NIGEL MANSELL TO DRIVE AT SILVERSTONE IN LMS
The former Formula 1 World Champion, crowned in 1992, knows the Silverstone circuit better than anyone else. He won no less than three Formula 1 GPs on this track. He will race this very technical circuit in the Team LNT's LMP1 car with his son Greg next September 11, 12 and 13.
"Silverstone is one of the most fantastic circuits in the world, even with all the changes, and it is the home of motor-racing. If you drive between 95 and 98% of your abilities, you set the pole and if you are able to drive at 100%, you take the pole by one second. 1992 was the last time I have been on pole at Silverstone in Formula 1 for almost two seconds."
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AND THE WINNERS ARE...
The race has been tough and exciting till the end, but there was no dramatic reversal of the standings in the final round this year, whatever the classes, as all the favorites clinched the title.
Team ORECA-Matmut-AIM took the checkered flag in first place in the LMP1 class, whereas Speedy Racing Team Sebah won for the first time of the season in the LMP2 class. Gigawave Motorsport took the victory in the GT1 class and JMW Motorsport ruled the GT2 class.
Unlike the last two days, the weather has been mostly cloudy today and there has been a strong wind, which fortunately did not disturb the competitors. It has been an action-packed race from start to finish with many different leaders for the enjoyment of the spectators.
First for Team ORECA-Matmut-AIM and Speedy Racing Team Sebah
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, but the first victory for Nicolas Lapierre and Olivier Panis. The pair started from the pole and had an almost flawless race. As the car was stuck in traffic, the team from Signes decided to alter the strategy to get a clear track, which was obviously the right decision to make, as explained Olivier Panis: "It has been tough all day long and we decided to bring the pit-stop forward. We lost a lot of time in the garage to change the louver. Yesterday we claimed the pole and the victory is good for everyone in the team."
Aston Martin Racing started the season with a modest ambition: to do its best, but as time went by, the British squad revised its target upward, as the entry of three cars demonstrated it. First race and first win for the brand-new # 007 Lola-Aston Martin at Barcelona. From now on, good results followed on with a podium at each race. The only mechanical problem occurred at Spa during the qualifying session when the engine blew: Jan Charouz, Tomas Enge and Stefan Muecke had to start from the pits and lost two points. This is so 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. The three drivers have not only been consistent, but also fast and winning, even if today they finished third.
The season will probably have a bitter taste for Pescarolo Sport because the new prototype improved so much compared with last year. Unfortunately, the French team had to retire in Germany whereas it was leading the Series. Started from the back of the grid today, Jean-Christophe Boullion did a tremendous job during his first stint and was able to catch up the leaders and to take the lead early in the race, but unfortunately, a gearbox problem put an end to a great race.
Finally! This is the first word that occurred to Speedy Racing Team Sebah after the race. The team has been dogged by bad luck for most of the year, so second place in the LMP1 class and first place in the LMP2 class are great rewards for the Swiss team. The six drivers have been consistent from the beginning of the season, but have been unable to capitalize on the strong performance that they showed during the practice sessions. Last but not least, the #33 car won the Michelin Green X Challenge, not only today, but the whole-season trophy as well.
Team LNT and Nigel Mansell finished the race, but in spite of good pace, they could not get a good result because of mechanical problems.
Second place is also a real relief for RML because the British team climbed on the podium today for the first time of the season. The team had to deal with many engine failures and got many penalties as a result. Tommy Erdos and Mike Newton were alive and kicking again which was great for the team's home race. OAK Racing and the gentlemen drivers' crew completed the podium thanks to a flawless race: this result confirmed that the team is improving at each race.
Quifel-ASM Team did not finish the race today because of a mechanical problem, but clinched the title in the LMP2 class yesterday when Olivier Pla claimed the pole. The second half of the season has been a dream for the Portuguese team, which absolutely ruled out the class. Miguel Amaral and Olivier Pla have brightened up the three last races: they were able to put together a good pace and consistency, thanks to the new Ginetta-Zytek and their Dunlop tires.
First race and first win for Gigawave Motorsport and a bitter victory for JMW Motorsport
The GT1 class welcomed a new competitor at Silverstone, and Gigawave Motorsport did very well as it took an amazing victory. But Team Luc Alphand Aventures, which ended the season with third place, clinched the title at Nuerburgring. Larbre Compétition achieved its goal and finished second in the class after taking second place in the race.
JMW Motorsport finished first, but could unfortunately not regain the final lead. The mechanical problems encountered at Nuerburgring hampered the team in its quest of the title, and defending champion Rob Bell and Gimmi Bruni had not only to win, but also to expect no scoring from the leaders. And Team Felbermayr-Proton scored... one point! Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz have been among the strongest competitors for most of the season and had they not finished far behind in Portugal because of an early crash, they would have clinched the title earlier. But all's well that ends well for the German team.
Snoras Spyker climbed on the second step of the podium for the second time in a row! The Dutch car is now getting more and more reliable and is now a key player in the class, like IMSA Performance Matmut, which had a very tough season with many mechanical problems or contacts with other competitors that ruined several races. The French team had at heart to end up the season with a strong result to uphold its honor.
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1000 KM OF SILVERSTONE SEPTEMBER, 13 2009
POS CAR CLS DRIVERS TEAM CAR LAPS
1 10 LMP1 O.Panis Team Oreca Matmut AIM Oreca 01 - AIM 195
N.Lapierre
2 13 LMP1 A.Belicchi Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola Aston Martin 195
M.Fassler
N.Prost
3 007 LMP1 J.Charouz Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin 195
T.Enge
S.Mucke
4 009 LMP1 H.Primat Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin 195
D.Turner
5 d15 LMP1 C.Albers Kolles Audi R10 TDI 194
C.Bakkerud
6 d14 LMP1 N.Karthikeyan Kolles Audi R10 TDI 193
A.Meyrick
C.Zwolsman
7 12 LMP1 P.Ragues Signature Plus Oreca Judd 193
F.Mailleux
8 33 LMP2 J.Kane Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola Judd 190
B.Leuenberger
X.Pompidou
9 23 LMP1 D.Watts Strakka Racing Ginetta Zytek 189
N.Leventis
10 25 LMP2 T.Erdos RML Lola Mazda 186
M.Newton
11 24 LMP2 J.Nicolet OAK Racing Pescarolo Mazda 184
R.Hein
12 008 LMP1 C.Buncombe AMR Eastern Europe Lola Aston Martin 182
S.Hall
M.Ramos
13 16 LMP1 J.Boullion Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo - Judd 181
C.Tinseau
14 45 LMP2 D.Manning Team WFR WF01 Zytek 179
J.Firth
W.Hughes
15 41 LMP2 K.Ojjeh G.A.C. Racing Team Zytek 179
C.Gosselin
P.Peter
16 26 LMP2 P.Bruneau Bruichladdich Bruneau Radical AER 179
T.Greaves
F.Sini
17 28 LMP2 W.Cavailhes Ibanez Racing Service Courage AER 175
F.Da Rocha
J.Ibanez
18 38 LMP2 J.Schell Pegasus Racing Courage AER 175
P.Thirion
J.Metz
19 60 LMGT1 R.Sharp Gigawave Motorsport Aston Martin DBR9 175
P.Kox
20 37 LMP2 S.Salini WR Salini WR Zytek 174
P.Salini
T.Gommendy
21 50 LMGT1 R.Berville Larbre Competition Saleen S7R 174
S.Dumez
L.Groppi
22 72 LMGT1 Y.Clairay Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R 173
J.Jousse
P.Goueslard
23 92 LMGT2 R.Bell JMW Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT 172
G.Bruni
24 85 LMGT2 T.Coronel Snoras Spyker Spyker C8 170
J.Janis
25 76 LMGT2 P.Pilet Imsa Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 170
R.Narac
26 84 LMGT2 A.Garcia Team Modena Ferrari F430 GT 170
L.Mansell
J.Melo
27 89 LMGT2 P.Kaffer Hankook Team Farnbacher Ferrari F430 GT 170
C.Montanari
28 5 LMP1 L.Tomlinson Team LNT Ginetta-Zytek 168
N.Mansell
G.Mansell
29 91 LMGT2 G.Rosa FBR Ferrari F430 GT 168
A.Montermini
N.Cadei
30 77 LMGT2 M.Lieb Sr Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 165
R.Lietz
H.Felbermayr
31 88 LMGT2 C.Ried Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 165
H.Felbermayr
Jr F.Martins
32 95 LMGT2 M.Palttala James Watt Automotive Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 164
P.Daniels
M.Rich
33 78 LMGT2 M.Griffin Advanced Engineering Ferrari F430 GT 164
P.Bamford
34 81 LMGT2 G.Tenchini Easyrace Ferrari F430 GT 162
P.Basso
R.Plati
35 99 LMGT2 J.Hartshorne JMB Racing Ferrari F430 GT 160
P.Kutemann
S.Daoudi
36 35 LMP2 M.Lahaye OAK Racing Pescarolo Mazda 138
K.Ajlani
37 43 LMP2 C.Jorda Q8 Oils Hache Team Lucchini Judd 135
M.Cortes
F.Nieto
38 90 LMGT2 P.Ehret FBR Ferrari F430 GT 131
D.Farnbacher
A.Beltoise
39 87 LMGT2 J.Cocker Drayson Racing Aston Martin 122
P.Drayson
40 40 LMP2 M.Amaral Quifel ASM Team Ginetta Zytek 32
O.Pla
After the Portuguese scorching heat and Pescarolo Sport's overall victory, the paddock should experience more temperate weather, but who knows with the Nuerburgring where temperatures can freefall or skyrocket suddenly and fog can suddenly appear and vanish.
High on a hill, the medieval castle of Nuerburg looks down on both the historic and modern Nuerburgring circuits. At 4.556 Km, the modern circuit is average in length and speed, but should not be confused with the historic Nordschleife (North Loop) and its 172 corners. Based on a series of mostly slow corners, the circuit is fairly narrow, but it has a couple of quicker corners.
THREE ASTON MARTIN'S ON THE PODIUM!
They did it, a first! The three Aston Martins entered for this race are side by side on the podium!
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1000 KM OF THE NUERBURGRING, AUGUST 23, 2009
POS CAR CLS DRIVERS TEAM CAR LAPS
1 007 LMP1 J.Charouz Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin 195
T.Enge
S.Mucke
2 009 LMP1 H.Primat Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin 195
D.Turner
3 008 LMP1 C.Buncombe AMR Eastern Europe Lola Aston Martin 193
S.Hall
M.Ramos
4 14 LMP1 N.Karthikeyan Kolles Audi R10 TDI 193
A.Meyrick
C.Zwolsman
5 12 LMP1 P.Ragues Signature Plus Oreca Judd 190
F.Mailleux
6 40 LMP2 M.Amaral Quifel ASM Team Ginetta Zytek 189
O.Pla
7 29 LMP2 A.Ceccato Racing Box Lola Judd 187
F.Francioni
G.Piccini
8 35 LMP2 M.Lahaye OAK Racing Pescarolo Mazda 185
K.Ajlani
9 24 LMP2 J.Nicolet OAK Racing Pescarolo Mazda 184
R.Hein
10 41 LMP2 K.Ojjeh G.A.C. Racing Team Zytek 183
C.Gosselin
P.Peter
11 30 LMP2 T.Biagi Racing Box Lola Judd 182
M.Bobbi
A.Piccini
12 33 LMP2 J.Kane Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola Judd 177
B.Leuenberger
X.Pompidou
13 77 LMGT2 M.Lieb Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 174
R.Lietz
14 85 LMGT2 T.Coronel Snoras Spyker Spyker Laviolette 173
J.Janis
15 90 LMGT2 P.Ehret FBR Ferrari F430 GT 173
D.Farnbacher
A.Beltoise
16 89 LMGT2 A.Simonsen Hankook Team Farnbacher Ferrari F430 GT 172
P.Kaffer
17 76 LMGT2 P.Pilet Imsa Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 171
R.Narac
18 91 LMGT2 G.Rosa FBR Ferrari F430 GT 169
A.Montermini
G.Ricci
19 88 LMGT2 C.Ried Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 169
H.Felbermayr
Jr F.Martins
20 84 LMGT2 A.Garcia Team Modena Ferrari F430 GT 169
L.Mansell
T.Vilander
21 38 LMP2 J.Schell Pegasus Racing Courage AER 169
P.Thirion
J.Metz
22 92 LMGT2 R.Bell JMW Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT 169
G.Bruni
23 50 LMGT1 R.Berville Larbre Competition Saleen S7R 168
S.Dumez
L.Groppi
24 78 LMGT2 M.Griffin Advanced Engineering Ferrari F430 GT 168
P.Bamford
25 81 LMGT2 G.Tenchini Easyrace Ferrari F430 GT 166
P.Basso
R.Plati
26 28 LMP2 W.Cavailhes Ibanez Racing Service Courage AER 161
F.Da Rocha
J.Ibanez
27 13 LMP1 A.Belicchi Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola Aston Martin 156
M.Fassler
N.Prost
28 99 LMGT2 J.Hartshorne JMB Racing Ferrari F430 GT 142
P.Kutemann
J.Scheier
29 23 LMP1 D.Watts Strakka Racing Ginetta Zytek 141
N.Leventis
30 72 LMGT1 Y.Clairay Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R 138
J.Jousse
P.Goueslard
31 87 LMGT2 J.Cocker Drayson Racing Aston Martin 131
P.Drayson
32 37 LMP2 S.Salini WR Salini WR Zytek 124
P.Salini
T.Gommendy
33 26 LMP2 P.Bruneau Bruichladdich Bruneau Radical AER 114
M.Vergers
F.Sini
34 43 LMP2 C.Jorda Q8 Oils Hache Team Lucchini Judd 75
M.Cortes
F.Nieto
35 25 LMP2 T.Erdos RML Lola Mazda 57
M.Newton
36 15 LMP1 C.Albers Kolles Audi R10 TDI 40
C.Bakkerud
G.Mondini
37 16 LMP1 J.Boullion Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo Judd 35
C.Tinseau
E.Collard
38 3 LMP1 G.Lavaggi Scuderia Lavaggi Lavaggi AER 21
W.Kaufmann
PESCAROLO SHINES IN THE PORTUGUESE NIGHT!
The Portimao race track has all the character of an old British or American track. There are twists, turns and elevation changes everywhere, making this track alike a tarmac rollercoaster. All of the drivers heaped praise on the new circuit, and it brought us some brilliant racing.
The inaugural 1000Km do Algarve, the first Le Mans Series night race, was a huge success and produced one of the most fascinating races of the season.
Pescarolo Sport took up the challenge of this brand-new track and claimed first place overall, Quifel ASM Team took his first victory of the season in the LMP2 class. Luc Alphand Aventures won again in the GT1 class and JMW Motorsport overshadowed the GT2 class.
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1000 KM OF ALGARVE, PORTUGAL, AUGUST 2, 2009
POS CAR CLS DRIVERS TEAM CAR LAPS
1 16 LMP1 J.Boullion Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo Judd 215
C.Tinseau
2 007 LMP1 J.Charouz Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin 215
T.Enge
S.Mucke
3 10 LMP1 T.Monteiro Team Oreca Matmut AIM Oreca AIM 214
B.Senna
4 11 LMP1 O.Panis Team Oreca Matmut AIM Oreca AIM 212
N.Lapierre
5 009 LMP1 H.Primat Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin 211
M.Ramos
D.Turner
6 40 LMP2 M.Amaral Quifel ASM Team Ginetta Zytek 207
O.Pla
7 29 LMP2 A.Ceccato Racing Box Lola Judd 205
F.Francioni
G.Piccini
8 41 LMP2 K.Ojjeh G.A.C. Racing Team Zytek 205
C.Gosselin
P.Peter
9 30 LMP2 T.Biagi Racing Box Lola Judd 203
M.Bobbi
A.Piccini
10 12 LMP1 P.Ragues Signature Plus Oreca Judd 202
F.Mailleux
11 33 LMP2 J.Kane Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola Judd 198
B.Leuenberger
X.Pompidou
12 35 LMP2 M.Lahaye OAK Racing Pescarolo Mazda 195
K.Ajlani
13 25 LMP2 T.Erdos RML Lola Mazda 195
M.Newton
14 72 LMGT1 Y.Clairay Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R 194
J.Jousse
P.Goueslard
15 92 LMGT2 R.Bell JMW Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT 190
G.Bruni
16 76 LMGT2 P.Pilet Imsa Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 190
R.Narac
17 84 LMGT2 A.Garcia Team Modena Ferrari F430 GT 189
L.Mansell
J.Melo
18 90 LMGT2 P.Ehret FBR Ferrari F430 GT 188
D.Farnbacher
A.Beltoise
19 89 LMGT2 A.Simonsen Hankook Team Farnbacher Ferrari F430 GT 187
P.Kaffer
20 99 LMGT2 J.Hartshor JMB Racing Ferrari F430 GT 182
Prince Albert Von Thurn und Taxis
Cesar Campanico
21 15 LMP1 C.Albers Kolles Audi R10 TDI 180
C.Bakkerud
G.Mondini
22 24 LMP2 J.Nicolet OAK Racing Pescarolo Mazda 179
R.Hein
23 81 LMGT2 G.Tenchini Easyrace Ferrari F430 GT 179
P.Basso
R.Plati
24 50 LMGT1 R.Berville Larbre Competition Saleen S7R 172
S.Dumez
S.Lemeret
25 37 LMP2 S.Salini WR Salini WR Zytek 171
P.Salini
B.Jouanny
26 26 LMP2 P.Bruneau Bruichladdich Bruneau Radical AER 165
T.Greaves
F.Sini
27 85 LMGT2 T.Corone Snoras Spyker Spyker C8 L. 163
J.Janis
28 77 LMGT2 M.Lieb Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 153
R.Lietz
29 14 LMP1 N.Karthikeyan Kolles Audi R10 TDI 149
A.Meyrick
C.Zwolsman
30 28 LMP2 W.Cavailhes Ibanez Racing Service Courage AER 124
F.Da Rocha
J.Ibanez
31 43 LMP2 C.Jorda Q8 Oils Hache Team Lucchini Judd 90
M.Cortes
F.Nieto
32 23 LMP1 D.Watts Strakka Racing Ginetta Zytek 67
N.Leventis
33 87 LMGT2 J.Cocker Drayson Racing Aston Martin Vantage 47
P.Drayson
34 13 LMP1 A.Belicchi Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola Aston Martin 30
M.Fassler
N.Prost
35 88 LMGT2 C.Ried Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1
H.Felbermayr
Jr F.Martins
