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From speedarena.com Event Features Over the last two years, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been dominated by Audi, the image of a silver Audi taking the checkered flag almost seems routine after the blitzkriegs in 2000 and 2001 by the silver arrows from Ingolstadt. Yet 2002 promises to add a little bit of spice to what has seemingly become standard Audi photo finish material. Unlike the last two years where the only serious threat to Audi was the question of whether or not they would have enough spare gearboxes, the amount of quality contenders that have stepped up to the plate to challenge Audi look to make the 70th edition of the worlds greatest sportscar race one for the books. Even though question marks surround the MGs and the Dallara/Judds not over their pace but rather their endurance, they have both shown themselves to be fast. After the monsoon in 2001, another big question will be the weather, the race was run almost entirely in the rain in 2001, making the challenge facing the teams, cars and drivers that much harder.
LMP900 & GTP The Le Mans Prototype 900 (LMP900) is the premier class at Le Mans. Audi has certainly proven itself to be the class of LMP900 and the entire field over the last two seasons, combing speed, ruggedness and exquisite preparation to blitz the field at every major endurance race since Sebring 2000. For 2002 though, their looks to be a bit stiffer competition for the Audi freight train, namely the Dallara/Judds of Oreca Racing and the Bentley Speed 8 GTP. The only Grand Touring Prototype (LMGTP) in the race this year will be the number 8 Bentley Speed 8, which after an impressive 3rd in the 2001 race Bentley will be concentrating on running one entry in 2002 for an even higher podium spot. The Bentley will be using an all new 4 liter engine, which should give them the power to challenge the front running Audis even harder in 2002. The number 12 Oreca Dallara/Judd set the second fastest overall lap time during the Le Mans test day, showing that the Dallara/Judd package has the raw speed necessary to fight the Audis. Other cars that should not be counted out are the Dome/Judds of Kondo Racing and Racing for Holland, R&S MkIIIC/Elan of Jim Matthews Racing, the revised for 2002 Panoz LMP01s, the Courage/Judd of Pescarolo Sport and the all new for 2002 Cadillac LMP02s. The biggest question surrounding the Judd powered cars is engine life. Up until the 2002 24 hours of Daytona, a Judd engine had not won a race that lasted 10 hours or longer. With Doran Racing’s fabulous win at Daytona in their Dallara/Judd, and with a trouble free run from an Ascari/Judd at Sebring the question of whether or not the Judd engine can last has been muted somewhat, yet the Judd engine does remain somewhat a question mark at a track with a three mile long straight. The R&S/Elan of Jim Matthews Racing, with a second at Daytona and third at Sebring has proven to be the most reliable sportscar so far this season. While the R&S does not have the blistering pace of the Dallara/Judds or the Bentley, it has a proven engine in the Elan V8 and reliable chassis, two very important keys in a test of endurance. So often in endurance racing out right speed is taken a bit too seriously, yet the old adage to finish first you must first finish still applies.
LMP675 In the Le Mans Prototype 676 (LMP675) class, there are obviously two separate levels of competition, the MGs and everyone else. What is so special about the MGs, is that a car that isn’t one of the LMP900 big dogs just could be leading the race after the first hour. While the MG could be leading after the first hour, it is also a serious contender for overall honors as well if it can last the 24 hour distance. The 675 kilogram class was created to allow cars on smaller budgets to compete with the bigger and more expensive 900 kilogram cars, the theory behind the 675 class is that a lighter weight car will use less fuel, and require fewer pitstops over the course of the race, negating any small speed difference it may lack. While the svelte little MG is certainly the shining example of the 675 classes potential for speed, the MG does have the reliability cloud hanging over it. In 2001 the MGs were quick, but they also broke, leaving the slower and more reliable Reynard/Lehmann of ROC to pick up the class honors. If the MGs bow out again from mechanical failure, the 675 class could be the most wide open class. With the Reynard/Lehmanns of ROC and Noel del Bello, WR/Peugeot of Welter Racing and the AutoExe/Mazda all running so closely at Sebring, the race in the LMP675 class could be very interesting if the MGs run into problems.
LMGTS Possibly the most anticipated class this year at Le Mans will be the GTS class. With the addition of the Ferrari 550 Maranello of Prodrive and newly revised Vipers, the level of competition for the stalwart Corvettes has certainly risen over 2001. No longer will the only challenge come from the fast but somewhat fragile, and recently neutered Saleens, but the Ferrari 550 Maranello of Prodrive ran a full four seconds quicker during the test day, throwing down the gauntlet to the Corvettes and Vipers on outright speed. The revised Vipers of Larbre Competition, Carsport Holland, and Equipe de France are also not to be discounted in this years race. Although 2001 was a bit of a down year for the Viper entries compared to the Corvettes and Saleens, the Larbre Competition Viper set the second fastest time during the test day on May 5, and the Vipers look set to return with a vengeance this year. The Equipe de France Viper is being supported by the snake charmers at Oreca, the undisputed masters of making the Viper both fast and reliable. Between the Larbre Viper and the number 66 Konrad Motorsport Saleen there was only 6 seconds separating three Vipers, two Corvettes and one Saleen. This was in qualifying trim, and once the drivers settle down and get the cars into a race rhythm, GTS is shaping up to be a 24 hour dog fight between 7 cars. Again, the only question will be if the Saleens and Ferrari will hold together, or leave the fight between the slightly slower Vipers and Corvettes.
LMGT The GT class will be an interesting class to keep an eye on this year. Notably are the addition of the new for 2002 Spyker C8 Double 12 and the Morgan Aero 8 to the bevy of Porsche GT3 RSs and the Ferrari Modenas. While a Porsche win in GT seems to be but a mere formality considering how refined they have become over the last few years. The closest non Porsche to the front running Racer’s Group Porsche at the test days was the number 70 JMB Racing Ferrari Modena, and it was over three and half second slower than The Racer’s Group car. The enigmas are the two new cars, namely the Morgan. Running only eleven laps during the test day, and being over 30 seconds clear of the class leading Porsche, one must wonder why the untested Morgan was chosen from the many other potential entries. Granted the Morgan isn’t just another Porsche, but then again it isn’t a Callaway either. The Spyker was a bit of a question mark coming into the test day, having a lackluster debut at Sebring with reliability and speed issues. It’s sixth fastest time at the test days quelled the questions over the cars speed, but the question over reliability still looms large. No other form of racing offers the amount of diversity and drama that sportscar racing offers. The unique format of a race that has four different races within itself at the same time happens in no other form of motorsport on earth besides sportscars. This year marks the 70th edition of Le Mans, and looks to add another colorful chapter that is the history of Le Mans. From it’s humble beginnings in 1923 to one of the most important motorsport events on the calendar, Le Mans has a unique quality that only a 24 hour race can have. Le Mans is not a race about pure speed, but about survival. Every facet of the team, car and drivers must be honed to the n’th degree in order to win Le Mans, as evident by Audi’s three minute gearbox change. In what promises to be one of the better Le Mans in recent memory, the 70th 24 Hours of Le Mans has one of the more diverse fields in recent memory too. In order to finish first, first you must finish. © Copyright
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