no matter what Tony George said about why he started the league.

Now, as for the JLMC, I believe if they can hang on this year and next, with low car counts and little fan/media interest, it will be a major achievement.

Then, a few years down the line, I fully expect to see the Japanese manufacturers get involved in the series. I believe Acura/Honda will have a team in the series. Mazda will probably also have a team in the series. The automatic Le Mans entry for the JLMC champion in 2009 will certainly entice potential teams. Remember, the Japanese have a love affair with Le Mans. Think back to the 1980's, with Nissan, Toyota and Mazda each having three cars every year at Le Mans and two at almost every other WSC race.

And certainly the best opportunity right now for a rich Japanese privateer is to purchase a Porsche GT3 and do three races a year. Certainly not a bank-breaker and much cheaper than entering a car in Super GT.

 

[dougiemeats]

Le Mans Series: 1000km of Spa - May 14

Last year's race at Spa saw the Zytek claiming the overall victory ahead of the Pescarolos, the Ferraris taking every spot of the GT1 podium, and TVRs finishing 1-2 in GT2.

This year's race will again be a battle between Pescarolo and Zytek with teams like Lister and Chamberlain looking to spoil their fun. P2 proved to be strong in the last round, with Barazi Epsilon taking 2nd overall. Expect a good race within that class and perhaps an inter-class battle with the slower P1s. Ferrari no longer has the stronghold in GT1. With 2 wins already under their belt from another series, Team Oreca hopes for a victorious LMS debut with their new Saleen S7R. GT1 also includes DBR9s, Ferrari, a Lamborghini R-GT, and no less than 3 Corvettes! In GT2, Ferrari hopes to continue their success. They will be challenged by the usual army of Porsches, TVR, Spyker, and Panoz.

Here is the entry list. Count 'em... 49 cars

P1
1x Zytek
1x Swiss Spirit (Courage Judd)
1x Lister Storm Racing
1x Creation Autosportif
2x Courage Competition (Mugen)
1x Protran Competition
1x Pescarolo Sport
1x Chamberlain-Synergy (Lola AER)

P2
1x Pierre Bruneau (Pilbeam Judd)
1x Rollcentere (Radical)
1x Binnie Motorsports (Lola)
1x RML (Lola)
1x Ranieri Randaccio SCI (Lucchini)
1x Barazi-Epsilon (Courage AER)
1x G-Force (Courage Judd)
2x Paul Belmondo (Courage Ford)
1x Chamberlain-Synergy (Lola AER)
1x Kruse Motorsport (Courage Judd)

GT1
1x Larbre (Aston Martin)
1x B-Racing (Lamborghini)
1x Team Oreca (Saleen)
2x Cirtek (Aston Martin)
1x Convers MenX (Ferrari 550)
2X PSI Experience (Corvette C6.R and Corvette C5.R)
1x Luc Alphand Adventures (Corvette C5.R)

GT2
1x Ice Pol (Porsche)
1x Renauer (Porsche)
1x Perspective Automobiles (Porsche)
2x Autorlando Sport (Porsche)
1x Seikel (Porsche)
2x Team LNT (Panoz)
1x Icer Brakes (Ferrari F430)
2x Spyker Squadron
2x Farnbacher (Porsche)
1x T2M (Porsche)
1x IMSA Performance (Porsche)
1x Racesport Peninsula (TVR)
1x James Watt Automotive (Porsche)
1x GPC Sport (Ferrari F430)
1x Noel del Bello (Porsche)
1x Virgo Motorsport (Ferrari F430)

Alright LMS, that's a lot of cars. Better bring LOTS of fuel this time.

 

[Mulsanne]

Man, I'd kill for an entry list like that on this side of the pond. We have quality (look at the Le Mans results from last year), but we just don't have the quantity.

LMP1 looks like Pescarolo's, unless the Zytek and Creation entries find some reliability. If they stay together for 1000 km., it will be a fight. (fingers crossed)

LMP2: Rollcentre vs. RML. Hopefully Rollcentre will be able to go the distance this time, and RML will look to rebound from the Istanbul race, where they were put in the wall before the race even started.

GT1: Larbre vs. ORECA. I say the Aston, but it will be interesting.

GT2: Ferrari to double up on wins on both sides of the pond.

I'm about to email SPEED Channel and see if/when they'll show the LMS races this year.

"Alright LMS, that's a lot of cars. Better bring LOTS of fuel this time." Exactly right.

Don't forget, the first race of the JLMC is this weekend at Sugo. Here's the entry list:
http://www.lmchallenge.jp/e/news/jlmc061e.html

BTW, rumor is the new Peugeot will have a roof. Thank God. The Audi looks great, but I just miss the closed-top prototypes.

 

[dougiemeats]

Japan Le Mans Challenge: Round 1 SUGO 1000km - May 14

The American Le Mans Series is described as "European style with an American Attitude." This weekend, the same "European style" can be witnessed at the SUGO Circuit in Japan with the debut of a brand new series: the Japan Le Mans Challenge. As I reported earlier, the upcoming LMS round has an astonishing 49 cars. This round of the JLMC however, will only see 12 cars hit the track. Some of these cars, such as the Zytek in P1 and the Ferrari in GT1, have seen action in Europe and America. Other cars, such as the GC-21, the Mosler MT900R, and the RX-7 are not even eligible to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This interesting mixture cars will certainly make the JLMC stand out. But let's hope being different doesn't mean being cast out of the sports car racing world.

Here is the entry list: (Thanks for finding the English version, Mulsanne. Has that "English version" button always been there? )

P1
1x Hitotsuyama (Zytek)
1x Jidosha Koubou Myst (Oskar SK93)

P2
2x Myz (GC-21)
1x Jidosha Koubou Myst (Oskar SK5-2)
1x AIM Sports (GC-21)

GT1
1x Leyjun (Mosler MT900R)
1x Hitotsuyama (Ferrari 550)
1x JLOC (Lamborghini)

GT2
1x Takamizawa (Porsche 996)
1x Proto Works (Mazda RX-7)
1x Kawamura (Porsche RSR)

Ok, I usually do predictions but I have no idea since all of the teams (except JLOC) are new to me. But here goes...

Zytek in P1 with no trouble at all. In P2, *closes eyes and randomly picks one* I predict one of the Myz (or is it MYZ) GC-21s to win. In GT1, JLOC leads the majority of the race but does not last 1000 kilometers leaving the victory to the Ferrari. In GT2, the Kawamura Porsche has no trouble with its competition.

Lots of racing this weekend.... I love summer

 

[Mulsanne]

I believe the English version was just added recently. And just wait until that Courage LC70 - Mugen makes its way over there. The Zytek will have some competition.

Small start, but lots of potential. I still believe if this series can hang on long enough until Acura, Subaru or whomever come in, it will take off. Unfortunately, I haven't found anyone who shares that view. Most every one else I've talked to says this thing lasts about a year.

 

[dougiemeats]

I certainly hope it lasts more than a year. I've always wanted three distinct Le Mans-based series worldwide. My vision was more like Americas, Europe, and the Pacific, with the best from each series competing at the 24 Hours. With the JLMC, this vision comes closer to reality and I hope they can keep this series going. Acura, Subaru, Mugen... those are big names. Hopefully they will give the series a huge boost. I don't see 50-car grids anytime soon, but if they can get some quality teams and exciting racing (ALMS anyone?), then I believe the series will thrive.

LMS

PSI withdraws one of their Corvettes and Creation withdraws their P1 entry because of an accident involving both cars during a practice session.

 

[Sportscar_Rob]

Friday Practise Report from Spa

 

[dougiemeats]

LMS Fastest cars in qualifying for each class:

P1: Swiss Spirit (Courage Judd)
P2: RML (Lola)
GT1: Cirtek (Aston Martin)
GT2: IMSA Performance (Porsche)

Swiss Spirit on the pole at Spa! Now let's see if it has the race pace. Should be a good one.

I'll be keeping up via live internet video, but I'm on a Mac so chances of this working on my browser is very slim. I'll try to update as much as I can.

Edit OK, nevermind on trying to update... I just got home (from a fun night) so I'll just post the final results when the race is over.

 

[dougiemeats]

Le Mans Series Results - Top 3 in each class:

P1
1. Pescarolo Sport
2. Swiss Spirit Courage
3. Zytek Engineering

P2
1. Chamberlain Synergy Lola
2. RML Lola
3. Binnie Motorsports Lola

GT1
1. Oreca Saleen
2. Cirtek Aston Martin
3. PSI Experience Corvette C6.R

GT2
1. Autorlando Sport Porsche
2. LNT Panoz
3. Virgo Motorsport Ferrari F430

I read that Steve Saleen was at the race with Oreca. Looks like they're getting a lot of factory support. Also, the replacement for Monza has been named: a race in Jarama (Spain) will be held on the same weekend. Sorry Mulsanne, its not Anderstorp Maybe we'll still see a few European entries at Petit and Laguna...

Next Race: Nürburgring

 

[Mulsanne]

From what I read on dailysportscar.com, the race was very exciting in all four classes. Unfortunately, no response from Speed Channel on if/when they will air the races. 👎

There was a major crash at Eau Rouge the first lap that caused the race to be red-flagged. Then, once they got going again, the Chamberlain P1 Lola crashed. I believe the driver injured his leg, so I don't know if he'll be ready for Le Mans. EDIT: According to dailysportscar, the driver, Peter Owen, is fine. Just a "flesh wound" on the leg. He crashed while warming his tires on the run down from La Source to Eau Rouge, hitting the concrete pit wall then crossing the track and hitting the armco on the left.

Also, the battle in GT1 was very competitive, with no more than a minute separating the Saleen and Aston Martin. Hopefully, Steve Saleen's presence in the ORECA pit is a signal that they're willing to provide more factory assistance than they have the past few years. And hopefully, we'll see some of that help for Saleens on this side of the pond.

Hopefully, someone will be able to step up and challenge the Pescarolo at a place other than Le Mans.

Yeah, Jarama it is. However, Creation and ORECA have said they will be at the Petit Le Mans, no matter where the last race was going to be. So let's see if they stick to it, considering Creation is pretty much out of the hunt for the LMS championship.

 

[dougiemeats]

Yeah, Jarama it is. However, Creation and ORECA have said they will be at the Petit Le Mans, no matter where the last race was going to be. So let's see if they stick to it, considering Creation is pretty much out of the hunt for the LMS championship.

With the Saleens contending for wins again (ORECA in LMS and Zakspeed in FIA-GT), let's see if ORECA can be competitive here in the U.S. against the mighty Corvettes. I'm sure the two teams are waiting to go up against each other once again. I'm still waiting for ACEMCO to announce that they are coming back after Le Mans, but somehow, I don't think they are.

JLMC

Ferrari wins the first race of the JLMC! Click the link for results. Results



Edit: That Zytek looks good in red 👍

 

[Mulsanne]

With the Saleens contending for wins again (ORECA in LMS and Zakspeed in FIA-GT), let's see if ORECA can be competitive here in the U.S. against the mighty Corvettes. I'm sure the two teams are waiting to go up against each other once again. I'm still waiting for ACEMCO to announce that they are coming back after Le Mans, but somehow, I don't think they are.

I just don't get it. The ALMS bent over backwards to get the ACEMCO Saleen competitive with the 'Vettes last season. They finally started challenging for wins and then all of a sudden, they leave the series. Anyway, I wish them the best of luck at Le Mans. (Just not enough to beat the Corvettes.)