Thread: 2008 24 Hours Le Mans

It's now 130 days until the 76th edition of the 24 Heures du Mans is run.

The interest for this year's race seems to be great as the organizer ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) has recieved entry forms from 88 entries! This is eleven more than last year. Only 55 cars are allowed to start and the teams running in the Le Mans Series and the American Le Mans series are guaranteed entries there are 34 places available for the remaining 67 entries.

Entries:
LMP1: 26 (a new record!)
LMP2: 15
LMGT1: 22
LMGT2: 25

At the end of February the ACO Selection Committee will make the list of accepted entries available.

The winners from the last 30 years:

2007 Frank Biela, Emanuelle Pirro, Marko Werner (Audi R10 TDI)
2006 Frank Biela, Emanuelle Pirro, Marko Werner (Audi R10)
2005 Tom Kristensen, J.J. Lehto, Marko Werner (Audi R8)
2004 Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello, Sieji Ara (Audi R8)
2003 Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello, Guy Smith (Bentley Speed 8)
2002 Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen, Emanuelle Pirro (Audi R8)
2001 Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen, Emanuelle Pirro (Audi R8)
2000 Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen, Emanuelle Pirro (Audi R8)
1999 Yannick Dalmas, Joachim Winkelhock, Pierluigi Martini (BMW V12 LMR)
1998 Alan McNish, Laurent Aiello, Stephane Ortelli (Porsche GT1 98)
1997 Michele Alboreto, Stefan Johansson, Tom Kristensen (TWR Porsche)
1996 Manuel Reuter, Alex Wurz, Davy Jones (TWR Porsche)
1995 Yannick Dalmas, J.J. Lehto, Masanori Sekiya (McLaren F1 GTR)
1994 Yannick Dalmas, Mauro Baldi, Hurley Haywood (Dauer Porsche 962)
1993 Eric Helary, Christophe Bouchut, Geoff Brabham (Peugeot 905)
1992 Derek Warwick, Yannick Dalmas, Mark Blundell (Peugeot 905)
1991 Volker Weidler, Johnny Herbert, Bertrand Gachot (Mazda 787B)
1990 John Nielsen, Price Cobb, Martin Brundle (Jaguar XJR-12)
1989 Jochen Mass, Manuel Reuter, Stanley Dickens (Sauber C9 Mercedes)
1988 Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries, Andy Wallace (Jaguar XJR-9)
1987 H-J Stuck, Derek Bell, Al Holbert (Porsche 962C)
1986 H-J Stuck, Derek Bell, Al Holbert (Porsche 962C)
1985 Klaus Ludwig, Paolo Barilla, John Winter (Porsche 956)
1984 Henri Pescarolo, Klaus Ludwig (Porsche 956)
1983 Vern Schuppan, Hurley Haywood, Al Hobert (Porsche 956)
1982 Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell (Porsche 956)
1981 Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell (Porsche 936)
1980 Jean Rondeau, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (Rondeu M379 Ford Cosworth)
1979 Klaus Ludwig, Don Whittington, Bill Whittington (Porsche 935)
1978 Didier Pironi, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (Renault Alpine A442B)
1977 J?rgen Barth, Hurley Haywood, Jacky Ickx (Porsche 936/77)

Originally Posted by JoStream

Has any driver won the LeMans more than three times?

Yup.

7 wins
Tom Kristensen (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

6 wins
Jacky Ickx (1969, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982)

5 wins
Derek Bell (1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987)
Frank Biela (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007)
Emanuele Pirro (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007)

4 wins
Yannick Dalmas (1992, 1994, 1995, 1999)
Olivier Gendebien (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962)
Henri Pescarolo (1972, 1973, 1974, 1984)

Peugeot has now presented it's drivers for the three LMP1 prototypes.

How about these guys?

* Franck Montagny
* Marc Gen?
* Stephane Sarrazin
* Pedro Lamy
* Nicolas Minassian
* Ricardo Zonta
* Jacques Villeneuve (NASCAR commitments permitting)

A pretty impressive sportscar line-up I must say. Experience is one of the biggest keys in enduarance races and these drivers certainly aren't lacking in that department.

Originally Posted by Driverdb

A pretty impressive sportscar line-up I must say. Experience is one of the biggest keys in enduarance races and these drivers certainly aren't lacking in that department.

I don't know if pretty is the right word. Looks like Peugeot really want's to win this one.

That kind of line-up is something that you don't get to see very often.

I only recognize 1 name in that Peugeot line-up and thats Jacques Villeneuve.

Originally Posted by DanicaRules

I only recognize 1 name in that Peugeot line-up and thats Jacques Villeneuve.

Well, I took the liberty of copying some information from a site I've recently discovered.

Franck Montagny, France (born 1978)
Runner up in Le Mans 24h - LMP1 class 2006.
Formula Nissan World Series champion 2003.
Runner up in Formula Nissan World Series 2002.
Formula Euro Open Nissan champion 2001.
Runner up in Formula 3 France 1998.
French Formula Renault Campus champion 1994.

Formula 1 test driver for many teams and did some races for Super Aguri not so long ago.

Marc Gen?, Italy (born 1974)
Third in Le Mans Series LMP1 2007.
Open Fortuna Nissan champion 1998.
Italian Superformula champion 1996.
Runner up in Formula Ford Festival 1993.
Runner up in European Formula Ford Championship 1993.

F1 race experience in Minardi and Williams. Test driver for Williams and Ferrari.

Stephane Sarrazin, France (born 1974)
Runner up in Le Mans 24h - LMP1 class 2007.
Le Mans Series champion in the LMP1 class 2007.
Runner up in American Le Mans Series GT1 2006.
Third in Le Mans 24h - GT1 class 2005.
Runner up in Formula 3 France 1997.
French Formula Renault champion 1994.

Did one F1 race in 1999 for Minardi. Test driver for Prost.

Pedro Lamy, Portugal (born 1972)
Runner up in Le Mans 24h - LMP1 class 2007.
Le Mans Series champion in the LMP1 class 2007.
Runner up in Mil Milhas Brasil - GTP1 2006.
Le Mans Series champion in the LMGT1 class 2006.
Winner of the 6 Hours of Vallelunga 2006.
Winner of the 24 hours of N?rburgring Nordschleife 2005.
Winner of the 24 hours of N?rburgring Nordschleife 2004.
Le Mans Endurance Series champion in the GTS class 2004.
German V8Star champion 2003.
Winner of the Spa 24 Hours in the G2 class 2003.
Winner of the 24h N?rburgring in the A8 class 2002.
Third in Le Mans 24h - LMP 900 class 2001.
Winner of the 24h N?rburgring in the A7 class 2001.
Runner up in Le Mans 24h - GT2 class 1998.
FIA GT champion in the GT2 class 1998.
Third in Le Mans 24h - GT1 class 1997.
Runner up in Formula 3000 International 1993.
German Formula 3 champion 1992.
Masters of Formula 3 winner 1992.
Runner up in Formula 3 Macau GP 1992.
European Formula Opel Lotus champion 1991.
Winner of the Formula Opel Lotus Nations Cup 1991.
Winner of the Formula Opel Lotus Nations Cup 1990.
Portugese Formula Ford champion 1989.

Raced in Formula 1 for Lotus and Minardi 1993-1996.

Nicolas Minassian, France (born 1973)
Third in Le Mans Series LMP1 2007.
ASCAR champion 2002.
Runner up in Formula 3000 International 2000.
Runner up in Formula 3 Britain 1997.
Runner up in Formula 3 France 1995.

Raced six races for Chip Ganassi in CART in 2001 and also raced in the Indy 500 that year.

Ricardo Zonta, Brazil (born 1976)
Formula Nissan World Series champion 2002.
FIA GT champion class GT1 1998.
International Formula 3000 champion 1997.
South American Formula 3 champion 1995.
Brazilian Formula 3 champion 1995.

Raced in Formula 1 for B.A.R. and Jordan 1999-2001.
Test driver for Toyota F1 2004-2006 (raced in 6 races as well).
Test driver for Renault F1 2007.