Le Mans 24-Hours * First Qualifying Session
Zytek gave notice of intent during yesterday’s qualifying session for the 2008 Le Mans 24-hour race. Following the first, two-hour session, the 07S of the Barazi-Epsilon team was fastest in class by over a second. By midnight, after the second session, it was still an impressive third, despite not having been able to make best use of qualifying tyres.
32 Barazi-Epsilon Zytek-Zytek 07S (Juan Barazi/Michael Vergers/Stuart Moseley)
Michael Vergers 3m 35.344 (3rd in LMP2)
"We were very pleased with the first session despite the fact that we didn’t used qualifying tyres," remarked Michael Vergers. "I had a clear lap when I set the fastest time and the 07S felt really nice. I am very happy with it * as ever. There was a lot of traffic in the second session and, just as we decided to go out on the qualifiers, a red flag came out."
"Everything is going according to plan," said team owner and fellow driver Juan Barazi. "We’ve got the right vibes." Juan and Stuart Moseley concentrated on putting in some mileage under night-time conditions, leaving Michael to set the quickest laps. "We reckon we can keep the pressure up on the Porsches," said the Dutchman. The team plans to install a new engine today prior to the second pair of qualifying sessions.
41 Trading Performance Zytek-Zytek 07 (Karim Ojjeh/Claude-Yves Gosselin/Adam Sharpe)
Karim Ojjeh 3m 46.773s (9th in LMP2)
"Everything we planned has been carried out," said Luc Andre, team manager for Trading Performance, which is making its Le Mans debut. "Our schedule for the day is complete. We are not worrying about laps times today and are very happy that our testing has been completed successfully."
Echoing Michael Verger’s enthusiasm for the Zytek 07S, Karim Ojjeh, who set the team’s fastest laps, happily observed, "the Zytek is good."
45 Embassy-Zytek (Warren Hughes/Jonny Kane/Joey Foster)
Jonny Kane 3m 39.924s (5th in LMP2)
"Everything has run pretty well this evening," said Embassy driver Jonny Kane. "We are quite pleased with P5 considering this is the first time that the Zytek-engined Embassy has competed at Le Mans. I think it’s as good as we could have hoped for at this stage.
We tried different mapping and less traction control for our qualifying laps and both seemed to work well." The team also plans to install a new ZG348 engine before the second day’s qualifying session and use the time to put some mileage on that.
- Ian Wagstaff -
Dixième temps au général pour Primat, Tinseau et Tréluyer lors de la 1ère séance qualificative
12.06.2008
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La Pescarolo 01-Judd n°17 d’Harold Primat, Christophe Tinseau et Benoît Tréluyer signait le dixième meilleur temps du classement général et le quatrième des voitures « essence » mercredi lors de la première séance qualificative des 24 Heures du Mans.
Le meilleur temps de 3’30’’618 était plus rapide de 3’’3 que celui établi lors des récents essais préliminaires, et non lo ... mehr |
Three Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs on top at Le Mans
12.06.2008
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LE MANS 24 HOURS Qualifying practice 1
The 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours kicked off this evening with the first of the week's two qualifying sessions, and the three Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs were immediately on the pace to collect the top three places on the provisional grid. Stéphane Sarrazin was the fastest man on the track today, posting a blistering 3m 18.513s for Team Peug ... mehr |
Audi konzentriert sich auf Rennvorbereitung
12.06.2008
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- Erstes Qualifying für die 24 Stunden von Le Mans
- Audi R10 TDI vorläufig auf den Plätzen vier, fünf und sechs
- Reifentests und gute Abstimmung wichtiger als Rundenzeiten
- Das Audi Sport Team Joest hat sich während d ... mehr |
Corvette Racing First and Second in Provisional GT1 Qualifying for 24 Hours of Le Mans
12.06.2008
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Magnussen and Gavin Set Fast Times in First Four-Hour Qualifying Session
With the possibility of rain tomorrow, there was a sense of urgency when tonight's first four-hour qualifying session for the 24 Hours of Le Mans began. When qualifying concluded shortly before midnight, Corvette Racing was first and second in provisional GT1 qualifying. Jan Magnussen turned ... mehr |
Interview: So bereitet sich Michelin auf die „24 Stunden von Le Mans" vor
12.06.2008
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„Le Mans ist für uns ein Heimspiel - und das wollen wir gewinnen"
Nur noch wenige Tage bleiben bis zum Start des wohl berühmtesten Autorennens der Welt, den „24 Stunden von Le Mans". Für Michelin - Reifenpartner der top-favorisierten Werksteams von Audi und Peugeot - ist der Langstreckenklassiker zugleich Herausforderung, Heimspiel und Herzenssache.
Motorsp ... mehr |
RISI's memories of Le Mans
12.06.2008
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Mika Salo's first Le Mans in 2003 wasn't a fond memory. The Audi R8 he was to drive ran out of fuel before he turned a lap. Photo: Regis Lefebure
Mika Salo has made more than 100 starts in Formula 1, owns 11 American Le Mans Series victories and won the 2007 Series GT2 championship with Jaime Melo. Eric van de Poele is one of sports car racing's mo ... mehr |
Peugeot "all powerful" at the end of first day of qualifying
12.06.2008
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With the first part of qualifying now complete the Peugeots are definitely easily the fastest cars out there. They have totally dominated this session by showing astounding ‘out and out’ speed. To knock a few hundredths of a second off the fastest lap time is an achievement but to demolish the current lap record by 7.8 secs is amazing. The fastest of them all was the #8 Team Peug ... mehr |
Second session of the first night of qualifying
12.06.2008
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Wednesday 11 June 2008 - 22h35 The second session of the first night of qualifying
As it gets dark the teams will be setting about making various changes to the set up of their cars. The tyre compounds will be different to cope with the cooler track and possibly the teams will try a harder compound that will allow the cars to do ‘double stints’ during the n ... mehr |
Summary of First Qualifying Session…
12.06.2008
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In brilliant sun and with well nigh perfect conditions we have just seen one of the most spectacular qualifying sessions for many years. It was always going to be a fierce Peugeot .v. Audi battle but so far tonight it has been a walk-over for the Peugeots! It is one thing to break the existing lap record but to break it by a staggering 7.8 seconds is a major step forward in every ... mehr |
Qualifying Notes from Le Mans
12.06.2008
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19h10 Good start for Peugeot and Sarrazin
Stephane Sarrazin driving the Peugeot #8 is making a first lap record of 3’25 at the second lap only and then 3’23 after an amazing third one!
19h30 The Dome #11 in the pit after four laps
The Dome #11 of Daïsuke Ito is stopping a the pit after four laps because of brea ... mehr |
Le Mans Notebook: Home Race for Michelin
11.06.2008
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Flying Lizard's Porsche in GT2 is one of nine Michelin-shod American Le Mans Series entries at Le Mans. Photo: Regis Lefebure
As dominant as Michelin has been in the American Le Mans Series since 1999, the French tire manufacturer's record at the 2 ... mehr |
The Lucchini (Racing Box n° 30) not allowed to take part in practice.
11.06.2008
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The Stewards of the Meeting have taken the decision not to allow the Racing Box’s Lucchini-Judd to take part in practice at the end of the second day’s scrutineering.
This car had already taken part in the test day on 1ST June after the constructor supplied the ACO (30th Ma ... mehr |
Frank Biela, #1 Audi R10, intends to defend his title.
11.06.2008
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While Dr. Ullrich estimates that Peugeot’s chances for winning the 2008 Le Mans 24 hours stand at 49%, the trio Werner-Pirro-Biela, winners of the two last runnings, are confident enough to defend their title this year. Frank Biela, one of the cornerstones of Audi Sport, explains:
... mehr |
Les vérifications sont terminées, place à la piste et aux essais qualificatifs.
11.06.2008
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24h LE MANS 2008
Rendez-vous aujourd'hui dès 19 heures pour la première partie des premiers essais qualificatifs.
Le soleil est annoncé pour cette première soirée d’essais chronométrés qui devrait se dérouler dans son intégralité sur une piste sèche.
Les ténors de chaque catégorie tenteront de placer quelques chronos significatifs dès mercred ... mehr |
Van Merksteijn Motorsport getting ready for Le Mans 24 Hours
11.06.2008
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By passing technical scrutineering, traditionally at the "Place des Jacobins" in front of the cathedral in the historic city centre of Le Mans, the team Van Merksteijn Motorsport by Equipe Verschuur has made the final step for its participation in the 76th running of the Le Mans 24 Ho ... mehr |
The charm of Le Mans in the eve's statements of Paolo Ruberti
11.06.2008
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An unusually emotional Paolo Ruberti is about to get on track, tomorrow, in the first of the four qualifying sessions that will determine the starting grid of the 2008 edition of the 24h of Le Mans.
"The emotion of being here is really beyond description" commented the driver from Legnago (Verona).
"This is my first participation to the most famous race in the w ... mehr |
Stefan Mücke zum zweiten Mal bei den 24 Stunden von Le Mans dabei
11.06.2008
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– Berliner will beim größten und berühmtesten Rennen der Welt in die Top Fünf
– Qualifying am Mittwoch und Donnerstag
Den ersten Teil der großen Show im Stadtzentrum von Le Mans hat Sportwagen-Pilot Stefan Mücke bereits mit viel Vorfreude genossen. „Bei der Abnahme der Fahrzeuge haben sich schon zehntausende Fans gedrängt. ... mehr |
Corvette Racing Aims for Sixth GT1 Title in 24 Hours of Le Mans
11.06.2008
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Corvette Racing Faces Formidable Challenge in Classic Endurance Race
... mehr |
Audi Team bereit für die 24 Stunden von Le Mans
10.06.2008
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- Tausende von Fans bei der Technischen Abnahme
- Alexandre Prémat mit speziellem Helmdesign
- Frösche als Glücksbringer für Emanuele Pirro
Tausende von Zuschauern verfolgten am Dienstag im Stadtzentrum von Le Mans die Technische Abnahme der drei Audi R10 TD ... mehr |
Their frst Le Mans: AUTOCON Motorsports
10.06.2008
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Willman: "The thing that makes you want to drive in it ... is the drive down Mulsanne, then Mulsanne to Indianapolis." Photo: Regis Lefebure
This is the first race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Autocon Motorsports but not the first for Bryan Willman and Chris Mc ... mehr |
AUDI VS. PEUGEOT - the headline again at Le Mans
10.06.2008
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Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner have won the last two races at Le Mans for Audi. Photo: Regis Lefebure
There's little doubt that Audi will face the biggest challenge of its Le Mans career this week. Just ask anyone involved with Audi Sport, and they will c ... mehr |
Virgo Motorsport prepared for Le Mans debut
10.06.2008
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The reigning Le Mans Series GT2 champions, Virgo Motorsport, head to France today for the Le Mans 24 Hour race, the first time that the team has taken on this ultimate sportscar endurance challenge. With an experienced driver line-up of Rob Bell, Tim Sugden and Tim Mullen, the team is hoping to be one of the class front-runners this weekend.
Jim McWhirter, Team Pri ... mehr |
Michelin Vorschau: Die „24 Stunden von Le Mans"
10.06.2008
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Michelin an der Sarthe erneut auf Erfolgskurs
Martyrium für Mensch und Maschine
Favoriten vertrauen auf Michelin
Michelin an der Sarthe erneut auf Erfolgskurs
Eine lebende Legende: Kaum eine Motorsportve ... mehr |
Rob Bell – Insight into the magic of Le Mans
10.06.2008
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Rob Bell returns to tackle the Le Mans 24 Hours race for the second time in his career. Driving with Virgo Motorsport, and the team’s debut at this eponymous event, he gives us the lowdown on the week ahead.
Q. What did you gain from the Le Mans test last week?
It was good to go and do a system check, check the aero balance which is importa ... mehr |
Porsche-Motorsportchef Hartmut Kristen: „Ein Klassensieg in Le Mans ist ein großer Erfolg"
10.06.2008
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24 Stunden von Le Mans, Interview mit Porsche-Motorsportchef Hartmut Kristen
Nach seinen Erfolgen in der American Le Mans Series und der Le Mans Series steht der Porsche RS Spyder vor einer neuen großen Herausforderung: Der in Weissach entwickelte und gebaute Sportprototyp starte ... mehr |
Their first Le Mans: Corvette Racing
09.06.2008
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Olivier Beretta has recorded five class wins at Le Mans since 1999. Photo: Regis Lefebure
... mehr |
24 Hours of Le Mans Weekend Notebook
08.06.2008
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Although it is fielding one car at Le Mans instead of three in the US, the workload doesn't change much for Flying Lizard. Photo: Regis Lefebure
It's not as easy as just one car at Le Mans compared to three in the American Le Mans Series for Flying Lizard Motorsport ... mehr |
Le pilote genevois Harold Primat espère une double victoire Suisse !
07.06.2008
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Harold Primat espère lever son verre en l’honneur d’un double succès Suisse en fin de semaine. Le genevois qui dispute ses quatrièmes 24 Heures du Mans consécutives souhaite célébrer un podium Suisse au terme de la plus fameuse épreuve de sport automobile du monde et une qualification de la Suisse en quart de finale de l’Euro 2008.
Primat, qui pilote pour l’écurie de poin ... mehr |
Corsa's Le Mans contigent grows stronger
07.06.2008
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Corsa Motorsports owner Steve Pruitt will be at Le Mans along with drivers Gunnar Jeannette ,Johnny Mowlem and Ralf Kelleners.
As it turns out, Corsa Motorsports is at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this season...just not all together. Its three drivers - Gunnar Jeannette, Johnny Mowlem and Ralf Kelleners - all have their own rides at the world's greate ... mehr |
