2007 24 Hours of Le Mans (24 Heures du Mans) Entry List

[QUOTE=Zytek_Fan;711649]Just imagine how crazy France would be if Peugeot wins this year :D[/QUOTE]

probably as crazy as they went when Peugeot won it in 1992 and 1993!

seriously did they go crazy then? lol cant member i was only 4...:)

[URL="http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?ID=3230"]http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?ID=3230[/URL]

Article on the Risi team, looks like they have a good shot.

Still cheering for the flying lizards though!!!

ACO's latest Press Release:
[QUOTE]From today onwards as laid down in the 2007 Le Mans 24-Hours supplementary regulations, no team on the reserve list will be called upon to complete the list of 55 cars invited to scrutineering and administrative checks.

[1] 55 cars at the start once again: Thanks to the 9 new pits built at the start of 2007 the capacity of the Le Mans 24-Hours circuit has been increased to 55 cars, a figure not matched since 1989. The ACO was spoilt for choice in selecting the best teams as it received 76 entry forms. The success of the 24 Hours continues its unfailing upward momentum!

[2] The start at 15:00: Giving the start at 16:00 is part of the event’s history but henceforth it will be at 15:00. Before 2007, it had already been given at this time because of elections or football. This year too there is the second round of the legislative elections. However, this change in the timetable is dictated by the ACO’s desire to facilitate the return of the hundreds of thousands of spectators present at the finish.
The honour of lowering the French flag to unleash the pack will be entrusted to Roland de Luart the President of the 24 Hours circuit “Syndicate Mixte”.

[3] See the Peugeot-Audi duel: See the Peugeot-Audi duel: The Audi R10 TDI is the first diesel-engined (a 5.5-litre 600 bhp V12 turbo) endurance car to have won the Le Mans 24 Hours covering 5 187 kms at an average speed of 215,109 km/h. It will go down in the history of the event adding to the renown of a make that had already scored 5 victories with a V8 petrol engine between 2000 and 2005. As for Peugeot, its Le Mans victories in 1992 and 1993 with the V10 petrol engined 905s were beginning to date. Its return with the two 908 HDi, FAPs (twin turbo 5500 cc V12, 700 bhp) symbolise the ambition of the French Lion not only for its image, but also in the context of what’s at stake commercially in the immediate future. Peugeot like Audi is a specialist in the building of diesel engines and this is more than just a duel on the track; it’s an industrial battle. The two makes want to rule the diesel kingdom, and a victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours is the most prestigious one to share with one’s clients.

[4] ...2nd diesel victory or 74th success for the petrol engine: The battle between the diesels should not hide the fact that there are petrol-engined prototypes entered too. They make up the majority of the LM P1 field (11 out of 16) and all those in LM P2 (11 cars). In the petrol-engined camp no one has the means available to Audi or Peugeot but they make up for that by their experience.
Were the 3 Audis and the 2 Peugeot to run into trouble –the French make has yet to cover 24 hours non-stop this year - and Audi has not shone in the shorter ALMS (America Le Mans Series) races on the North American continent (1 victory in 4 events), the petrol-engined makes will seize their chance. Courage, Creation, Dome, Lola and Zytek, without forgetting the Pescarolo Sport outfit with 2 V10-engined normally aspirated cars, will be waiting to pounce on the slightest slip-up by their diesel-engined rivals to make it onto the rostrum. Suspense guaranteed!

[5] Don’t miss the Test day on 3rd June: This is a kind of pre-qualifying session. All the cars have to be there to work on set-ups on the track, which only opens once a year in this specific 13,629-km layout (since the recent work in the Tertre Rouge zone). Drivers who are making their Le Mans debut have to do at least 10 laps of the circuit to be allowed to start on 16th June. It’ll open up a whole new area of thrills for these debutants!

[6] Honour the presence of Sébastien Bourdais: Local lad Sébastien Bourdais, triple Champ Car champion in the USA, is back at Le Mans where he hasn’t raced since 2004. He is a real star and above all a talented driver who likes challenges and wants to add the 24 Hours to his string of victories. He has had 3 attempts in the Pescarolo clan and will be at the start for the 7th time in a diesel as he will be behind the wheel of one of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs. After the race he will again cross the Atlantic to conquer his 4th Champ Car title.

[7] Be impressed by Tom Kristensen: He is the new Mr. Le Mans since 2005 (after Jacky Ickx , 6 victories in 15 Le Mans 24 Hours), and has raised the number of wins to 7 (10 Le Mans 24 Hours). At the wheel of his Audi R10 TDI he has the right machine to score another success even though a question mark hangs over his physical condition after his huge accident in the DTM. If he drives, his talent, his experience and a tiny smidgen of luck will help him to victory number 8.

[8] See Jacques Villeneuve take on a big challenge: Jacques Villeneuve (1st in the 1995 Indy 500 and winner of the F1 World Championship in 1997) is coming to Le Mans to try and match Graham Hill’s feat: the triple crown awarded to the winner of the F1 World Championship, the Indy 500 and the Le Mans 24 Hours. The Englishman is the only driver to have achieved this so far: 1962 and 1968 (F1), Indy (1966) and the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1972 in a Matra MS 670. Villeneuve in his Peugeot 908 HDi FAP will attempt to emulate Graham’s feat and become part of the Le Mans legend.

[9] Appreciate Luc Alphand’s ambition: In 2006, he won the Dakar and came 2nd in 2005 and 2007 and now he wants to win the Le Mans 24 Hours. Luc Alphand, the former skiing world cup champion (1997) is very selective, which he has proved in his new life as a racing driver. He is the boss of the team entering 2 Corvettes in LM GT1 and will be at the wheel of no.72 as his team is based in the Sarthe. The mountains are far off and the desert too but he would be more than happy with a win on the asphalt.

[10] Thrill to the Aston Martin/Corvette battle: Aston Martin has been coming to the 24 Hours since 1928 and won outright in 1959. The famous British make has been after a victory in GT1 since 2005 a quest foiled by Corvette that has been racing in the Sarthe since 1960. In 2005 and 2006 the big American car won the GT1 category and finished 4th overall last year. It will be another merciless scrap with the added spice of a new contender for victory, the Saleens entered by the ambitious ORECA team.

[11] Thrill to the presence of David Hallyday and Liz Halliday: Their names are pronounced the same way and they both love motorcars. David is French, son of musician and rocker Johnny. Liz is American, a driving instructor in England an endurance racer since 1996. It will David’s 2nd time out in the Sarthe (2003 retired in a Courage C65), and he will be at the wheel of a Corvette C6.R while Liz, at the wheel of a Courage in LM P2 will be attempting to finish for the second time (22nd in 2004). Who will be the highest-placed Halli(y)day at the finish?

[12] Attend the inauguration of the Audi Tower: This is a symbol of the on-going story between the Le Mans 24 Hours and Audi (8 Le Mans 24 Hours, 6 victories and more to come?). The 13-metre high monument will be erected on the central square of the new Village, and inaugurated by Mr. Rupert Stadler, the Audi AG Chairman and Mr. Jean-Claude Plassart, the ACO president. It will be a very modern high-tech clock tower in glass and aluminium with illuminated signs at the top and a video screen at the base.

[13] Celebrate Yves Courage’s 25th anniversary: Yves Courage and his LC 70-AERs would like Lady Luck to smile on them this year, as it will be his 25th time in the race as a constructor. And his cars will carry his favourite numbers 12 and 13, which equal 25!

[14] Enjoy yourself at scrutineering in the centre of Le Mans: A town that lives and breathes the 24 Hours is worth visiting, as it doesn’t happen very often. Don’t miss scrutineering on 11th and 12th June on the “quinconce des Jacobins” in the centre of Le Mans at the foot of the marvellous Gothic cathedral. The Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs will kick off scrutineering and administrative checks at 14h30 on Monday 11th June.

[15] Cheer on the Drivers’ Parade: They will all be there in their driving suits, 18:00 to 20:00 on Friday 15th, in open-topped torpedoes in the middle of superb supercars moving to the rhythm of orchestras from all over the world. Bandas, entertainment and autograph sessions are all laid on to honour the drivers and reap the rewards of the crowd’s boundless enthusiasm. Don’t forget your camera!

[16] Salute the return of the trophy: The winner of the 1957 Le Mans 24 Hours, the famous no.20 D-Type Jaguar, followed by its sister cars that were part of this triumphant finish (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th places), will go down the pits straight at 13:45 on Saturday 16th June to return its trophy to Le Mans 40 years afterwards – a real symbol.

[17] Admire the Le Mans Legends race: The greats of the past will give a demonstration of their prowess on the circuit. David Piper, Richard Attwood and many other Le Mans 24 Hours drivers will race in Ferrari 275 LMs, E-Type Jaguars, Ford GT 40s, Alpine Renaults and many other famous makes. Not to be missed: Saturday 16th June at 10:00.

[18] Visit the new Tertre Rouge corner: It is now lined with banks to give the spectators a new and better vantage point. A giant screen will be installed on the outside of a corner that dictates the entry speed to the Les Hunaudières straight, and has been redesigned to provide more safety thanks to a larger run-off area. The track has a 3° incline so cornering speeds should be higher. A direct consequence of this new layout is that the length of the circuit has changed again: it is now 13,629 kms instead of 13,650 kms.
[/QUOTE]

Continued:
[QUOTE][19] Enjoy the entertainment: The 24 Hours Village on the inside of the circuit has been modernised and enlarged for the comfort of the spectators and shop keepers, and is an ideal spot for a bit of relaxation and something to eat or drink during the day or night. In addition to the official ACO boutiques selling a range of products in the colours of the 24 Hours, shoppers will find a wide range of products in the stores of the leading makes: Audi (cars on show including a R10 TDI), Corvette-General Motors (cars and photo shoot space), Peugeot, Aston Martin Racing, Spyker, Pescarolo, Courage, Luc Alphand Adventures, Shell, Gulf, BP, Hermes, Rolex, FNAC etc.
The Michelin stand will pull in the crowds with its High Performance Tour and a civil engineering tyre that is 5 metres high and weighs 550 kgs! Other games with prizes will be organised: Michelin (wheel change on a racing car), Shell (refuelling simulation and virtual interviews with Tom Kristensen), Xbox (free games on consoles and car exhibitions) not forgetting BP (competitive games and the secrets of how fuel affects an engine).

[20] Enjoy the free concerts and the fun fair: The 24 Hours ambience is guaranteed with two free concerts by the Dunlop bridge. On Wednesday 13th June: Superbus (Victoire de la musique 2006), and on Saturday 16th June, The Levellers, idols of the Anglo-Saxons. Plus Riké, the voice of Sinsémilia king of French Reggae.
The fun fair is also a 24-Hours tradition and from Maison Blanche the Big Wheel will provide an exceptional panoramic view of the Ford Chicane and the pits straight –if you don’t suffer from vertigo!

[21] Don’t miss anything thanks to the 12 giant screens: A first in the world of motor racing! No fewer than 12 giant screens will be installed on site to enable you to view all the hotspots of the track without moving or when you’re strolling around the village. They will be on throughout the whole race fed by exceptional TV coverage.

[22] Discover portable television! For the first time in the world in such a long race the Kangaroo TV system will be tested. These are portable TV sets scarcely bigger than your hand, which will show the race for 24 hours. Thanks to the incorporated keyboard you can change channels as often as you like to see the on-board cameras, the entry list, the classifications and you have a headset that allows you to listen to the live commentary. This fantastic invention is being developed in 2007 and will be available for hire at the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours.

[23] Listen to Radio 24 Hours: All day on Sunday 3rd June then on Wednesday 13th June until the finish of the 24 Hours all the commentaries in French, English, German and Dutch and interviews with the drivers in the pits will be broadcast live on 96 FM in the circuit zone. Don’t forget your walkmans!

[24] Be able to say “I was there!” A day, a night, a winner, a legend, that’s what the Le Mans 24-Hours event is all about.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Zytek_Fan;711613]Worth noting, is that the R10s at Utah were 2006 chassis, so there must be at least 5 in existence (2 from 2006 ALMS, 2 for 2007 ALMS and Le Mans, and 1 for the "rookies" might be the test car...)[/QUOTE]

There were most definitely three 2006 R10s. At Le Mans they raced cars 102 and 103.

[QUOTE=Wouter Melissen;713459]There were most definitely three 2006 R10s. At Le Mans they raced cars 102 and 103.[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah, car 101 was destroyed at the post Sebring test in 2006.

Ok, that's it, am I the only one whos been laughing at this? Peugeot 908 HDi [B]FAP[/B]s

This year's 24 is going to be good :D


I am going to the Champ Car race on June 10th, and I have paddock passes, so I'll try to chat with Sebastien about Le Mans a bit :D

[QUOTE=Zytek_Fan;713725]Oh yeah, car 101 was destroyed at the post Sebring test in 2006.[/QUOTE]

It was damaged, but certainly not destroyed.

[QUOTE=Kitdy;711617]Ok then, why did Audi decide to commit to the ALMS over the LMS then? Maybe Wouter knows...[/QUOTE]

it is America that has to be convinced of the advantages of clean diesel technology, not Europe:)

[QUOTE=henk4;714205]it is America that has to be convinced of the advantages of clean diesel technology, not Europe:)[/QUOTE]

...and unfortunately America still hasn't introduced low to no sulfur diesel...and there are barely any diesel cars :(

[QUOTE=Zytek_Fan;714206]...and unfortunately America still hasn't introduced low to no sulfur diesel...and there are barely any diesel cars :([/QUOTE]

which is why the marketing effort is needed...and you will be getting the VW and Mercedes diesels pretty soon...and AFAIK there are already available in many states

Audi has never entered a Works effort in Europe, of course with the exception of Le Mans. In fact Peugeot is the first Works team to race in the Le Mans (Endurance) Series. I believe the Series to be strong enough to make it a viable option for Works teams like Audi, Corvette and Aston Martin.

On a completely different note: the cars will run position lights at Le Mans this year!

[QUOTE=henk4;714207]which is why the marketing effort is needed...and you will be getting the VW and Mercedes diesels pretty soon...and AFAIK there are already available in many states[/QUOTE]

We can get VW Golf and Jetta TDi, but the US' low quality diesel drains the MPG a little...

[QUOTE=The_Canuck;713797]Ok, that's it, am I the only one whos been laughing at this? Peugeot 908 HDi [B]FAP[/B]s[/QUOTE]

I was gonna mention that. What an inconvenient name. What does the HDi FAP stand for anyhoo?