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American LeMans
LM24: Live Streaming To Highlight Extensive SPEEDtv.com Coverage From Circuit De La Sarthe
Actor Patrick Dempsey, Team Audi & Peugeot highlight interactive daily blogs and 19 hours of network coverage...
David Harris  |  Posted June 12, 2009   Charlotte, NC

SPEEDtv.com, the online motorsports authority, will be providing extensive and expanded coverage of this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, including live online streaming, top driver blogs, chats, on-site features and an exclusive content partnership with Audi.

When SPEED is not providing its 19 hours of live coverage from Circuit de la Sarthe, SPEEDtv.com, in association with Radio Le Mans, will stream the action live. This will be the first time sports car fans in the United States will be able to view live coverage from Le Mans on SPEEDtv.com.

“We are working in concert with the linear network to provide sports car fans continuous coverage of the historic race by streaming portions live online when the network has other telecast commitments,” said Kevin Annison, SPEED VP of Digital & Interactive Media. “This event demonstrates the role SPEEDtv.com can play with our enhanced broadband capabilities by offering a seamless transition between on-air and online coverage so viewers can watch the entire event. It’s a win-win for viewers and SPEED.”

To accent the coverage, SPEEDtv.com Auto Racing Editor Marshall Pruett will be flying to Germany to have an in-depth look at Audi’s new diesel-powered R15, the team’s preparation for the world’s most prestigious endurance race and a tour of the Audi Tradition museum. The feature will also get behind the scenes of Audi’s 1999 developmental year; the only contest in the past decade (besides 2003 when Bentley took home overall honors) that Audi didn’t grab overall honors. The feature will also uncover why German manufacturers have won 29 of the last 39 Le Mans endurance contests.

"We have a rich online coverage package planned for 2009," Pruett said. "We're partnered with Audi Sport to give our readers inside access to the team, starting with a visit to their home base in Ingolstadt, Germany. From there, we'll have daily blogs from Audi's Allan McNish, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas during the week of the race.

"We'll also have exclusive daily blogs from a number of serious contenders and notables,” Pruett added. “ALMS veteran David Brabham is leading Peugeot's charge this year and will be sharing his view from the inside of the operation for our readers, as will first time Le Mans participant (and Grey's Anatomy) actor Patrick Dempsey. Aston Martin GT2 driver Marino Franchitti rounds out our daily blog team.

"We'll file our usual daily notebooks, photo galleries and have a few feature stories about the 1984, 1989 and 1999 (10th, 20th and 25th anniversary) Le Mans races, as told by the drivers and team members that took part in those events,” Pruett continued. “For 1984, we're doing a story on the 25th anniversary of the American Group44 IMSA GTP Jaguar team's first participation at Le Mans. For 1989, we're doing stories on the top finishers of the day, including race winner Jochen Mass, third-place finisher Hans Stuck, and a few of the Jaguar personnel."

SPEEDtv.com will also provide a car-by-car preview of the 55 entries that will start the race. SPEED’s live coverage from Le Mans begins Saturday morning, June 13 at 8:00 am, ET, with a qualifying recap, leading into race coverage at 8:30 am ET.

SPEED Live Coverage of the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours (All Times Eastern)

Friday, June 12
9:00 – 11:00 p.m. - Truth in 24

Saturday, June 13
8:00 a.m. - Le Mans Pre-Qualifying on SPEED*
8:30 a.m. - Noon - Le Mans 24 Hours on SPEED (Live – The Start)
Noon - 4:30 p.m. - SPEEDtv.com streaming coverage with RadioLemans.com
4:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. - Le Mans 24 Hours on SPEED (Live – Day Into Night)
10:00 p.m. – Midnight - SPEEDtv.com streaming coverage with RadioLemans.com

Sunday, June 14
Midnight – 10:00 a.m. - Le Mans 24 Hours (Live – The Finish)

*Denotes Tape Delay

SPEED is the nation's first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 78 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country and, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEEDtv.com, the online motor sports authority.
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