On September 10th, 11th and 12th the last 2010 Le Mans Series race will be held on the famous Silverstone track. For the occasion, Nigel Mansell will be back in the paddock in his best role: driver. At his side, his two sons Leo and Greg will relay him. After an incredible accident during the Le Mans 24 Hours, Nigel wasn't able to participate in the last rounds in Portugal and Hungary. Absent at the 1000Km of Algarve, the Beechdean Mansell Team won its first victory at the 1000Km of Hungaroring. Very proud of his sons, Nigel was there to salute their success on this sinuous track, much appreciated by him. On this technical layout, the Formula 1 Champion passed the finishing line in first position four times during his career.

Yesterday morning, twelve of the Le Mans Series drivers & many British journalists attended the press conference at Sandown Park, on the Daytona circuit (In United Kingdom).

We welcomed Tom Kristensen (Audi Sport Team Joest), Anthony Davidson (Team Peugeot Total), Danny Watts, Jonny Kane & Nick Leventis (Strakka Racing), Leo & Greg Mansell (Beechdean Mansell), Darren Turner & Rob Bell (JMW Motorsport), Sam Hancock (Aston Martin Racing), Rob Garofall (RLR MSPORT) and Phil Quaife (CRS Racing).

After a formal press conference where journalists could to listen the drivers about the last race of the season and also some comments about the Hungaroring race, they had the chance to spend a couple of hours on the kart circuit. According to endurance rules with free practice, qualifications and the race, journalists and drivers shared the wheel by team and did their best to go on the podium!

We thank you all participants and congratulate Darren Turner & Glenn Freeman who ranked 1st, followed by Anthony Davidson & Andrew Cotton. The 3rd place goes to Jonny Kane and Gary Watkins.

The twists and turns of the Hungaroring test cars and drivers to the absolute limit. With a high level of down force, exceptionally low grip and high track temperatures, the 1,000Km of Hungaroring have been very demanding on drivers, teams and cars.

Nobody could hold a candle to Strakka Racing's Danny Watts on Sunday morning's qualifying in Hungary, and the British team's overall victory made history with the very first overall victory for a LMP2 car in the Le Mans Series.

Meilleur tour en piste : Lap N° 107

A podium trusted by the LMP2s, who could imagine? Could you foresee when arriving on the Hungarian track that one hour before the finish of the race, two LMP1s (N°4 Team Beechdean Mansell and N°8 Team Siganture Plus) would save the King category's honour among the ten first classified while the LMP2s would take the lion's share, trusting the five first places from half the race on? 

The 1000Km of the Hungaroring have offered a major development in the starting grid. Suspected after the free practices to be the most efficient cars on this layout, the les LMP2 have opened a new chapter in the Le Mans Series history with their first pole position.

Five LMP1 cars versus five LMP2 cars are in the Top 10 at the end of the third free practice session, which has been disrupted by two red flags. 25 minutes in the session, the IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche went off and ten minutes before the checkered flag, the CRS Racing Ferrari went on fire. The cars came back to the pits and it marked the end of today's free practice sessions.

The Le Mans Series competitors have been unpacking the whole Friday in the Hungaroring paddock. Teams and drivers can enjoy Hungary's national bank holiday St. Stephen's Day celebration, before tomorrow on-track activities.

For its first time on the Hungaroring circuit next 21 and 22 August, Le Mans Series will welcome an important guest. After an extremely successful season, Romain Dumas will participate in the year's fourth race. The Frenchman wants to repeat his performances once again on the occasion of this Hungarian round.

The Le Mans Series heads to Hungary for the very first time so the 1,000Km of Hungaroring is a leap in the dark for most of teams and drivers. Team ORECA Matmut took their first victory with the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP one month ago in Portugal and expects to clinch another one in the heat of the night at Budapest.

The Hungaroring lies just east of Budapest and the Castle District of Buda has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The layout has not been too much modified over the years and the latest changes see the longest lap in the circuit's history with a total distance of 4.384 km.

With its slow corners and its narrow straights, many say its characteristics more closely resemble a street circuit than a purpose-built track. However, its beautiful setting in a natural amphitheatre makes it an excellent venue for spectators. They should enjoy a race that Team ORECA Matmut ex-Formula One driver Olivier Panis predicts tough.

On 21 and 22 August, Le Mans Series will go to Hungary for the first time. The 1000 Km of Hungaroring promises a colourful show. The drivers will be eager to put Hungary on their prize lists during this last night race. On the occasion of the season's next to last round, leaders and challengers will do all they can to be at the top of the classification before the final at Silverstone in September.

Best Lap : N° 205