Audi and Veloqx: the first winners

The Audi R8s that had scored several victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours dominated the first Le Mans Endurance Series. Veloqx and Goh went at it hammer and tongs with Zytek, Pescarolo and Creation crashing the Ingolstadt party from time to time!

On 9th May 2004, 38 cars started the Monza 1000Kms, the first of the Le Mans Endurance Series races. Veloqx kicked off its campaign with a double, victory going to the Herbert-Davies duo who became part of endurance history as the first winners in the new series. In Italy, the Goh R8 was on the third step of the rostrum. Creation managed to split the R8s on the Nürburgring, while Zytek bagged pole on the Silverstone circuit but could not prevent Audi from dominating the British round and scoring a triple. At Spa-Francorchamps, Veloqx ended the season on a high note with its fourth success in 4 races, and Herbert-Davies won the drivers’ title from their team-mates McNish-Kaffer.

In LM P2, victory went to the new Courage Competition C65 from the PR Competition Pilbeam. In GT1, it was an all-Ferrari battle with the Larbre Competition F550 Maranello up against the 2 Baron Connor Racing F575s. The French-entered car driven by Bouchut-Lamy-Zacchia emerged victorious. In GT2, Ferrari and Porsche shared the honours. Roman Rusinov in the JMB Racing Modena 360 won the drivers’ title and Sebah Racing carried off the teams’ laurels.

Pescarolo Sport triumphs!

The second Le Mans Endurance Series Championship was a hotly-disputed one among the wide variety of cars entered in 2005. Three winners shared the spoils in the 5 rounds with Pescarolo Sport emerging as the overall winner scoring the team’s first title in the process.

After a successful first season, the series moved up to another level with a fifth round on the calendar as the Istanbul circuit hosted the final event. The first race on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit set the trend for the year with a battle between Pescarolo Sport with an LM P1 hybrid, Zytek, Creation and the Rollcentre Racing Dallara. Victory on the Belgian circuit went to the Zytek, which also racked up another success at the Nürburgring thanks to an incredible comeback drive by Shimoda who started from the last row. Henri Pescarolo’s lads won the title. Emmanuel Collard and Jean-Christophe Boullion opened their score on the Monza circuit, and repeated this feat in Istanbul giving them the drivers’ title and Pescarolo the teams’ crown. At Silverstone, the ORECA Audi R8 scored a prestigious victory after a thrilling race-long battle with the Creation, a car that provided much of the season’s excitement.

In LM P2, Chamberlain Synergy Motorsport came out on top by a single point from RML with 1 win and 2 rostrum finishes, while the BMS Scuderia Ferrari dominated the GT1 category with 3 victories from the Convers team. Sebah won its second GT2 title on the trot as Pompidou-Lieb scored 3 victories in the 3 rounds in which they took part.

Pescarolo’s grand slam!

Pescarolo Sport, the previous year’s champion, kept its title by winning all 5 rounds of the newly-rechristened Le Mans Series. Collard and Boullion racked up their second drivers’ title in succession.

Pescarolo Sport kicked off the year in the same style as it had finished the previous one - with a victory on the Istanbul circuit. The French squad followed this up with 4 more wins for Collard-Boullion: Spa, the Nürburgring, Donington and Jarama and the 2 drivers were crowned before the end of the championship. But their rivals never gave up trying: the Swiss Spirit Courage scored 2 rostrum finishes, and Creation was a season-long thorn in the side of Henri and his men. The British team ended 2006 in the runner-up spot helped by 3 rostrum finishes in the last 3 rounds.

In LM P2, ASM missed out on the title due to a name change during the season. Barazi-Epsilon (Barazi-Vergers) showed sterling consistency with 5 points-scoring finishes and a victory in its maiden season in the championship to take the title. Larbre Competition was back in the GT1 category, and Jack Leconte’s team won the title at the final round with their Aston Martin DBR9 driven by Gardel-Lamy-Vosse. Porsche held on to its first place in GT2 with the help of the Autorlando 996 GT3 RSR despite a couple of victories by the GPC Ferrari and two by the LNT Panoz.

Peugeot’s grand slam in its debut year

Peugeot marked its return to endurance by setting all the poles and winning all the races! Pescarolo Sport never gave up trying and battled to retain its title right up to the bitter end only losing out in the final round on the Interlagos circuit in Brazil.

Le Mans Series was now in its fourth year and 2007 saw the return of one of the big names in endurance, Peugeot, with its two 908 HDi FAPs. The diesel-engined cars won first time out at Monza and filled the no.1 spot in the following events, but not until the Nürburgring did the Lion score its first double. Pescarolo Sport knew it could not beat the 908s in terms of sheer speed, and opted for consistency racking up rostrum finishes and points. Before the Interlagos round, the first time that the series raced outside Europe, the title was still up for grabs. Thanks to Gene-Minassian’s victory and Sarrazin-Lamy’s second place, Peugeot won the championship even if Pescarolo’s green, white and blue cars split the 908s.

In LM P2, RML with the help of Newton-Erdos finally achieved its objective, the title, after having just missed out on a couple of occasions. In GT1, the ORECA-entered Saleen S7Rs emerged victorious with 4 victories, and Ortelli-Ayari gave the American make its first international title in its battle with Larbre Competition, Luc Alphand Adventures and Team Modena’s Aston Martin. In GT2, the battle between the Virgo Motorsport Ferrari and the Felbermayr- Proton Porsche went down to the wire with victory going to the Italian car and Rob Bell.

Audi on the line

The eagerly-awaited duel between Audi and Peugeot with Pescarolo and the Lola-Aston Martin waiting to pounce on any mistakes by the big two fulfilled all its promise. The Premat-Rockenfeller R10 scooped both titles for the German make in a thrilling last round on the Silverstone circuit.

The battle between the Peugeots and the Audis first turned in favour of the French make. Minassian-Gene and Lamy-Sarrazin won the first 4 rounds in Barcelona, Monza, Spa and the Nürburging. Just when it looked like the titles were promised to the French make, Audi upset Peugeot’s applecart on the Silverstone circuit with victory going to the McNish-Capello R10, while Premat-Rockenfeller’s fourth place was good enough to give them the drivers’ title and the manufacturers’ one to Audi. Pescarolo Sport racked up a couple of rostrum finishes at Monza and Silverstone and finished first of the petrol-powered brigade. Mücke-Charouz in their Lola-Aston Martin provided a lot of fireworks during the series and finished fifth in the drivers’ ratings behind the works teams.

In LM P2, the Porsche RS Spyders steamrolled the opposition. Victory went to the Van Merksteijn entry in which Jos Verstappen set 5 pole positions. They were followed by the Essex Racing and Horag Racing Spyders. In LM GT1, Luc Alphand Adventures won thanks to Moreau-Goueslard after a fierce battle with Team Modena’s Aston Martin, while in LM GT2 Rob Bell and Virgo Motorsport held on to their titles.

The Aston Martin Racing triumph

By winning the Team, Manufacturer and Driver titles of the Le Mans Series 2009 season, Aston Martin Racing, the most mythical British manufacturer, has excelled for their return in the most prestigious category of Endurance Racing and has brilliantly celebrated the 50th anniversary of its victory at Le Mans.

To the very end, predictions were made on the teams who would win the season. In LMP1, the Team Oreca-Matmut AIM was back, after missing the German race and this comeback turned out to be very successful with the third podium of the year for the team and first victory for Nicolas Lapierre and Olivier Panis. These good results allowed the Team Oreca-Matmut AIM to be third in the classification of the year. Before a mechanical failure, Henri Pescarolo's team believed they would make it and Jean-Christophe Boullion's driving talent nearly brought the team the same remarkable achievement as in 2006. They finish second in the classification, an impressive feat of David against Goliath. Finally the British Aston Martin Team wins the 2009 title, a well deserved tribute to the history of the British brand. Aston Martin Racing started the season with a modest ambition: to do their best, but as time went by, the British squad revised their target upwards, as demonstrated by the entry of three cars. First race and first win for the brand-new # 007 Lola-Aston Martin at Barcelona. From then on, good results followed with a podium at each race. The only mechanical problem occurred at Spa during the qualifying session when the engine blew. An almost flawless season for the crew, which really deserved the title and couldn't dream of a better place than its home race to clinch it.

In LMP2, the Portuguese team Quifel ASM, in spite of a shortened race at Silverstone, wins the title in their category concluding a very successful season for Olivier Pla and Miguel Amaral. In LMGT1, the Luc Alphand Team with the Corvette C6.R n°72, after a difficult season, arrived in England with the GT1 title in the bag after the Nürburgring, while Larbre Competition was determined to gain second place and the invitation for next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours that went with it. In LMP2, just the once won't hurt: the battle raged until the last minute! The Felbermayr Proton Germans win this season by one small point in front of their opponents JMW Motorsport! After a tough race they gave Porsche a title that had gone to Ferrari in the previous 2 seasons.

Peugeot’s revenge on the 24 Hours and an LMP2 in great form!

In 2010, the Audi/Peugeot duel was the object of all the expectations in Le Mans Series. Despite a historical triple victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a win at the 8 Hours of Le Castellet, Audi was defeated by it French rival in the overall classification. After a season of multiple developments, the Oreca Matmut Team won on Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP n°4 despite having to wait until the third race before reaching the highest step of the podium. Victim of technical problems and an abandon during the season, the French team managed to take up the challenge with perseverance. This tenacity allowed winning both the manufacturer and the driver title with Stéphane Sarrazin.

And yet, nothing was played beforehand. Until the very end during the Autosport 1000Km of Silverstone, the 2010 Le Mans Series season was full of suspense. On arriving on British soil, three teams could still aspire to the title: Signature Plus, Audi Sport Team Joest and Oreca Matmut. The front trio fought for victory without respite. The last round presented favourable auspices for the German manufacturer with the pole position of Scotsman Allan McNish. After an excellent start, the team’s hopes were dashed because of a mechanical problem forcing the Audi R15 TDI n°7 to abandon, leaving the way open to Peugeot and the first two steps of the podium. This withdrawal allowed Signature Plus and Rebellion Racing to take first and second place in the overall classification. Between the drivers, the battle was also fought during the final. Frenchman Stéphane Sarrazin imposed himself in front of Nicolas Lapierre, Dindo Capello and Vanina Ickx.

The LMP2s were definitely not playing extras. After the five races, the RML Team walked off with the title, in front of Strakka Racing and OAK Racing. A historical year for this category which put six cars in front during the 1000Km of Hungaroring for the first time in endurance racing! Indeed, before the Hungarian round, an LMP2 had never been in front of the powerful LMP1s. The race saw many feats, with a pole position and a victory for the LMP2 HPD RX-01c n°42 of the Strakka Racing Team.

For the last year of the LMGT1 category, the Larbe Competition Team made the difference with the Saleen S7-R n°50 preceding the n°66 of Atlas eFX-Team FS. A third Le Mans Series title for the French team straight after the fourth round in Budapest.

The LMGT2s were extremely present with a duel played out by lifelong rivals: Porsche and Ferrari. A combat won by the Germans with the Porsche 997 GT3 RSR n°77 of the Felbermayr Proton Team. The Prancing House was not far behind and took second and third places with the Ferrari F430 GTs n° 95 and 96 of the AF Corse Team.

In FLM, the regularity of the DAMS Team was rewarded. At the end of the season, its n°43 finished in front of the Hope Polevision Racing Team’s n°47.

A 2011 season which promises to be exciting with new regulations and the redistribution of categories. To be noted the arrival of new Peugeot and Aston Martin models and the creation of two new categories: GTE Pro and GTE Am which will replace the LMGT2.

A Farewell to LMP1…

2011 was a year of change in the history of Le Mans Series. For its last season with the LMP1s, the series offered its public an enthralling show all year long with a thrilling outcome during the last race at Estoril in September. After a year of absence, the return of the Pescarolo Team was full of emotion. The French team came back stronger than ever from the very first track laps in March at the Castellet, but after a confrontation during the whole season, the Rebellion Racing Team finally imposed itself despite a final victory in Portugal for the French team. The Swiss performed perfectly during the season and remained constant faced with their opponents. The French win on the drivers’ side thanks to the Collard/ Jousse duo.

In LMP2, Greaves Motorsport swallowed their opponents' whole with a 20 point lead even before the last race. Karim Ojjeh and his team-mates with their category victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, dominated the competition and took a well deserved victory in the Team and Driver classifications. A great satisfaction for Renate Ojjeh, faithful supporter of motor sports in general and of her son in particular. Even so, Strakka Racing, their direct pursuer did all they could to take back the lead … To be noted the impressive performances of TDS Racing with two victories in the 1000Km of Spa and the 6 Hours of Estoril. This 2011 season is auspicious for the LMP2s which will become star category in Le Mans Series next year.

Pegasus Racing’s passage from LMP2 to Formula Le Mans was a real success with four category victories in five races and a logical number 1 place in the final classification. There was nothing that their main opponent, JMB Racing, could do to stop their incredible ascension to the highest step of the podium. Julien Schell, Mirco Schultis and Patrick Simon were acclaimed best drivers in their category in 2011.

In LM GTE Pro, the AF Corse team took its revenge on 2010 by winning not only the first Team place but also the Driver classification with duo Fisichella/ Bruni on their Ferrari F458 Italia. A victory confirmed from the Autosport 6 Hours de Silverstone in front of a same Ferrari of JMW Motorsport and the Porsche 911 RSR (997) of the Felbermayer –Proton team.

The LM GTE Am Gentleman Drivers competing with professionals accomplished some impressive performances. Nicolas Armindo and Raymond Narac took the upper hand by winning four races and securing the gold for themselves and the IMSA Performance Matmut team.

For its eighth season, Le Mans Series has confirmed the place of Endurance racing in motor sports, gathering once again the best manufacturers, teams and drivers. Thus, 2011 finishes with a farewell to the LMP1s, which will confront each other next year in the World Endurance Championship and the promise of a new category -GTC- to allow drivers and teams to participate in high level Endurance racing with a limited budget.