Have a FaceBook, Twitter, or other social networking account?

Link them to your fanatic account!

Add An Account

TAKE ME TO...
American LeMans
LMS: Audi, Peugeot Headline ILMC
Factory diesels embark on international tour, which kicks off this weekend at Silverstone
John Dagys  |  Posted September 08, 2010   Chicago, IL
Audi and Peugeot headline the ACO's inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, which also features participation from manufacturers such including Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari, BMW and Jaguar. (LAT)
It’s been three months since Audi and Peugeot last faced off. But over the next eight weeks, the factory diesel juggernauts will go head-to-head in a worldwide tour that will
ultimately decide the first-ever international LMP1 champion.

The action kicks off this weekend at Silverstone, where both squads have come fully prepared to take on the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s newest challenge, the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

The ACO’s creation of this year’s inaugural three-round championship marks the first time in nearly two decades that Le Mans-style prototypes have been back on the world stage. But it’s only a taste of things to come, as the ILMC will expand to a seven-round season-long contest next year.
While Audi's 1-2-3 result at Le Mans will be tough to top, winning the inaugural ILMC championship would make it a dream season for the German manufacturer. (LAT)

"Ever since Audi has been active in Le Mans prototype racing we’ve supported the idea of a worldwide racing series with these fascinating vehicles. Now the idea has become reality thanks to the ACO,” said Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport.

Despite the difficult economic times, both of the sport’s giants have been on board with the ACO’s vision from the start. And it’s reflected this weekend, with Audi entering a pair of R15 plus TDIs and two Peugeot 908 HDi-FAPs representing the French automaker.

“The ACO heard our call and has laid the first building blocks for what promises
to be a great series, with three races in 2010,” said Peugeot Sport director Olivier Quesnel. “Along with the regulations announced for 2011, I believe it is the beginning of a new age for endurance racing.

“We had a duty to contest the new championship and we will do everything in our power to give Peugeot the best chance of winning on each of the three continents visited by this inaugural series."

Both manufacturers haven’t been idle since Le Mans. Despite Audi and Peugeot rolling out new cars for 2011, additional developments have gone into their existing LMP1 contenders for the end-of-year races.

After its rather shocking 1-2-3 finish in June, Audi has made further refinements for Silverstone and the two remaining rounds at Road Atlanta and Zhuhai, China. The German manufacturer will roll out a high downforce aero package that should better suit its R15 plus on these circuits.

"We’ll only know where we stand with this car in comparison to our rivals at Silverstone," Ullrich said. "In any event, our goal is clear. We’re set on winning the title and achieving the best results for the Audi brand at all three races."
Peugeot proved to have the quicker car at Le Mans. Could that change this weekend at Silverstone? (John Dagys)

On the driver front, Audi has gone with a split approach. The No. 7 machine will be piloted by Allan McNish and eight-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen in all three rounds, with the sister car having a rotating crop of pilots each round.

Dindo Capello will share the wheel of the No. 8 Audi with Le Mans winner Timo Bernhard this weekend, with the Italian moving over to the No. 7 entry for next month’s 1,000-mile/10-hour Petit Le Mans. Audi’s rookie lineup of Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer will share driving duties in the second car at Road Atlanta.

Capello will move back to the No. 8 car for the season-ending Zhuhai 6 Hours in November, teaming with Romain Dumas. Eight of Audi’s nine drivers will be utilized at least once, a strategy Ullrich feels will work out to the team’s benefit.

"Because there’s only a make and team but no driver classification we’re using the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup as an opportunity to integrate the drivers who haven’t competed for us very often, even better with our team," Ullrich said. "Our aim is to compete at Le Mans in 2011 with the same drivers as this year."

Peugeot has taken a similar approach with its lineup. While only a single factory 908 has been entered this weekend for drivers Anthony Davidson and Nic Minassian, the French squad will expand to a two-car works entry for the two remaining rounds.

Davidson will be joined by Marc Gene and Alex Wurz in the lead Peugeot at the Petit Le Mans, with Pedro Lamy, Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin sharing driving duties aboard the second 908 in the ALMS finale.
Audi's two-car assault on the ILMC features the strong pairing of Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen in the No. 7 R15 plus TDI. (John Dagys)

For China, Montagny and Sarrazin will again be behind the wheel of one car, with Sebastien Bourdais and Simon Pagenaud slated to drive the sister Peugeot in the six-hour round.

“There will consequently be two top Peugeots capable of scoring ILMC manufacturer points at Silverstone, and that can only be good for us,” Quesnel said, noting the works-supported ORECA entry. “As for our drivers, entering our 'locally'-based squad members Nicolas Minassian and Anthony Davidson was an obvious call.

“We have tried to share the different drives as [equally] as possible among our nine drivers, in whom – may I remind you – we have renewed our confidence for 2011."

Peugeot will be looking for redemption after its disastrous outing at Le Mans, where three of its four cars retired with engine failures. The French squad, however, have gone the extra mile to eliminate any possible future engine issues, having reverted back to steel connecting rods in the V12 diesel power plants.

While Sunday’s Silverstone 1000km marks the completion of the 2010 Le Mans Series season, it’s only the beginning of the road for more than a dozen teams and six manufacturers taking part in the ILMC.

And with an automatic invite to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans up for grabs in each category, you can be rest assured that Audi and Peugeot won’t be holding anything back in this end-of-year battle.

Play Fantasy Racing !
john_dagys's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Dagys

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2012

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.