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LE MANS: LMP Preview
SPEED.com’s comprehensive car-by-car preview of the LMP1 and LMP2 contenders in the 79th Le Mans 24 Hours...
John Dagys  |  Posted June 08, 2011   Le Mans, (FRA)
Audi and Peugeot headline the LMP1 entry, although Aston Martin Racing remains as the only other full-factory effort in the premier prototype category. (Photo: John Dagys)
Le Mans Watch Presented by Corvette Racing - 24 Hours of Le Mans - June 11-12, 2011

With new rules, new cars and recent performance adjustments, prototype competitors face some degree of uncertainty heading into the 79th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (Sat. 8:30 a.m. ET, Live! SPEED). Yet, with all of the major players returning, including some new faces, this year’s around-the-clock endurance classic could just be one of the most intense yet.

READ: GT Preview
READ: Le Mans Resource Guide

Audi and Peugeot are again in prime position for another highly anticipated battle for top honors in LMP1, although this time with brand-new machinery. And while gasoline-powered entries aren’t likely to play a factor for overall spoils, they’ll likely be waiting in the wings should the diesel armada hit trouble.

The second-tier LMP2 category returns to its roots for 2011, with new cost-cutting measures effectively prohibiting factory teams and returning the once-sprawling category to privateers only. New chassis and engine packages have seen a sharp increase in competition. In fact, no fewer than five cars hold a legitimate chance of class victory.

Before the Tri-Colour drops at 3 p.m. local on Saturday, SPEED.com analyzes this year’s starting field with its traditional car-by-car preview.

LMP1 (17 Entries)

Car No.: 1
Team: Audi Sport Team Joest (ILMC)
Car: Audi R18 TDI
Drivers: Timo Bernhard - Romain Dumas - Mike Rockenfeller

Dagys says:
Audi Sport Team Joest returns as defending winners after taking a shock 1-2-3 sweep in 2010. But the dominant performance, aided by diesel rival Peugeot’s string of engine failures, came with its Audi R15 plus. This year, the new Audi R18 TDI is the German manufacturers’ weapon of choice, its first closed-top prototype since 1999.
Audi Sport Team Joest. (Photo: John Dagys)

Powered by a 3.7-liter V6 turbo diesel, the R18 is massive departure from its predecessor, thanks to new regulations in LMP1 enforcing smaller-displacement engines. While lap times are down from last year, it’s proven to only be marginal with the factory diesel entries.

Having posted the quickest time at the Le Mans Test Day, the trio of R18s came up short at last month’s 1000km of Spa, which marked the first race Audi has lost when debuting a new car since its ill-fated R8C program nearly 12 years ago.

Nonetheless, there’s still confidence brewing in the camp. Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller will carry the No. 1 for their win in last year’s 24-hour classic. With an unchanged driver lineup across the board, it’s likely to be one of the strongest again of the three entries.

Car No.: 2
Team: Audi Sport Team Joest (ILMC)
Car: Audi R18 TDI
Drivers: Marcel Fassler - Andre Lotterer - Benoit Treluyer

Dagys says:
After scoring an unlikely runner-up finish last year, Audi’s newest recruits, Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer, take the wheel of the No. 2 R18. It was no doubt a gamble for Audi to put three relative newcomers to prototype racing together in the same car, but that clearly paid off last year.

Now, the question comes if this trio might be strong enough to pull off the win? While a problematic 5th place finish last month at Spa isn’t likely to help their odds, a top finish can’t be ruled out, especially if one or both of the other R18s hit trouble.

There’s also added pressure to perform, as this car, along with the No. 1 Audi, will carry the banner for Audi Sport Team Joest in the ILMC teams’ championship. With Le Mans awarding double points, a good finish could help close the gap to Peugeot in the all-important title race.

Car No.: 3
Team: Audi Sport North America
Car: Audi R18 TDI
Drivers: Tom Kristensen - Dindo Capello - Allan McNish

Dagys says:
Audi’s veteran lineup within the squad has typically been the strongest over the years. If you add up the number of Le Mans wins between Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello and Allan McNish, you get 13. No other driving combination even comes close to that, or perhaps ever will.

All three, though, have been winless since their triumph in 2008, and are no doubt itching to get back to the top step of the podium. But over the last year, it seems as if Audi’s most experienced lineup has been the one most prone to mistakes.

A collision with a BMW at Le Mans last year cost the trio a possible win, while a pair of miscues by Capello, the most recent coming at Spa when the Italian accidentally hit the pit speed limiter while on track, have also hampered their chances. Even a freak spin by McNish on the opening lap in last month’s race has raised some doubts over the consistency of this once-dominant lineup.

That’s not to say things won’t turn around. Conventional wisdom would still put this trio as one of the favorites for the win. In fact, if they have a trouble-free run, the No. 3 Audi may just be unstoppable.

Car No.: 5
Team: Hope Racing (ILMC)
Car: Oreca 01 Swiss HyTech Hybrid
Drivers: Steve Zacchia - Jan Lammers - Casper Elgaard

Dagys says:
Hope Racing is poised to make some history by fielding the first hybrid-powered car at Le Mans. While some may think, ‘Wait. Didn’t the Panoz Q9, a.k.a Sparky compete at la Sarthe over a decade ago?’ Well yes it did, but it failed to qualify for the big race back when pre-qualifying was in place every Spring.
Hope Racing. (Photo: John Dagys)

The Swiss-based team, co-owned by Benoit Morand and Jean-Marie Brulhart, has certainly been on an uphill battle just to get to this point. Teething issues with its Flybrid-built hybrid forced them to withdraw from last month’s 1000km of Spa, which put further doubt on their entry to Le Mans.

But with the LMP1 contender, powered by a 2.0-liter Lehmann-based four-cylinder turbo, passing the ACO’s hybrid late last month, all systems are go for this ambitious effort.

While drivers Steve Zacchia, Casper Elgaard and Jan Lammers, who makes his 22nd Le Mans start, aren’t likely to set the world on fire given the infancy of this new program, they will be helping re-write the history books in what’s likely to be the first of many hybrids competing at la Sarthe.

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