Look at the Le Mans Series official video clip, and some highlights of the Official Test session which took place on the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit last Sunday and Monday.

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!

Discover all the time sheets, after those two Official Test Days. Sunday and Monday sessions time sheets that you can download to provide the best analysis of what is the big launching of the 2010 Endurance season.

More than ever, Ladies have a place of honour in Le Mans Series, on this dedicated day!

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!

Download the time-sheets of the night testing.

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

Download all the results and pictures of the first Official Test day. Drivers, cars, general atmosphere: with our photo library, live the Test sessions live!

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 off-season is finally over! After a six-month break, LMPs and GTs are back on track to unveil their new aero or livery or even a brand-new car! The official test sessions are always a kind of leap in the dark for the teams and a voyage of discovery for the spectators, who are now welcome back on the legendary Le Castellet circuit to enjoy car-racing.

The Oreca Matmut team took the opportunity of unveiling the great novelty of the 2010 season during the Le Mans Series Official Test days: the Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP has been entrusted to them by the French manufacturer for the whole season as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans!

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! 

Don't forget that this weekend there will be more than 40 endurance racing cars (Prototypes and GTs) on the track. And in good company as their drivers are Endurance and Formula 1 stars!

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!

Yet another novelty for this seventh Le Mans Series season. Indeed, in addition to the LMP1, LMP2, LMGT1 and LMGT2 cars entered for the season or “race by race" Formula Le Mans will also take the start of the 1000 Km races.

Giancarlo Fisichella, the Ferrari F1 reserve driver will be at the steering wheel of the Ferrari F430 GT2 during the Le Mans Series season.

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.

Discover the cars and drivers entered as from today in the Official Test session, to take place at the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit on next March 7 & 8.

Jean Alesi, F1 racing driver for 11 years with 201 races will take part in the 2010 Le Mans Series season. As you may know, the French racing driver will be at the steering wheel, of the Ferrari F430 GT in the Team AF Corse. For this seventh Le Mans Series season; he will race with Toni Vilander & Giancarlo Fisichella, a reserve driver for the Scuderia Ferrari.

Jean Alesi was kind enough to answer our questions.

REBELLION Racing conducted yesterday, February 8, a shakedown of its two Lola-Rebellion LMP1 race cars. The Swiss team will go on to conduct a round of private testing next week in Portugal and Spain. REBELLION Racing will introduce its 2010 drivers and new cars to the press and public on 7 and 8 March at the Paul Ricard HTTT during the official Le Mans Series Test Days.

The first race of the Le Mans Series 2010 season will be held on the Castellet circuit, in the south of France, on 9, 10 and 11 April. This circuit, at the same time ultra modern and firmly rooted in the history of motor sports which has just reopened its doors to the public, has welcomed the Official Tests of the Series since 2004 and will do so again in 2010 on 7 & 8 March.

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.

Le Mans Series lifts the curtain on the impressive list of competitors entered in the 2010 season! 44! No less than 44 Prototypes & GTs are entered for the five races of the seventh Le Mans Series season. We will present abigger and better list than in 2009, with renowned teams, new cars in Endurance racing and exceptional drivers!

Just a few days before the publication of the All Season entry list, OAK Racing Team Mazda France shows its determination to extend its involvement in the LMP2 category.

Read the press release and discover the goals announced by OAK Racing's President - Jacques Nicolet - and Mazda France's President - Thierry Guillemot- regarding the already very awaited 2010 season. 

Karim Ojjeh will race in 2010 on Zytek 07S with the Team Bruichladdich.

The livery of the Beechdean Mansell Motorsport Ginetta Zytek GZ09S that Nigel Mansell will race this year in the 2010 Le Mans Series with sons Leo and Greg will be on show at the Autosport International Show this weekend at the NEC in Birmingham (14-17 January 2010).  The 2010 colour scheme features the Union Flag draped over the rear of the car and is a direct link with the famous Mansell helmet colour scheme.  Also seen for the first time is the new Beechdean Mansell Motorsport logo that will adorn the team's trucks, clothing and merchandise and again features the red, white and blue logo.

2010 begins well for the Mansell family, now associated to Beechdean Motorsport to form Beechdean Mansell Motorsport.

Since two seasons, the association of Speedy Racing and Team Sebah has continued rising in power!

In 2008, the team had engaged the first Lola B08/80 B08/80 in LMP2 then set the tone in 2009 by engaging two prototypes - a Lola Coupé B08/60 B08/60 Aston Martin in LMP1 and a Lola Coupé B08/80 B08/80 Judd in LMP2.

The first race of the Le Mans Series 2010 season will be held on the Castellet circuit, in the south of France, on 9, 10 and 11 April. This circuit, at the same time ultra modern and firmly rooted in the history of motor sports which has just reopened its doors to the public, has welcomed the Official Tests of the Series since 2004 and will do so again in 2010 on 7 & 8 March.

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.

2010: the fourth Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in ORECA colours!

In the final year of the current LM P1 regulations, the ORECA-Matmut team will run the 2010 version of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Le Mans Series races. 

Five races for this seventh season, including one new circuit and some novelties.

First of all, the opening race of the season will be held on the Castellet circuit and will last 8 hours. Two nocturnal races: in Algarve and in Hungary. The 1000 Km of Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone, firmly rooted in the Le Mans Series tradition, conserve their format and date.

  7-8 March                        Official Tests – Circuit Paul Ricard

  9-10-11 April                    8H of the Castellet – Circuit Paul  Ricard

  7-8-9 May                         1000 Km ofSpa-Francorchamps

  15-16-17 July                   1000 Km of Algarve (Night race)

  21-22 August                   1000 Km of the Hungaroring (Night race)

  10-11-12 September      Autosport 1000  Km of Silverstone

OAK Racing has just taken over the Pescarolo Sport 'manufacturer' division and will be managing the development and manufacturing of the chassis, bodywork and spare parts, as well as the marketing of the LMP1 & LMP2 prototypes.

Inspired by Marcel Proust's questionnaire, of which Bernard Pivot's television adaptation is better known by the younger generation, this questionnaire, adapted to the world of motor sport and particularly Endurance racing, should, we hope, allow the public to get to know this sport's main actors.

Team managers, drivers, circuit managers, important motor sport names…all those who accept to play the game will be welcome.

Today, Pierre Delettre, Spa-Francorchamps 1000 Km co-organiser (among others), kindly answers our questions.

Inspired by Marcel Proust's questionnaire, of which Bernard Pivot's television adaptation is better known by the younger generation, this questionnaire, adapted to the world of motor sport and particularly Endurance racing, should, we hope, allow the public to get to know this sport's main actors.

Team managers, drivers, circuit managers, important motor sport names…all those who accept to play the game will be welcome.

Today, Gérard Neveu, Paul Ricard HTTT circuit's Director, kindly answers our questions.

Motor sport racing advances thanks to regulations which are alive and change as years go by, adapting to new technologies and enforcing others. Just like the backbone of an organism which grows and changes with the years, with the times.

This year, as usual, new chapters have been written, others modified. To help you understand the upcoming season, listed hereafter are the principle changes.

On Saturday, Jan Charouz, who won the 2009 Le Mans Series Drivers title with his team Aston Martin Racing and his team mates Stefan Mücke and Tomas Enge, was given the "FIA Talent of the Year Award" by the FIA President Jean Todt. The Le Mans Series team wants to congratulate the Czech racing driver for this fully deserved prize.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, owners and organisers of the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours event has decided to manage all media rights internally.

From the next racing season on, FORMULA LE MANS owners (ORECA FLM monotype prototype / 420 BHP GM engine) will have the grand opportunity to take part in LE MANS SERIES 1000 km races in Europe. The FLM are also announced in Northern America within the “ALMS” starting in 2010.

This information definitely has to be underlined and supported: Luc Alphand's involvement in the Telethon battle, the association created more than 20 years ago for research against myopathy and rare diseases.

In association with French television, France 2, the driver and team owner, who is a Le Mans Series regular (Team Luc Alphand Aventures won the LMGT1 title again this season) and well known for his kindness and generosity, did some track laps on a Corvette Z06 with Thomas Pincemin. The 15 year old youngster is a big motor sport fan and has been seriously ill since he was 6 years old.

There were four different leaders in the top category, fantastic battles at every level, sudden twists and suspense! At the end of this grande premiere, the Pescarolo prototypes scored a double, first of all in LM P1 with Christophe Tinseau and Shinji Nakano and also in LM P2 for the Oak Racing team.

At Okayama, everything is ready for the first Asian Le Mans Series race.

The competitors have all arrived safely and are getting ready to battle on the 3,703 kilometres of the circuit.

Yesterday, the 23 entered cars participated in the qualifying test sessions with both sunshine and a mild temperature (22°C). In the queen category, the surprise came … from a Minister! Indeed, Drayson Racing Team's Lola Coupe Judd is in the lead thanks to the performance of young Jonny Cocker, Minister Paul Drayson's co-driver. The Sora Racing Pescarolo Judd will start in second position, driven by Christophe Tinseau and Shinji Nakano.

The 2010 season is taking shape. As of today, we can announce three dates and three circuits:

▪ 9, 10 and 11 April on the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit

▪ 7, 8 and 9 May on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit

▪10, 11 and 12 September on the Silverstone circuit

Two additional races will be announced shortly (see the end of the release).

We all have images of the 2009 season printed in our memories: the unveiling of the Aston Martin jewel at the Castellet, the British manufacturer's first podium at Barcelona, Peugeot's victory at Spa, the night race in Algarve, the victories of Luc Alphand's courageous team, Jean-Christophe Boullion's unbelievable come-back at Silverstone… and so many more!

To relive these moments of anthology, which will remain carved forever in the history of Endurance racing, discover the book dedicated to the sixth Le Mans Series season.

A complete review of the season's five races, anecdotes on the teams and drivers, all the results, fabulous pictures taken by renowned sports photographers and an exclusive 32 page portfolio.

To the very end, predictions were made on the teams who would win the season. In LMP1, 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, exactly 50 years after the victory of the manufacturer in the Sports Car World Championship! A well deserved tribute to the history of the British brand.

In LMP2, the Portuguese team Quifel ASM, in spite of a shortened race, wins the title in its category concluding a very successful season for Olivier Pla and Miguel Amaral.

In LMGT1, the Luc Alphand Team, after a difficult season, had two happy experiences during the weekend: the return of their leader Luc Alphand in grand shape and winning the season with their Corvette C6.R n°72.

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! In other words it was shoulder to shoulder and the smallest point had its importance including the one given during the qualifications to the team in pole position!

Last but not least we congratulate the team combining performance and energy saving: the Speedy Racing team Sebbah was awarded the Michelin Green X Challenge trophy.

If we are already looking towards the next season, we would like to take the time to thank all the teams who have fought for their colours during the season and at the same time for those of Endurance racing.

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.

The #007 Lola-Aston Martin ruled absolutely the very beginning of the race, but now spectators are only watching Jean-Christophe Boullion's Pescarolo.

The French driver, who started from the back of the grid because he went off yesterday during the qualifying session, is catching up in such an amazing way that race-fans should remember for a while.

After a very tough fight with Nicolas Lapierre and his #10 Oreca Matmut AIM, who started on pole, Jean-Christophe, whose chances for the 2009 title are still alive, is now leading the field. The 2006 winner is really teaching a racing lesson!

Team Oreca-Matmut AIM made a strong come back and posted the best time. The French team had decided not to enter the race at Nürburgring and so lost all chances for the title, but would like to end the season on a high note as a reward for the hard team work, as Nicolas Lapierre explained: “The practice sessions went well and the balance was getting better and better. Our package works well here and we want to finish the race tomorrow. It would be good for us to take the victory because we have been trying to win since the beginning of the season, but traffic and reliability will be key factors tomorrow.”

This year is definitely a turning point for OAK Racing team. Further to the change of name (the team was formerly Saulnier Racing), 2009 is the year of development, of new identity affirmation and moreover, of the sporting successes.

Fresh from its amazing podium clean sweep at the ADAC Nürburgring 1000km in August, the Aston Martin Racing squad is getting ready to shine at the top of the time sheets, especially here, for their home race.

As the teams and drivers titles are within reach, the fans are getting very excited, partly because Aston Martin and Aston Martin Racing's headquarters are less than 30 miles away from the Silverstone circuit.

We have to keep in mind that 2009 is the 50th anniversary of the DBR1's victory in the World Sportscar Championship. This car, which is forever engraved on the memory, should run one lap on Sunday before its descendants start the race in their Gulf Oil livery.

The Italian LMS driver Giorgio Mondini will not start in the final Le Mans Series race at Silverstone for Dr. Colin Kolles' team this weekend. Reason is an injury of his wrist, which happened during a Squash training earlier this week. The Audi R10 will be driven by Dane Christian Bakkerud and his Dutch teammate Christijan Albers.

The second Kolles R10 will be raced by Narain Karthikeyan, Charles Zwolsman and Andy Meyrick.

Since his motorbike accident in last June, Luc Alphand took some rest by his family and followed an active re-education programme. Today we have the pleasure to announce you that former ski champion and above all, racing driver; Luc Alphand Aventure's team eponymous founder will be present to support his troops at the occasion of the season final race.

Phone interview, this morning, with the French champion.

The 1992 Formula 1 World Champion, will be back on one of his favourite circuits for the fifth and last race of the 2009 Le Mans Series season: the Autosport 1000 Km of Silverstone.

A major event to be followed in less than two weeks time; when for the first time in motor sport history, a World Champion will race with two of his children at the highest international competition level.

The 56 year old British driver will share the wheel of LNT Team's LMP1 Ginetta-Zytek with Lawrence Tomlinson and his son, Greg.

Leo Mansell, Nigel's other son, as since the beginning of the season, will also be on the track in another category with Modena Team's Ferrari F430 (GT2).

Nigel gave an interview two weeks ago at the 1000 Km of Nürburgring where he was supporting and advising Leo.

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. Let's follow him around this very technical circuit on which he will race 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.

Aston Martin Racing fully achieved its goal: the British team scored as many points as possible and could take the lead of the series thanks to today's victory. Indeed, the pre-race four-point gap could seem very hard to fill and victory was the only option today to keep the team chances alive for the title chase, and obviously, the team used the necessary resources to achieve its aim. No less than three cars raced this weekend and will race at Silverstone, the last round of the season, which shows how important the title is for Aston Martin Racing.

The start has been given at 12.30 exactly on a dry track. The three Lolas Aston Martin taking the start from the first rows are still leading the race more than 30 minutes after the first lap. Both the official cars (007 and 009) as well as Speedy Racing team Sebah's one kept their position on the track.

In the LMP2 category, Olivier Pla kept his pole position, when Laurent Groppi in GT1, for his first race in Le Mans Series, had the honor to take the start…and did it well! In GT2, Pierre Kaffer is not leading anymore, as Gianmaria Bruni at the wheel of the JMW Motorsport's Ferrari  is just behind him, but the race is only beginning…

Three Lolas-Aston Martin will start from the first and second row tomorrow! The goal is clear for Aston Martin Racing this weekend: the Brits aim to secure as many points as possible in their championship chase. The team is currently second in both Drivers and Team standings, four points behind Pescarolo Sport. Had they not changed the engine after the qualifying session at Spa, the squad would only be short by two points, as the drivers of # 007 Lola-Aston Martin climbed on the podium three times in a row, but only once on the first step.

The team is up against the wall and will only target the victory as explained polesitter Stefan Mücke: “I chose to spend half of the session in the pits and waited for a clear lap. The car is good and the time could have been better without the yellow flag. It is great to have two Aston Martin Racing cars on the front row. We will try to do our best tomorrow, but it is true that we are in a good position for the race and that we score one point for the pole.”

This day dedicated to the free practices began under the rain. The first session took place on a wet track and the Speedy Racing Team Sebah's car achieved the best time: 1.44.598s.

As the time went by, the weather conditions got much better, and so did the times... The 007 Lola Aston Martin was then the best (1.43.514) during the second session run on a dry track. Actually, local favourite, Stefan Mücke, was at the wheel during this lap.

Messrs Rémy Brouard, the ACO General Manager, Pierre Fillon, Vice President and Vincent Beaumesnil, Sports Manager, took advantage of  the good media attendance to the 1000 Km of the Nürburgring to unveil the 2010 Le Mans regulations.

British motor racing legend Nigel Mansell will return to international motorsport arena next month, racing a Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S in the Le Mans Series finale at Silverstone.

Mansell, who remains the most successful British Formula One driver ever (he competed his last Grand Prix in 1995), will be joined for the first time by son Greg and former Le Mans winner, Ginetta Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson to compete in the world famous endurance race ‘1000km of Silverstone'.

With his son Leo driving the team Modena's Ferrari F430 GT in LMGT2, we can say that the 1000 Km of Silverstone will be a family affair for Nigel Mansell!

Some days before the ADAC 1000 Km of the Nürburgring, Marc Lieb, Porsche works driver and leader of the Felbermayr-Proton team, drives you on the track of the mythical circuit.

“The Grand Prix track of the Nürburgring is a modern racing circuit with a lot of variation of slow and medium speed corners.

After the Start-Finish line you enter turn 1 into the “Mercedes Arena”. It is a very tight right hand hairpin in 1st gear and a critical part at the start. The cars come from top speed down to 55km/h. The following two left corners are also quite slow in 2nd gear with another slow 90-degree right hander exiting the “Mercedes Arena”. The Arena is a tricky place and very technical. It is not my favourite part of the circuit though.

After accelerating to fifth gear...

It is official now: three Lola Aston Martins will be present on the Nürburgring track next week.

The ADAC 1000 Km of the Nürburgring are one of the most awaited rounds of the season, and the fourth one, just after the wonderful night race which took place two weeks ago in Portugal. And for the first time, three prototypes of the British manufacturer will be present on the starting grid!

Regarding the drivers line up, the internationality is of bet: two Czechs, two Britishs, one Portuguese, one Swiss…and a German driver of course: Stefan Mücke!

10 LMP1s will therefore fight for the victory during this last but one race, before the final round at Silverstone in September.

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 like a tarmac rollercoaster. All of the drivers heaped praise on the new circuit, and it brought us some brilliant racing.

The inaugural 1000Km of 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 their 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.

While the night fell on the Algarve circuit and the 35 cars on the track –with the Pescarolo leading the race – let's enjoy the best pictures of the day and of the beginning of the evening.

Impregnate you with the unique atmosphere of this race, on and off of the track…(and even in the swimming pool!)

Motor racing, and especially Endurance racing, is absolutely not, as could be expected, an individual sport. Opposite, the crew members rely on each other and the links are so strong between them that we often speak about some family relationships.

Unlike Spa, the qualifying result was much harder to predict in the LMP1 class. Nevertheless, it is not so astonishing that Oreca-Matmut AIM made the grade and will start from the front and the second row in the LMP1 class. The French team will try to continue to forge ahead after its fifth place at Le Mans. “I am not really surprised”, confirmed Nicolas Lapierre. “We have been competitive till the beginning of the weekend. It was a tough fight, but we are on the pole. Our car is well adapted to the track because of its good mechanical grip. The main job is for tomorrow.”

But Aston Martin Racing is right behind and should put its life on the line tomorrow. After a victory at Barcelona and a third place at Spa, Aston Martin Racing demonstrated again that it is a great pretender to the title at the end of the season and fought hard but failed for the pole.

As you were told before, the third round of the season, which will take place at night, is above all an endurance race, of course, but this is also a way to celebrate motorsport and a good opportunity to expand the Le Mans spirit beyond borders.

This is the reason why The Fingertips will play live tomorrow from 10 pm. This band of four genious musicians and one singer is one of the most famous ones in Portugal, thanks to its Coldplay's style pop-music.

The spectators will so have the opportunity to combine their passion for sport and their love of music, in a warm-hearted atmosphere and a georgeous background: the Algarve.

Some hours before the qualifying – which will take place tonight from 7.10 to 8.00 pm, local timing – the Strakkar Racing's Ginetta-Zytek didn't achieved the best lap anymore. Bruno Senna and Tiago Monteiro, at the wheel of the Oreca n°10, did it.

Pescarolo took the second place, just ahead the Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre's Oreca n°11, and the team Kolles'Audi. To be underlined: seven of LMP1s have finished the session in the same second! The qualifying sessions are promising to be very hot tonight…

1m32.040s, here is the best lap made by the Strakka Racing's Ginetta-Zytek driven by Danny Watts during this night session.

More than the results, the most important was to learn to drive efficiently by night on this brand new track.

Everybody's saying that the image of all these lights in the meanders of the circuit was really fantastic and will stay for a long time in all the motorsport's lovers mind. And this is just a beginning, as the race will start on Saturday at 7.15 pm (local time) and so will mostly be played by night.

Tiago Monteiro, Bruno Senna, Miguel Ramos, Francisco Cruz Martins ! Four big names of Portuguese motorsport. Four names which arouses interest. Three Portuguese and one Brazilian - who knows how much Portuguese fans like him - drivers gathered this afternoon for a nice family picture and a very friendly meeting.

They all know how much the fans rely on them to make a Portuguesa fill the air on Saturday night, and they all will do their best in their respective class to make the fans happy.

It is not necessary to introduce Bruno and Tiago, who will co-drive the Oreca 01-AIM Nr.10, which is currently fourth of the teams' classification in the LMP1 class. The two young stars can therefore be full of hope.

The first free practice session of the third round of the Le Mans Series season finished at 5.45 pm (local time). The Strakka Racing's Ginetta-Zytek 09S (n°23) achieved the best time of the session, ahead the Pescarolo Judd (n°16) and the Aston Martin n°007. On fourth and fifth position are the two Oreca prototypes, driven by Bruno Senna and Nicolas Lapierre.

Let's remind that this first practice session was above all the occasion for almost all the drivers to discover the design of the brand new Algarve track.

The next session will allow the teams to tune properly the car and the drivers to drive during the night. A fantastic general repetition before the race on Saturday in some words!

Third episode of the "Tracklap with..." series, discover the advise of the former Formula 1 driver Tiago Monteiro, one of the rare Le Mans Series driver who already knows the Portimao circuit.

“The track is really original, different and difficult! It is a great challenge because it winds up and down and includes blind corners. Drivers should find the track difficult, but very interesting. It is a mix of several tracks such as Spa or Laguna Seca. The race should be sunny but may be windy! The circuit is a success on the whole. [...]

One Frenchman will replace another on WR/Salini's WR/Zytek. Indeed, Bruce Jouanny will reinforce the team formed of Philippe and Stéphane Salini for the 1000 Km of Algarve, replacing Tristan Gommendy, held back by another race in England.

Bruce who finished 8th in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in Pescarolo Judd n°16 will bring all his endurance experience to the LMP2 team, today 10th in the classification of its category after the first two races of the season.

The news is good, his back operation went well and « Lucho » was able to return home to Serre Chevalier 10 days ago to continue his convalescence. We are sure that his excellent physical condition will allow him to overcome this difficult phase with few after effects.

Whilst their leader is resting and building up his strength, the whole team continues working to reach the goal fixed by the ex-ski champion at the beginning of the season. Thus, Philippe Poincloux announced: “We are going to concentrate all our energy on the 1000 km of Portimao where our aim in this discipline is to win the GT1 title for the second consecutive year. This meeting, which will be held at night for the second time in the history of the Le Mans Series Championship, should offer a wonderful show”.

After one round in Barcelona then in Spa, Le Mans Series will soon come to Portugal with the 1000Km of Algarve, held from 30 July until 1st of August. The Algarve racetrack will host the third round of the season as well as 6 supporting races!

Let's discover the 1000 Km of Algarve timetable. This night race, which will take place on Saturday night, is announced as an exceptional round and will be the highlight of a very complete show. There will be no less than six support races among which the CER, the Formula Le Mans, the Formula Renault 3.5...and a lot of other ones.

Under Portimao's sun, teams and drivers will meet for the first time since the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Further to a summer atmosphere, the third round of the season promises to be...very hot!

Following the cancellation of the decision n°21 of the panel of the stewards by the Sporting Court in Brussels, you will now be able to download the LMGT2 team, driver and manufacturer classifications after the 1000km of Spa.

In 2010, Endurance continues its march and Le Mans Series sets out to conquer the Middle East which remains a major step for the series. For this reason, Le Mans Series and the ACO sought out the Abu Dhabi circuit promoters for this great first.

The 2010 Le Mans Series Calendar remains to be confirmed, but ACO President, Jean-Claude Plassart has announced, during the traditional Press Conference given at the Le Mans Circuit before the 24 hour race, that the seventh season will include the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The agreement signed between the recently built circuit in the eponymous Emirate, promises an exceptional meeting of two six hour races over two consecutive days, Friday and Saturday (the equivalent of Saturday and Sunday in Europe). As of today, the date is not yet confirmed, but this meeting of a brand new type should be held during the second half of November 2010.

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After a report from the Scrutineers, the Panel of the Stewards pronounced the exclusion of the competitors n°26, 29, 32 and 77.

The classifications of the LMP1, LMP2 and LMGT1 categories are now available.

The GT2 classification is suspended until the decision of the Court on the appeal releaved by the competitor n°77 on the decision n°21 of the panel of the stewards.

Relive the start and finish of the race through a video.

You just have to click on "Read more" and savour!

With its mixture of long straights, fast corners and varying gradients, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit ranks as one of the most technically challenging circuits visited by the Le Mans Series but is a firm favorite with drivers, teams and fans alike.

Team Peugeot Total took up the challenge of this historic track and claimed first place overall, while Team Essex did the same in the LMP2 class. The Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette scored its first victory of the season in the GT1 class and Team Felbermayr-Proton ruled in the GT2 class.

Over 100 drivers and about 30,000 spectators could enjoy a fine, sunny race which was disrupted by five safety-car periods. Indeed, many cars went off or had contact, but, on the whole, professional and gentlemen drivers were able to share the track in good spirit.

This race is full of rebounds since the start of this second round of the season: punctures, clashes, track exits…the drivers have live a lot of situations during this race!

Discover all the most impressive pictures of the 1000 Km of Spa, regularly updated during the week-end and the race. General atmosphere pictures, race shootings, drivers portraits: our photo library is on line to make you live the circuit emotions, enjoy!

Yesterday afternoon, the ACO delivered two important informations to the press and team managers : in the first hand, the creation of a Nürburgring/Le Mans trophy, which embodies the deal conluded between the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring to promote each event in the other country thanks to an exceptional price (a double ticket at 99 euros).

In the other hand, Rémy Brouard (ACO's General Director) and Daniel Poissenot announced exclusively the Asian Le Mans Series entry list, with 31 cars at this day.

Unlike Barcelona, today's qualifying session did not result in a big surprise in the LMP1 class, as Team Peugeot Total snatched pole and second position under overcast weather conditions.

Changing weather conditions, combined with the usual set-up compromises required at Spa, left many teams with mixed thoughts before qualifying but, judging by the timesheets, everyone obviously made good choices.