O 2008 regulations: Stability and opening
In 2008, all the races run under the Le Mans banner (Le Mans 24 Hours, American Le Mans Series in the USA, and the Le Mans Series in Europe) will have to comply with the new specifi cation defi ned by the ACO. Stability and opening are the key words of the 2008 technical regulations:
• LM P1: minimum weight: 900 kgs, increase of 3% in the diameter of air restrictors for petrol-engined cars.
• LM P2: a weight increase of 50 kgs (min weight: 825 kgs), fuel tank capacity reduced from 90 to 80 litres.
• LM P1 and LM P2: series production engines allowed: bio fuel authorised: petrol made up of 10% ethanol, and bio diesel (BTL).
• LM GT1 and LM GT2: same regulations as in 2007.
O 3m 30s lap barrier
For safety reasons the ACO is thinking about reducing the LM P1 and LM P2 prototypes’ performances to prevent them from lapping the 13,629-km circuit in under 3m 30s.
Discussions with the teams will begin in 2008 with the aim of introducing such measures in 2009 or 2010. The main modifications will involve bodywork, wings and air restrictors.
O Bugatti circuit’s length change
The Garage Vert corner has been completely revamped for 2008 : the run-off areas have been enlarged, a new spectator enclosure installed as well as a new spectators’ entrance only a stone’s throw from the Le Mans tramway terminus.
The length of the Garage Vert corner has increased by 4,72 m and the Bugatti circuit now measures 4,185 kms.
O 2008 24 Hours: start from space !
The start of the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours will be an innovation as it will celebrate the centenary of the first flight of a plane in Europe on the site of Les Hunaudières - today better known for its straight.
French astronaut Jean-Louis Chrétien, American astronaut Mark Brown and Russian cosmonaut Vladimir Titov will roll down the pits straight in a Léon-Bollée towing a model of the 1908 aircraft.
They will then wave the French flag to give the start in liaison with the residents of the International Orbiting Station (ISS) who will do the same thing 400 kms above the spectators!
O Le Mans 24 Hours Moto: factory battle
The 31st Le Mans 24 Hours for Motorcycles is part of the Endurance World Championship, and will be run on the new Bugatti circuit layout following the revamp of the Garage Vert corner. It will see an allout factory battle.
In addition to Suzuki, the reigning world champion, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Honda and newcomer BMW will be mixing it with the leaders. Another 2008 change is the suppression of the Superbike: motorcycles will be entered in Superproduction, Superstock or Open categories.
O ALMS: 10th anniversary
In 2008, the American Le Mans Series Championship will celebrate its tenth anniversary, and will welcome a new competitor from this side of the Atlantic: Peugeot with its 908 HDi FAP for the Sebring 12-Hour race.
The championship looks like being even more closely fought than ever, and major upsets cannot be ruled out! There are 12 events on the 2008 calendar:
Sebring (15th March), St Petersburg (5th April), Long Beach (19th April), Houston (26th April), Salt Lake City (18th May), Lime Rock (12th July), Mid-Ohio (19th July), Road America (9th August), Mosport (24th August), Detroit (31st August), Road Atlanta (4th October) and Laguna Seca (18th October).
In 2007, the Audi R10 TDI won the LM P1 category for the second year running. In LM P2, Porsche triumphed and in LM GT1 and LM GT2 Corvette and Ferrari won their respective categories.
Website: www.americanlemans.com
O Le Mans Series: exceptional vintage with Audi
The 2007 season was a hotly-contested one as not until the final round did the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP win the LM P1 title. The 2008 Le Mans Series Championship will see an even more thrilling battle with more potential victory contenders than ever before.
First of all, Oreca, which has become Oreca-Courage and changed from GT1 to LM P1, and above all Audi. For the first time the German company has entered a brace of works R10 TDIs in the championship.
Audi’s involvement in the European races is symbolised by its four drivers who share nationalities with 3 of the 5 circuits hosting races: Mike Rockenfeller (Germany), Allan McNish (Scotland), Dindo Capello (Italy) plus Frenchman Alexandre Prémat.
This will guarantee a suspense-filled series made up of five 1000-km races: Catalonia (6th April), Monza (27th April), Spa-Francorchamps (11th May), Nürburgring (17th August), Silverstone (14th September).
Website: www.lemans-series.com
. ACO.- Patrick Chaillou. Photo credits: ACO/NIKON (www.lemansphotos.com),
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