It is now official; the 2011 Le Mans Series calendar is finally available. A 100% European season, divided between the North and the South. France, Belgium, Italy, Great Britain and Portugal are among the countries represented. The stars of endurance racing will have the opportunity to take the measure of some of the most beautiful circuits such as the Paul Ricard HTTT, Spa Francorchamps or again Imola, a new circuit for Le Mans Series.

During this season, Le Mans Series and ILMC will share the track three times for the Belgian, Italian and British rounds.

Sunday the last race of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup will be held during the 1000Km of Zhuhaï.

What should have been the worst day in Henri Pescarolo's career certainly become one of the best.

Yesterday, present at his workshop for the auction of his equipment, the ex. Endurance racing driver couldn't imagine returning home with the keys and all the material. Once, again, the team spirit of men and motor sports has been proved:  Joël Rivière (Prestige Racing) and Jacques Nicolet (OAK Racing) acquired Pescarolo Sport to allow Henri to continue his dream.

The boss of the new team was back in his office this morning to start the preparation of the next 2011 season with participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Le Mans Series. A return eagerly awaited by the small motor sport world.

The three and final free practice for the Autosport 1000Km of Silverstone was held this morning.

The session followed a similar pattern to yesterday and confirmed that the battle between Audi and Peugeot is back on!

The N°7 Audi R15 TDI of Audi Sport Team Joest topped the timesheets ahead of the N°4 Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP of Team ORECA Matmut. The N°8 Audi was third in the LMP1 class, while Team Peugeot Total was fifth thanks to a very hectic session.

In LMP2, the Lola HPD Coupe n°25 of Team RML picked up the top spot, setting the fastest time of the morning ahead of the Ginetta Zytek 09S n°40 of Team Quifel ASM Team and the n°41 of Team Bruichladdich Ginetta Zytek.

In LMGT2, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage n°92 of British pairing, Rob Bell and Darren Turner again showed well. It ended up second, behind the Ferrari F430GT n°89 of Hankook Team Farnbacher and the Team Schnitzer BMW M3.

The N° 47 car of Team Hope Polevision Racing was quickest in the FLM class, followed by the two Team DAMS cars, N° 44 and N° 43.

After the first free practice, Team Drayson Racing has hosted us under their awning to share with us their thoughts about this final, and first ILMC, race. The two drivers, Lord Paul Drayson and Jonny Cocker, together with their Team Manager Dale White have answered to our questions.

Lord Paul Drayson, former British government minister, takes benefit of the round in his fatherland to live his passion « Before I was in politics, I was working in the biotechnology industry. Now I'm concentrating 100% on racing and I am looking to put more emphasis on technology development in racing. There is a huge opportunity in motorsport to apply the use of fuels like bio-ethanol.»

Relying on his government member status, the driver does not take any advantage from it on the track: " It doesn't make any difference when you are out on track or when I go to race meetings. However, it does give me a perspective on how racing is seen by others outside motorsport. It also gives me an opportunity to champion this sport within politics."

The Team Drayson, present in the series in 2009 in the LMGT2 category, participates for the first time in this year's Le Mans Series, together with the ILMC first round, and in the LMP1 category. Dale White likes this new challenge «Everything has to go perfectly for us, but I've beaten works teams before. I know it can be done.». Jonny Cocker, is more used to the ALMS, notably after his victory at Road America. He will make its debut in the European series' LMP1 category « The pace of the cars and drivers is very similar, but there are more cars in Europe. Everyone knows the diesel cars are going to be very fast, but we are coming here and pushing to be the leading petrol-powered car. I'm confident that we can do that. I'm looking forward to coming over from the US and showing that we are a serious race team.»

The second free practice session of the 1,000Km of Silverstone, and first ILM round marked the end of the day. Both Peugeot 908s HDi FAP topped the timesheets. Three minutes to go in the session, Nicolas Minassian put the #1 LMP1 car ahead of Team ORECA Matmut #4 car. The track was damp and the session has been disrupted by a red flag 17 minutes after the start: the Team Signature Plus #008 Lola-Aston Martin went off in Farm curve but the car has not been damaged. In the LMP2 class, Olivier Pla posted the best time with his Quifel-ASM team Ginetta Zytek 09S ahead of the Strakka Racing #42 HPD ARX-01c. In the LMGT1 class, Larbre Compétition kept on going it alone. The LMGT2 class has been once again very turbulent. Finally, Team JMW was the trouble-maker in the Porsche/Ferrari duel as they chalked up the best time with the # 92 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Behind the British car, AF Corse #95 Ferrari 430 GT was second and Team Felbermayr-Proton #77 Porsche 997 GT3 RSR third. In the FLM class, the first three cars were the same as in the first free practice, but not in the same order. Boutsen Energy Racing #45 car set the best time, ahead of Team Hope PoleVision #48 car and DAMS #44 car.

The first Le Mans Series free practice has just been held. The session has allowed the LMP1s to resume after their Hungarian collapse. The two arch rivals Audi and Peugeot have started the hostilities. Audi Sport Team Joest's Audi R15 TDI n°7 has made the best times very closely followed by Team Peugeot Total's Peugeot 908HDi-FAP n°1. Team Rebellion Racing's Lola B10/60 Coupé n°12 completes the leading trio. In LMP2, Strakka Racing's HPD ARX-01c n°42 confirm their achievement in Hungary and keep the best times ahead the Pescarolo-Judd n°35 of Team OAK Racing. In LMGT1, there is no surprise with Larbre Competition's Saleen S7-R n°50. The Porsche 997 GT3 RSR n°75 of Team Prospeed Competition takes once again the lead in the LMGT2 Porsche/Ferrari duel. In Formula Le Mans n°48 (Team Hope Polevision Racing) achieves the best time in front of N°45 of Team Boutsen Energy Racing.

On Sunday at 11:55 am, 46 race cars will take the start for the last time in 2010. This final promises to be exciting. At 1000Km from the outcome, only one category, LMGT1 has consecrated its champion, Larbre Competition, during the Hungary round.

Everything remains possible! In LMP1, four teams can claim to the title: ORECA Matmut, Signature Plus, Audi Sport Team Joest and Rebellion Racing.

In LMP2, Strakka Racing will continue concentrating their efforts to win. They will have to reckon with RML, current leader in LMP2.

In LMGT2, between Felbermayer and AF Corse, who will win the title? Indeed, the Porsche 997GT3 RSR n°77 is in the best position to allow the Felbermayer team to impose itself in LMGT2 but it is followed very closely by the Ferrari F430GT from the Team AF Corse. The raging battle between the two manufacturers will be the talk of the town!

The fifth Le Mans Series race will be held on the famous Silverstone track in UK on September 10th, 11th and 12th. A final 2010 event marked by the come back of two major endurance racing teams: Peugeot and Audi.

The Peugeot Total team will put the 908 HDi-FAP Peugeot n°1 on the track with an Anglo-French crew. Nicolas Minassian and Anthony Davidson will be eager to offer a new success to the manufacturer after a 1000Km race. On Team Audi Sport's side, two Audi R15 Plus will be taking the start on September Sunday 12th. Dane Tom Kristensen and Scotsman Allan McNish will share the wheel of n°7 while n°8 will be driven by German Timo Bernhard and Italian Dindo Capello. Absent in Algarve and Hungary, both brands will attempt to prove who is the best on the track.

This final will be the first Intercontinental Le Mans Cup race. For the occasion, some twenty Le Mans Series cars will play a part in this new concept “Made in ACO”.

In less than a week, the last 2010 Le Mans Series race, and first ILMC one, will be held on the British circuit of Silverstone. This final round will bring together the best Motorsport racing teams. We can note the come back of the Peugeot Total Team, Aston Martin Racing and Audi Sport Team Joest in the LMP1 category.

This fifth round promises to be thrilling with 45 race cars ready for battle on the B.R.D.C layout. Only Larbre Competition in LMGT1 was consecrated at the 1000Km of Hungaroring. Suspense will reach its peak for the four other categories which still have to elect their winner.

Four races so far in 2010 and four different overall winners! If the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP scored two victories, courtesy of the official team at Spa and Team ORECA Matmut in Portugal, Lola-Rebellion leads the LMP1 “Manufacturers” standings of the 2010 Le Mans Series. With 47 cars on the entry list at Silverstone, the battle is not over yet, except in the LMGT1 class!

The legendary British track that has hosted the Le Mans Series finale for a few years now and is the home track for Strakka Racing. The LMP2 team snatched an unexpected overall victory in Hungary after Danny Watts chalked up the best overall time in the morning qualifying session. The Briton is glad to race on a track that he knows like the back of his hand.

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.

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.

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.

The 1000Km of Algarve saw Nicolas Lapierre, Olivier Panis and Stéphane Sarrazin emerge victorious to take their and Team ORECA Matmut's first victory of the 2010 season as they have driven an absolutely faultless race. Given French team's pace this season, it's hard to believe that their victory was only their first win of the season.

In a no full course caution race, the Frenchmen delivered a solid drive, holding fast at the front till the end in front of so many fans who enjoyed a herringbone start, the traditional Le Mans start, for the very first time in the Series.

Everything came together for Nicolas Lapierre when the flag dropped for the 20-minute qualifying. His last, and quickest lap, with a time of 1:30.681, was enough to secure the French driver his second pole in the 2010 series.

Because the race starts later in the afternoon, the morning schedule of the qualifying session was unusual, but Nicolas Lapierre was fully awake as he was able to repeat last year's pole for team ORECA Matmut.

You accelerate hard from the start line which goes slightly downhill. You brake hard and change down quickly from sixth to third gear for the first right-handed corner. This corner is tricky first because it is bumpy, but also because you have to carry the speed through the very short straight. The second corner is high speed which is taken flat out then hard on the brakes for the first hairpin, taken in first gear.[...]

On 16 and 17 July, they will all be present for this race held partly at night as the start will be given at 5 pm on Saturday for an arrival around 11 pm

Last year at the first edition of this Iberian race, Pescarolo Sport was under the spotlights of a lovely nocturnal podium! This year will Signature Plus, Oreca-Matmut or Rebellion Racing win this category? And in the other categories, who will shine in front of the Portuguese public? The answer in less than two weeks!

The race was played at many levels and Le Mans Series admires the teams participating all year long in the European labelled Le Mans. Once again their tenacity and professionalism was proved. A special thought to those who climbed on the world's most famous podium: ...

From Peugeot Sport to BMW Motorsport, Audi Sport to Rebellion Racing, Oak Racing to the AF Corse team…Nearly all the teams who started the Endurance Racing season in our meetings will line up on the most famous starting grid in the world!

The pressure on Team Peugeot Total was massive going into the Spa weekend, and the team delivered in a style that suggests they still are highly competitive with a 1-2 victory.

The Team Peugeot Total trio of Pedro Lamy, Sébastien Bourdais and Simon Pagenaud scored an outright win in the second round of the 2010 Le Mans Series, taking the team's 908 HDi FAP from pole to checkered flag victory, for the great pleasure of 38,000 race-fans. 

Unlike the first two practice sessions, the qualifying session for the 1000Km of Spa was dry, and Team Peugeot Total's Sébastien Bourdais made the most of the conditions to take a well-deserved pole position.

The #3 908 HDi FAP put in a stunning performance at Spa being the quickest car in the second practice session yesterday and qualifying on pole position today from a field of 50 cars for tomorrow's second round of the Le Mans Series.

Last year the driver from Rome was on pole for the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix, but this year, “it is not really important to be on pole – it is more important to finish the race,” Giancarlo said. “The race will be tough because the weather is always unpredictable here at Spa. Of course, it would be better for everyone that the track stays dry, but this morning I was the quickest on a wet track so rain would not be a problem.”

Firstly with our website live timing; to follow, live, the times during each session and to download all the results, including obviously the race.

Radio Le Mans offer their enthusiastic comments always live on their website: www.radiolemans.com. Anglophones, to your earphones!

There are also TV programmes, live or pre-recorded. Find our broadcasters on the dedicated page of our website, and please note down the live broadcast timetable on Eurosport and the RTBF, next Sunday:

Drivers are all here: Jean Alesi, Sebastien Bourdais, Dindo Capello, Giancarlo Fisichella, Allan McNish, Nicolas Minassian, Olivier Panis, Stéphane Sarrazin and so many other that we cannot mention all of them!

To be noted: the absence of the Mansell family and their Beechdean Mansell Ginetta-Zytek 09S; because of technical incidents, the team prefers not to participate in this race.

Download the 1000 Km of Spa Francorchamps entry list and let yourself be guided by Belgian Vanina Ickx who describes in our official press release the details of this circuit that she knows by heart.

Audi, Peugeot, Signature, Prospeed Marc VDS's team, represented by their drivers such as Allan McNish, Vanina Ickx, Bas Lenders came to support the eagerly awaited meeting.

With the active help of Brussels' Burgmester (Mayor), the Organisers were able to welcome many journalists inside the prestigious Maîtres Chocolatiers Belges house, in the presence of Belgian motor racing legend Jacky Ickx.

Read Vanina Ickx's interview.

The first victory from Audi with the R15 Plus, a very successful debut of the ARX-01 in Europe, a practice session for Larbre Compétition in GT1 and a brilliant race from Porsche finishing in a GT2 victory.

The intensive off-season development work has obviously paid off for the bulk of the teams, as very few teams retired. The race has been very exciting till the end on the 5.791 km legendary track.

Aston Martin Racing ranks second with its Aston Martin Lola 009; while Jean-Christophe Boullion revives victory thanks to the Rebellion Racing team's Lola B01/60 Coupe Rebellion. In LMP2, until the last minute, victory was uncertain after a race essentially leaded by the OAK Racing team. In GT2, the local hero and former F1 driver Jean Alesi, in association with Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander, is on the podium as his first race in Le Mans Series!

Join Stéphane to discover the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit that he knows so well:

“At the end of the start-finish line, you brake for the first tightened chicane “La Verrerie”, taken in second gear. This is a difficult corner, because there is a little bump and you have to find out the right time to accelerate. A quick squirt of power before you jump on the brakes for the right-handed “Hotel” corner. The “Camp” right-hander hairpin, taken in first gear, is upon you very quickly. You must stay on the left side to accelerate very early before the “Sainte Beaume” right-hander, which is the most difficult corner of the track. You can lose a lot of time if your car is not well-balanced. Then you are flat out in the left-hand corner at the beginning of the “Mistral” straight, where you reach the top speed..."

The technical team and the other drivers will be able to benefit from his experience for their first round of the 2010 Le Mans Series Championship.

Wherever you are… don't lose track and watch the best moments of the season, our official clips!

The whole Prospeed Competition press release is available on our website.

Almost 50 cars will be on the track to win the first race of the season and to outstand in front of the French spectators keen to discover the 2010 cars. The first Audi/Peugeot duel of the year, high level battles in each category, exceptional drivers with former Formula 1 stars such as Jean Alesi, Giancarlo Fisichella, Olivier Panis and Nigel Mansell! 

Therefore, on April 10th and 11th, track will never be free! Public won't get bored as the entertainment will be great!  No less than 3 support races will take place: The Ford Formula, The F3 Euro Series and the Classic Endurance Racing!

All drivers invite you to join us on this same circuit, on next April 10 &11, at the occasion of the 8 Heures du Castellet. Don't disappoint them!

On the occasion of the Ladies day, it's more appropriate than never to announce that Le Mans Series will welcome a 100%-lady drivers line up!

This is the big news of this second and last test day: Matech Competition will enter one of its Ford GTs in the 1000Km of Spa (May 7/8/9) with three handsome Swiss girls -Cindy Alemann, Natacha Gachnang and Raël Frey. As for Belgian Vanina Ickx, she announces that she will be one of the Signature Plus Lola Aston Martin's drivers for both the 1000 Km of Spa and the 24 Hours of Le Mans!

And don't forget: we are back on the track tomorrow at 9am!

But the day is not over yet: 14 cars are now running for the night testing till midnight. The cars will be back on track tomorrow at 9 am.

The car will run tomorrow and on Monday, driven by Olivier Panis, Nicolas Lapierre and Loïc Duval, alongside the 40 prototypes and GTs which are on the entry list for this special test session. The 2009 “24 Hours of Le Mans” winning car is back on track! 

The launch of the 2010 Le Mans Series season will officially begin on Sunday with the Test Days where you will see, among others, Jean Alesi, Giancarlo Fisichella, Nigel Mansell and Olivier Panis in action!

Giancarlo Fisichella won three Grand Prix (Brazil 2003, Australia 2005 and Malaysia 2006). He is 37 years old and has a fantastic career history: 18 times on the podium in Formula 1 (194 GP) & raced in 7 different teams (Minardi, Jordan, Benetton, Sauber, Renault, Force India and Ferrari) between 1996 and 2009.

Giancarlo will make his debut in Endurance racing in a few weeks and accepted to answer our questions.

Jean Alesi was kind enough to answer our questions.

For an exceptional race, an exceptional format! The opening of the season will not be done with the usual 1000 Km schema (or 6 hours), but will last 8 hours with a late morning start and finishing at sunset around 7pm.

Note that this round will award the same number of points as a 6 hour race, only races 50% longer than the usual 1000Km distance count double.