Le Mans NEWS Archive

11/3/99-6/15/01

June 27,2002 Ascari To Concentrate On Road Car

Klaas Zwart, Chairman of Banbury-based Ascari Cars, announced today that the company will, for the rest of the year, be concentrating the majority of its energies on its exciting Ascari KZ1 supercar project. The company's racing division, Team Ascari, will continue to field cars in the NDS EuroBOSS Series - which it has dominated - and develop the sports-prototype Ascari-Judd KZR1, although future races for these cars have yet to be identified.

Ascari are currently conducting exhaustive tests on the 500bhp V8 powered, carbon-fibre chassised KZ1 with a view to going into production in 2003. The company already has advanced orders and is hoping that its presence at October's International Motor Show in Birmingham will further boost sales.

Commented Zwart, "The sportscar racing programme has focussed attention on, and given credibility to, the Ascari brand. Many of the lessons learned have translated onto the road car. Now is the time to concentrate on every aspect of the road car, not just the car itself, but sales and service support."

"We believe there is a market for a supercar that embraces the very latest motor sport technology including a carbon composite chassis but is also the height of luxury, styling and sophistication."

"We will continue to race our Formula 1 cars in the NDS EuroBOSS Series and hope to score many more 1-2-3 results, but I have had to slim down the sportscar programme. I'd like to praise Team Ascari Race Director Ian Dawson, the drivers and everyone else involved."

Last year Ascari took on the established names of sportscar racing and won the FIA Sports Car Championship round at Donington Park. This year Werner Lupberger put the car on the front row at the Daytona 24 Hours. At the Sebring 12 Hours, Ben Collins, Justin Wilson and Christian Vann finished sixth overall. This was the second best ever result by an all-British crew in an all-British car in the 50 year history of the tough Florida classic.

Dutch-born businessman Zwart has recently combined the road and racing divisions of Ascari under the same roof in a brand new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Banbury, Oxfordshire. As the car moves into production a number of new jobs will be created.

June 19,2002 Drawing Of Piper PO1 LMP900

London based Piper Design, a leading British design engineering company, is currently developing its PO1 LMP900 Sportscar with the aim of competing in next year’s Le Mans 24 Hour race.

The picture shows a design drawing of the new racer. This Le Mans Prototype Sportscar will incorporate the latest technologies and advanced engineering techniques in its construction. The aerodynamic developments have been extensively tested to maximise the performance potential of the car and the overall package is expected to be a strong challenger for the 2003 event.

June 14,2002 Dalmas Speaks About Crash

Audi driver Yannick Dalmas has spoken for the first time about his huge crash on Wednesday evening, during which his Team Goh-run Audi R8 became airborne but did not flip over, as was rumoured around the paddock over the last 24 hours.

Dalmas's crash, which occurred on the Mulsanne straight, has been the most talked about story of the Le Mans 24 Hours event so far. His crash follows a recent FIA report, acknowledging the fact that the current breed of flat-bottomed sportscar can leave the ground and, in some instances, overturn if they spin at high speed or encounter a high yaw and roll angle situation.

"I was full throttle and the car went sideways," said Dalmas. "The car only flew a little bit, maybe one metre [in the air]. I hit the barrier and spun once or twice, I don't know."

Audi's motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich has reiterated his opinion of the crash. He thinks the reason for the speculation over whether the car flipped over might have stemmed from the fact that the nose section flew into the air during the crash.

"Yannick said it didn't fly and the footage shows it didn't fly," he said. "I'm a bit annoyed at these suggestions to the contrary, because we've worked very hard to make a car that is safe."

The root cause of the crash was due to the loss of the right rear wing endplate, which is thought to have been due to the car hitting some debris on the track.

June 13,2002 Oreca Wednesday Qualifying Report

PlayStation team ORECA has qualified its two Dallara Judd Le Mans Prototypes in sixth and seventh positions overall on the provisional grid, with another four hours of qualifying still to come on Thursday evening. The team's FFSA Chrysler Viper GTS R/T is provisionally third in the GTS category, with a sub-four minute time set by Jean-Philippe Belloc.

Says PlayStation Team ORECA principal Hugues de Chaunac: " We lost some time in the first session (7 - 9 pm) in setting up the two Dallaras, as we did not at first find the same set-up as we reached during the test day last month. Everything was fine for the second session (10 pm to midnight) and the best times were set by Stephane Sarrazin and Olivier Beretta. Our Chrysler Viper is working very well, and we have our sights on our fourth victory in the GTS category."

Stephane Sarrazin, who share the number 14 Dallara with Franck Montagny and Nicolas Minassian, comments: "This is a very quick car, and we have worked hard on reaching the ideal race set-up."

The two Dallaras, in fact, set the fastest straight-line speeds overall, Olivier Beretta's timed at 320 km/h before the first chicane and Sarrazin's at 318 km/h. Erik Comas, who drives with Beretta and Pedro Lamy, makes his PlayStation Team ORECA debut in the Dallara, and revels in the experience of handling the open Le Mans Prototype. "There is a bit of buffetting at top speed, but the car feels very stable. When I first tested the car at Dijon I did not have my own seat, but now I am perfectly comfortable in the car, and everything is working the way I like."

Jean-Philippe Belloc drives the FFSA Chrysler Viper with Jonathan Cochet and Benoit Treluyer, set the third quickest time in the GTS class. "We did not set out to set the fastest time in class, but to find an ideal race set-up."

Treluyer is making his Le Mans debut and is driving a Chrysler Viper for the fist time. "It is a steep learning curve, especially when I made my first laps in the dark, but I am learning quickly and I feel comfortable in the car", said the Frenchman, who makes a major conversion from the Formula Nippon series.

June 13,2002 GM Wednesday Qualifying Report

Team Cadillac and defending Le Mans GTS Champions, Corvette Racing, had a promising start to the 70th Le Mans 24 Hours in the first qualifying session tonight. Italian Max Angelelli qualified the Cadillac Northstar LMP 02 he shares with Wayne Taylor and Christophe Tinseau well inside the top ten overall, bettering their Open Test time by some five seconds. Briton Oliver Gavin put the Corvette C5-R on second place in the GTS class, just two tenths off provisional GTS pole.

"The Cadillac Northstar LMP 02 is a completely different car now," Angelelli said. "It is well balanced and smooth to drive and I'm sure I could have gone a lot faster without the traffic I encountered on my fastest lap." To prove his point, the sister car of Emmanuel Collard was third fastest through the speed trap, at 317kph. The second part of the first qualifying session was spent working on the fuel economy of the cars.

While the Corvettes were five seconds off the fastest GTS time at the Open Test in May, they now reduced the gap to just two tenths. "It looks like this GTS race is going to be very competitive," said Joe Negri, GM Racing Group Manager. "Our two Corvettes and the Vipers and the Ferrari are all running relatively close times. We really didn't get any very good qualifying laps in tonight because of the red flag at the end. At the start of practice the set up on either Corvette was not quite what we wanted but the crew got them tuned in and we were doing some good laps on long runs at the end. As a matter of fact, our quickest time of today in the No. 64 Corvette car on full tanks."

June 13,2002 Ascari Wednesday Qualifying Report

The Ascari KZR1-Judd of Ben Collins, Werner Lupberger and TJ Bell qualified 15th fastest overall during the first qualifying sessions, and the team is confident of improving that time during the two two-hour final qualifying sessions on Thursday night.

The team worked through a development programme during Wednesday's four hours of qualifying, recording a best time of 3m40.565s though South African Lupberger was denied the chance to go for a quick time by a red-flag at the end of the first two-hour session.

Bell worked through a tyre test during the night-time hours, gathering data on a new rear end that required changes to the set-up in the break.

Ben Collins, Driver, Team Ascari: "We have a new back-end on the car and we have not had a awful lot of time to set up the car on the Dunlop tyres. We made more changes than normal during the break, and we have found that we are lacking some straight-line speed. We are changing the car and will be quicker tomorrow."

Ian Dawson, Race Director, Team Ascari: "I was encouraged by the first day of qualifying and believe that a top-ten position is achievable. If Werner was out at the right time at the end of the first session, we feel as though there is a 3m38s lap in the car, which is where we would like to be." "We have put a further 380kms on the engine today which has now done in excess of 3000km and will change it tonight. It is by no means a fresh engine, and we also have to change the gear ratios for tomorrow. TJ did a night run for Dunlop on race tyres and we are pretty happy at the moment."

June 13,2002 MG Wednesday Qualifying Report

Car no 26 Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes, Jonny Kane:
Warren Hughes was the first driver in the seat of car 26 for the initial qualifying session of the 24 Heures Du Mans, 2002. With a time of the 3:42.835 the car finished 16th overall and 2nd in the LMP675 class. Jonny Kane was the only other driver in the car, which was withdrawn after part one of the session to allow for the engine to be repaired.

Warren Hughes: "It's disappointing as we really wanted to tackle qualifying this evening. It was nice to have the time I had in the car tonight and it was like learning a new circuit again. As I didn't get much dry running in the car last year it was great to get some laps in. It was starting to feel really good and I'm pleased with the lap times considering I missed the official test. We'll fix the engine overnight and I'm hoping to be quicker tomorrow to get a good grid position."

Jonny Kane: "I was trying to pass a car, he didn't see me and I had to break really hard. I down-shifted too early, trying to slow down, over revved the engine and damaged a valve. Unfortunately, it wasted track time for us but we'll be back tomorrow."

Car no 27 Mark Blundell, Julian Bailey, Kevin McGarrity :
Meanwhile, car 27 completed both parts of the first qualifying session and finished 5th overall and 1st in class with Mark Blundell setting the teams fastest lap time of 3:33.254. Mark Blundell: "Very happy and we've replicated our performance from pre-qualifying. We know there's more time in there. The car took some damage when a GT3 car caused me to use too much road but the team have done a tremendous job in putting the car back together."

Julian Bailey: "We're pleased with Mark's position and we haven't yet reached our full potential. The car's running really well and were in good shape so far."

Kevin McGarrity: "Our objective tonight was to take things easy but qualify the car for the race and that's exactly what we've done. We know we've got the potential to go faster and 5th position tonight is encouraging."

Commenting on completing the first qualifying session:
Hugh Chamberlain, team manager, CMS: "Obviously the target tonight was to qualify the drivers and the cars. Everything seems so simple but in reality its not. The guys have done a good job tonight. Car 27 and drivers qualified with 5 minutes to spare!"

Rob Oldaker, managing director, MG Sport & Racing: "Another strong performance from Mark has again reinforced the potential we demonstrated here in May. But, it's as much about endurance as it is speed, so we will have to wait and see what the weekend holds."

June 12,2002 Panoz Wednesday Qualifying Report

Panoz Motor Sports endured a tough start to qualifying for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, setting the 14th and 17th fastest times in tonight's opening session.

Both cars were delayed early in the evening with the #11 car suffering a dislodged brake duct and the #12 machine encountering gear selection problems.

David Brabham stopped the clock on his fastest lap at 3 minutes, 39.724 seconds while Bill Auberlen recorded a quick time of 3:42.038, despite twice being badly held up on qualifying runs.

"The car is suffering from a lack of overall grip at the moment, but the guys are working exceptionally hard at finding some solutions," Brabham.

"We are certainly not where we want to be, but there is another chance tomorrow night to find some more speed.

"When you make a change, sometimes you can find a fair bit of time because it is such a long lap around here.

"The big problem is always traffic, but that is what Le Mans is all about."

All six Panoz drivers were able to complete their required laps aboard the car, including the mandatory three laps in night conditions.

"I had a couple of attempts on Michelin qualifying tires, but both times I got held up quite badly," Auberlen said.

"That was a little disappointing, because the qualifying tire is really strong.

"We will put our heads down overnight and see if we can improve tomorrow night."

June 11,2002 MG Le Mans Preview

MG returns to Le Mans this weekend to challenge in the 24-Heures du Mans endurance race. Following an encouraging period of development and spurred on by results at the official test last month the team are looking to put in a positive performance.

The two MG Lola EX257 sports cars, designed and built by Lola Cars International, are entered in the LMP675 class - the lightest qualification group. They are powered by the MG XPOWER 2-litre, four-cylinder turbo unit which has been developed by racing engine specialists Advanced Engine Research (AER). Chamberlain Motorsport have been responsible for the testing schedule and will strive for the smooth running of both sports cars during the race. To complete the truly British package, there is an all-British driver line up - Kevin McGarrity, Jonny Kane and Anthony Reid (car 26) and Mark Blundell, Julian Bailey and Warren Hughes (car 27).

The cars will be clearly visible around the circuit in their distinctive green and XPOWER grey. This year also sees the vibrant flames of Hot Wheels Racing with additional support from Mobil 1, Michelin, Ramada Jarvis, MG Rover UK Dealers and St Modwen property developers.

Following fantastic support in 2001 for MG's return to Le Mans after a 36 year absence Rob Oldaker, managing director of MG Sport & Racing is looking forward to returning. He said: "The atmosphere we experienced last year at the Le Mans circuit was quite amazing. Since then we've undergone an extensive development and testing programme and feel confident of improving on last year's outing in terms of results and endurance. This year we are certainly more prepared and really can't wait."

Frank Dernie, chief engineer, Lola Cars International added: "Obviously we're a lot more optimistic than last year as we have some decent testing under our belt - everything has been running reliably. It would be great if we can fulfil the ACO's ambition to get a 675 on the podium."

Having more time to familiarise themselves with the car, the MG XPOWER drivers are looking forward to this year's race. They commented:

Kevin McGarrity "I can't wait to get back to Le Mans as I know what to expect after last year, both on and off the circuit, and can prepare myself accordingly. I'll be able to concentrate on the job at hand because the car has been going well in recent tests and reliability doesn't appear to be an issue."

Jonny Kane "I'm very upbeat about our chances at Le Mans this year. I think we have the overall package to produce and am hoping for an excellent result."

Anthony Reid "I'm going into Le Mans with a high degree of confidence. Testing has gone well and compared to this time last year I am much more optimistic about completing the distance. This is a great car to drive - it's very fast."

Mark Blundell "We're coming to Le Mans off the back of some very encouraging testing. There has been a vast improvement in durability, engine performance and also tyre wear - thanks to Michelin. I'm expecting a good end result in qualifying along with a much stronger showing in the race than last year - I'd like to see us up amongst the 900 cars!"

Julian Bailey "We're heading for Le Mans with a lot of enthusiasm and rightly so as we have shown our pace. Traffic on the circuit is always a problem in qualifying but I think that we'll be capable of running at the front. We'll be challenging!!"

Warren Hughes "The mood in the team is very upbeat following our recent tests. We are so much more prepared than this time last year. I think we can do something really special."

During the event the MG XPOWER team and its guests will be staying in the Ramada MG XPOWER Le Mans Hotel. The hotel, constructed in just 12 days, will accommodate up to 250 guests and will be fully branded and serviced to high standards by Ramada Jarvis.

June 10,2002 The Racers Group Le Mans Preview

The final preparations have been completed here in the United States as The Racer's Group left for France this past weekend to compete in the 70th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 15 and 16. The Racer's Group will now see if its setup, planning and preparations will stand up to the ultimate challenge of running the grueling 24 hour race. Kevin Buckler, who is the owner of the No. 81 GT Porsche and also co-driving with Porsche factory drivers Lucas Luhr and Timo Bernhard, is confident that the team is ready.

"We have been working non-stop for almost three months. I have to say so far that everything is nearly perfect. The team, crew, car, equipment; everything has been meticulously prepared. We are in a fantastic Porsche and on the best tires (Michelins) at Le Mans. The pre-qualifying session was flawless and ending up on the top of the time charts was exceptional. The team is getting on the plane with more conviction and fighting spirit than I have ever seen. We all know we can do this. Racing is a tough business and endurance racing can be especially cruel, but we are prepared to try to win this race. This is Le Mans and we will be relentless," stated Buckler.

June 10,2002 Ascari Le Mans Preview

Team Ascari's trio of International drivers will compete in this weekend's classic Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race with a much revised version of the all-British Ascari-Judd KZR1. Britain's Ben Collins, South African Werner Lupberger and America's TJ Bell will benefit from a complete revision of the car, from the engine backwards.

The modifications include a new transverse gearbox and new rear suspension which complement the revised aero package already tried on the car during the Le Mans test weekend. The package means the car is now 30Kgs lighter and will have to carry some ballast to bring it back to the 900Kgs minimum limit for the prototype category. Additionally, the gear change is faster and the team expect to be able to run less downforce thereby improving their top speed.

Still disappointed at receiving only one entry for Le Mans this year, Team Ascari demonstrated their ability to run a pair of cars - both in the revised specification - at the successful Snetterton test. The team will take the second car to Le Mans but in component form

Ian Dawson, Race Director, Team Ascari: "The changes to the car are very positive and, as I've said before, we're looking for a strong finish to prove we deserved that second entry. Obviously, beating the Audis will be difficult but we're looking for a top six finish and to be the best all-British car -- as we were at Sebring. Our trio of drivers are very strong and both Ben and Werner know the track well and TJ did an outstanding job at the test. I believe we will surprise a lot of people. The team have worked very hard and everyone is excited. Le Mans is the biggest race of the year with a special atmosphere. We'd like to see some of those union jacks waving for us, for a car that has a British chassis, engine, transmission and tyres."

June 8,2002 K&N President Mall In Konrad Saleen

Rodney Mall, President and CEO for K&N Engineering in Riverside, California is set to compete in the famed 24 hours of Le Mans in France. Mall will team up with Konrad Motorsports to campaign a Saleen S7 in the grueling race. Both Saleens that make up the two-car team will be outfitted with K&N Filters livery in addition to the colors of Konrad Motorsport's other sponsors.

Held June 15-16, Le Mans is regarded as one of the premier motorsports event in the world. Racing a Saleen S7 with Konrad Motorsports, Mall is fulfilling a life-long dream to race at Le Mans.

"I have been racing Grand-Am to build experience with the hopes of getting an invitation to drive at Le Mans," commented Mall. "When Konrad called with the opportunity I didn't have to think long. This truly is the chance of a lifetime. I will be bringing some of my Grand-Am crew with me - two of which helped build the first Saleens."

Racing a similarly-prepared Saleen, Mall and co driver Chris Bingham won the most recent Grand American GTS race at Phoenix International Raceway.

"Phoenix was my first time behind the wheel of the S7 and I felt completely at home. Though I haven't set my expectations too high, I hope to do well at Le Mans. I know I'll be racing against some of the best drivers in the world."

Mall also raced at the 24 hours of Daytona in February. Though the car experienced mechanical difficulties, the team gained valuable experience and they are looking forward to a great race at Le Mans.

June 7,2002 Johansson Steps Down, Lamy Replaces

After speaking with PlayStation Team Oreca and with the full blessing of the team, Stefan Johansson has decided against taking part in the 2002 Le Mans 24 Hours.

"I have decided to withdraw from this year¹s Le Mans race due to a combination of reasons", explained the Swedish driver who won the famous 24 Hours race in 1997.

"Le Mans is undoubtedly one of the best races in the world and it has been a very hard decision to make. I would like to point out that this has absolutely nothing to do with the team : Oreca is one of the most professional and successful teams I have ever worked with and they certainly stand a good chance of winning this year¹s race. This also does not mean that I am retiring from driving, I look forward to being back for some more races possibly this year and undoubtedly for next year. I would like to thank Oreca for being very understanding in this matter and I wish them best of success for the race".

Pierre Dieudonné, Sporting Director of PlayStation Team Oreca made the following comment :

"Of course, losing a driver of the calibre of Stefan is a blow, but we fully approve and respect his decision because we feel that it is the right one. Racing at Le Mans is an enormous commitment for a driver and we thank Stefan for being so honest about his feelings as it gave us time to react".

Stefan's place in the team will be filled by Pedro Lamy.

A happy Pedro Lamy returns to PlayStation Team ORECA where he will share the number 15 car with Olivier Beretta and Erik Comas. The Portuguese driver's relationship with the team stretches back to 1998 when he won the FIA GT Championship with Olivier Beretta. Last year he, Beretta and Karl Wendlinger, finished a fourth overall at the French endurance classic event.

June 7,2002 Short In Ferrari For Le Mans

Martin Short will make his debut at the Le Mans 24 Hours next weekend at the wheel of a Ferrari.

Short, who leads the GTO class in the British GT Championship, has lined up a drive with the JMB team to share a 360 N-GT car with fellow Brit Sam Hancock and American Cort Wagner.

"It has come about thank to one of my rivals in the British championship," explained the TVR ace. "We denied the Veloqx Motorsport team its first GT win at Silverstone, but the team principal Sam Li made a few phone calls on my behalf regarding driving a Ferrari 360 at Le Mans. Earlier today he rang to tell me that a drive was on!"

June 2,2002 Audi Le Mans Preview

After months of preparation, things are now getting serious: June 15, the Le Mans 24 Hours will be taking place for the 70th time - for Audi the most important race of the year. The French endurance classic attracts worldwide attention, last year, in excess of 2,500 media representatives and some 200,000 spectators visited the race track.

Audi has prepared itself for the season highlight as intensely as in previous years. A 30 hour endurance test at Magny-Cours in France, high-speed tests at the German manufacturer's proving ground and a two-day pit-stop practice near Ingolstadt - the near 100-member strong team, led by Head of Audi Sport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, has left nothing to chance in recent months in order to achieve their ambitious goal: a third consecutive victory in Le Mans.

In achieving this AUDI AG would add another important chapter to its successful motorsport history. To date only a handful of manufacturers have succeeded in winning Le Mans three times in a row enabling them to take home the historic trophy for good. Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro, the victorious trio for the past two years, could also be writing motorsport history on June 15-16: never before has the same driver line-up won at Le Mans three times in a row.

However, Rinaldo Capello, Johnny Herbert and Christian Pescatori in the Infineon Audi R8 with start number 2 want to prevent this. In their first joint effort, the Anglo-Italian trio won the 2002 Sebring 12 Hours. Moreover, "Dindo" Capello set the fastest lap time in the pre-event test on the slightly modified Le Mans track in May which is a little longer compared to last year.

A podium finish is also the goal of the all German-speaking Audi team: Philipp Peter and Marco Werner are Le Mans "rookies" while Michael Krumm has contested the race in the French Sarthe-region two times already.

Like the 1-2-3 result in 2000, the three silver Infineon Audi R8 sports cars have additional colours referring to the German flag: black (#3), red (#1) and yellow (#2). All three cars have been improved in detail and will be racing with a rear end that has been modified compared to last year, in order to achieve a better airflow around the rear wing, which proved effective during the pre-practice in May.

However, Audi expects to have the greatest advantage over the opposition with the FSI-technology, successfully used for the first time when Audi achieved a 1-2 result last year. Because of the better fuel consumption, up to two refuelling stops could be saved in normal conditions assuming the race length is around 5000 kms (3100 miles). Courtesy of the FSI-technology, also introduced on Audi's production models this year, the Infineon Audi R8 can complete almost one more lap of the 13.880 kms (8.62 miles) track on one tank of fuel. But the FSI-engine is not only more fuel-efficient, it also has more power, especially in the lower rev-ranges, a better throttle response and a higher maximum torque.

For Audi Sport Team Joest and customer team Audi Sport Japan Team Goh, that has entered one of last year's R8 cars, also featuring FSI-technology, for four-time Le Mans-winner Yannick Dalmas and Japanese duo Seiji Ara and Hiroki Katoh, Le Mans begins on Tuesday with technical scrutineering. Traditionally, the race will start on Saturday at 4 pm (CET).

Frank Biela (Infineon Audi R8#1): "Winning the Le Mans 24 Hours three times in a row would be a dream come true. I would rather not talk or think about it but it crosses my mind time and time again. Probably, I will never get a chance like this again. In the last two years, our performance was good and we also had a bit of luck which is necessary. Maybe that will stick for a third time. But for me, as an Audi man, the important thing is that an Audi wins. It's almost incidental which one. We have the task of claiming the third victory for Audi. In the past years, we were well prepared and this year, we are at least as well prepared. Le Mans is the most important race of the year. It puts everything else in the shade. For me, being successful again there is ten times more important than in any other race."

Tom Kristensen (Infineon Audi R8 #1): "Le Mans would not be Le Mans, when nothing unexpected occurs. Last year, it was the torrential rain; let's wait and see what awaits us this year. We just have to be prepared for everything and we are - car and drivers alike. I have won Le Mans twice in a row, but I don't want to think about that at all. Our goal is doing a good job. Of course, expectations are high, both from the team and from myself. In my home country Denmark, Le Mans is very popular. The entire race is shown live on television. And this year, there will be even more Danish fans among the spectators than last year. I am looking forward to Le Mans."

Emanuele Pirro (Infineon Audi R8 #1): "All preparations have been made to achieve a good result. But the fact that it worked so well for us in the past two years, doesn't mean that this will be the case again this year. We know that we cannot make any mistakes or have bad luck during the race. This year's car is very, very good. Dindo has shown this with his fastest time during the pre-practice in May. The test results have given us important information about the set-up of the car. I hope that it will remain dry because then we can show how big the fuel advantage of the FSI-engine is."

Rinaldo Capello (Infineon Audi R8 #2): "Fourth, third, second - when you look at the sequence of my Le Mans results, I hope for first place this time. But I also know that anything can happen in such a long race. Any of the four Audis can win but I hope that I am in the winning car this time and that the number two will be in front at the end. Being able to race at Le Mans is a great thing for a driver and doing so with the best car is a bonus. We, as drivers, are very well prepared. Only last week, we racked up hundreds of kilometres cycling during a fitness training camp in the Alsace. That was a good endurance test for Le Mans."

Johnny Herbert (Infineon Audi R8 #2): "Le Mans is the most important sportscar race of the year, winning is very valuable for a driver. My 1991 Le Mans victory was a little fortunate whereas this time I'm driving the best car. I joined the Audi works team for the Sebring 12 Hours and won the race, together with Dindo and Christian. During the pre-event test, we set the fastest time in the closing stages. It seems to be going well for us. But this race is unique, and we feel by no means safe. We will be facing strong opposition, not to mention our Audi team-mates. Anything can happen during a race that lasts 24 hours."

Christian Pescatori (Infineon Audi R8 #2): "I can hardly wait for the action to start. For me, Le Mans is the race of all races. Last year, I came second on my debut for Audi - this year we will do everything to go one better. I am optimistic that we will succeed. After all, Dindo, Johnny and I have already won the Sebring 12 Hours and Dindo was fastest at the pre-practice, so within the Audi camp, we are something like the favourites. I am very well prepared for Le Mans and I have clocked up a lot of mileage with the Infineon Audi R8, so I know the car much better than last year."

Michael Krumm (Infineon Audi R8 #3): "The work that Audi has done in past years is sensational. The Infineon Audi R8 is just perfect. As a new driver, you find your place ready and you can just concentrate on your job: driving without any mistakes and completing the quickest possible pit stops. All of us are very well prepared for the race, testing was positive and we are highly motivated. Now we only need a little bit of luck during the race."

Philipp Peter (Infineon Audi R8 #3): "It will be our goal to finish and, if possible, make it on the podium because we are still lacking some experience as far as the Le Mans 24 Hours is concerned. During the pre-practice, the traffic was especially difficult for me. I am looking forward to the race. The interest in Austria and in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, where I spend most of my time, is immense. The frenzy around this race is even bigger than I had expected."

Marco Werner (Infineon Audi R8 #3): "Although the expectations for us as drivers are obviously high, we are not putting too much pressure on ourselves. We don't say: 'We have to win!' although we should be able to do so with the Infineon Audi R8. If we don't have any problems, a podium finish would be realistic. It is our task to remain alert and not make any mistakes during the 24 hours. If we succeed in doing so, we should be among the front-runners. We are still lacking track knowledge, especially in the dark. We will make up for that in qualifying on Wednesday and Thursday. After the last test sessions in Le Castellet, I am very confident. I did very good lap times there. One shouldn't forget that I am changing from a Cup-car into the Infineon Audi R8. That is a major change indeed, like from a small private Cessna aircraft into an F16 jet-fighter!"

Reinhold Joest (Team Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "During the pre-practice, everything worked perfectly. We are ready for the race. Every year, Le Mans is a new challenge. One never knows what to expect. In the pre-practice, we got to know the new track layout and it really suited the Infineon Audi R8. It would be nice if everything worked out so well as in the previous years. But at Le Mans, no one can guarantee a victory, not even with such good preparation. We have done everything that could be done beforehand, now we just need that little bit of luck. Competing with three cars, like in 2000, puts more pressure on the team but offers us an additional chance. Achieving three Le Mans victories in a row would be sensational."

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Sport): "Our preparation for Le Mans has been as equally intense and detailed as in previous years. We have been walking the proven road and are just as focussed as ever and not dwelling on our successes. At the pre-practice in May, our cars worked very well as they did in Le Castellet where we did some detail work on the aerodynamics and the balance of the car on a track that is similarly as fast as Le Mans. We have carefully developed the successful Infineon Audi R8, we have a great team of drivers who are particularly motivated for this race. To achieve the historic victory at Le Mans, I also hope for some luck being able to run for 24 hours without unsolvable problems."

June 2,2002 Pamoz Le Mans Preview

Panoz Motor Sports is ready to launch its "Spirit of America" assault on the world's most famous and most gruelling motor race - the Le Mans 24 Hours.

This year will be the sixth assault on the event for the Braselton, Georgia, based outfit and the team enters the race in winning form - taking victory at the last round of the American Le Mans Series at Sears Point in California in May.

More than 12 tons of equipment has been air freighted from the US to France in preparation for the round-the-clock classic which commences at 4pm on Saturday, June 15.

The team's two unique front-engined Panoz LMP-01 Evo prototype machines have undergone intense development in 2002 with new front and rear aerodynamics, engine improvements and a new smaller and lighter gearbox introduced.

Panoz's working partnership with tire manufacturer Michelin has also produced significant speed gains for this year's event.

The Panoz driver line-up will include internationals David Brabham (Australia) and Jan Magnussen (Denmark) teaming up with American Bryan Herta in one car, and an all-American line-up of Bill Auberlen, David Donohue and Gunnar Jeannette in the second machine.

The team will present its cars for the traditional downtown Le Mans technical inspection on next Tuesday, before hitting the track for the first practice/qualifying session on Wednesday night. This year's Le Mans 24 Hours will again be televised throughout the US on Speed Channel.

DAVID BRABHAM : "Le Mans means everything to me. It motivates me, it totally consumes me at this time of year. It is what I think about all the time. "This year I really believe we have a very good chance for an excellent result. The improvements that we have made to the car are good and we have a very strong driver line-up. "The team is working exceptionally well and the win at Sears Point has really motivated everybody. We are entering this event in the the right frame of mind and you have to, because it is such a tough race. "It really is the biggest race in the world and the level of competition is just so intense. Quality cars, quality drivers and you have to go flat out for 24 hours - there is no holding back. This race is tough for everybody - the drivers, the engineers, the mechanics - the entire team. However, there is no more rewarding race place to achieve success."

JAN MAGNUSSEN: "This is certainly the biggest race of the year and the one that everybody would love to have in their record books, "The competition is incredibly fierce, but the secret is to ensure you spend as little time in the pits as possible. "Our guys have been working incredibly hard in the build-up to this year¹s race and I am really looking forward to it. Winning at Sears Point was a great plus for the team but we are under no illusions that Le Mans is going to be a whole lot tougher. "This is the race that really makes or breaks your year and I believe we are well prepared to really give it our best shot. I haven't had the best of luck at Le Mans in recent years, so hopefully things will start to turn our way."

BRYAN HERTA: "The entire experience is going to be fantastic. Before the pre-qualifying weekend, I had only ever seen it on television and to be out there on track and to go through some of those corners was brilliant. "But once you get past the initial thrill, it becomes just another race track and one which will play a key part in our year. "I was really glad to get the opportunity to go to pre-qual and learn the circuit so I am not going in cold for the race. I am really looking forward to the event because it will be something totally different from what I have done before. "The night racing at Sebring was fantastic and I can't wait to see what it is like at night at Le Mans. It may be awfully dark and harder to see, but I am interested to see what the challenge will be like."

BILL AUBERLEN: "Le Mans is one week of pure history - it is the biggest sportscar race in the world. The parade, the technical inspection downtown, the practice, the race -- everything has such a fantastic atmosphere. "It is also brilliant to drive at more than 200 mph down what are basically local roads in the French countryside. Only a couple of days before, these roads are open to the public, but as a race circuit it offers some of the best corners in the world - the best you would find at any race track. "Le Mans is always tough and with the level of competition, you always need luck on your side. The crew has the toughest job with an enormous workload and keeping awake for the 24 hours is very taxing. "From a driver's perspective, it is not as tough physically as Sebring because there are plenty of long straights, but mentally it is a unique challenge."

DAVID DONOHUE: "Le Mans is really an amazing place and I was really lucky to win there first time out in the GTS class in the Viper. I didn't really appreciate it at the time, or quite know how to celebrate. I now know this place is not always that easy. "In GTS, the drivers can only lose the race - team preparation is what will actually win the event. But in the prototype class, the drivers play a much more active role in your success. "For this race there is so much more pressure on every ingredient that goes into a race team. Preparation is extremely important because a 25 cent part can fail and bring down an entire multi-million dollar effort. "The circuit has everything a driver could ever want and you probably get the chance to get more seat time in the car here than the rest of the year put together. "This is the single biggest road race in the world and the one people will remember for the rest of year. If you can win, you will remember it for the rest of your life."

GUNNAR JEANNETTE : "This race really does mean everything to me because I grew up around sportscars. As a kid, I never had dreams of racing Formula 1 or the Indy 500 - Le Mans was what it was all about and to now get the opportunity to race a front-running prototype here is just an astounding experience. "The pre-qualifying weekend was just amazing. I have done plenty of laps in the car before, but to get out there at well over 200mph was just brilliant. "The team is extremely motivated to do well and as I am the least experienced guy on the driving squad, there is obviously a fair amount of pressure involved, but I am looking forward to it. "I will get the opportunity to learn a great deal from David and Bill and having driven GT cars at Le Mans for the past couple of years, I know what it is like for the slower cars to have a prototype come charging in on them. "24 hours is an extremely tough test but standing on the podium in GT last year was a fantastic experience and I would love to do it again in a prototype."

May 20,2002 Piper PO1 LMP900

Piper Design, a leading British design engineering company with a pedigree of Sportscar design and development, is set to enter Le Mans 2003 24 Hour race with a new prototype Sportscar.

Earlier this year Piper Design embarked on an initial concept project with International Racing Management (IRM), a company that planned to compete at this year’s event. A series of unforeseen circumstances at IRM led to the original plans not being taken forward and an opportunity for Piper Design to review the programme.

John Piper, Managing Director, Piper Design, explains, “Although our client was unable to pursue the development of the PO1 LMP900 Sportscar, we are committed to taking the project forward. We have invested a considerable amount of talent and resources into this new car and we are confident that it will be a significant and successful addition to the LMP900 grid. The groundwork has been done, the development programme has been identified, and we just need to create a commercial opportunity to complete it. There is interest from within the industry and we’re pursuing the options open to us. The most important factor is the product itself - we know that this Sportscar will be fast, reliable, practical and, above all, competitive.”

Piper Design has developed a Prototype design that uses the extensive expertise within the company. Founder, John Piper, is a respected designer with many Championship winning cars under his belt, including the Panoz GT1 Sportscar, Jaguar XJR14 Group C car, Le Mans Jaguar V12. Chief Designer, Nick Carpenter, has been involved with the successful Reynard Champ Cars, the 2KF Reynard Chrysler and the new 02S LMP675 Reynard Sportscar. Ben Woods, Aero Engineer, brings Formula 1 aerodynamics experience to the programme with his previous experience including work with the Minardi, Ferrari, Tyrrell and Prost F1 Grand Prix teams.

May 16,2002 MG Lola Spa Testing

The two MG Lola EX257’s made their way to Belgium this week for further testing prior to the Le Mans 24-hour race in June. The venue was Spa, one of the fastest Formula 1 circuits in the world.

The three-day test focused on a race simulation of a 24-hour running period to examine the endurance of components and particular attention to fuel consumption and aerodynamics. A mixed climate during the testing period proved beneficial to monitor the cars reactions in different weather conditions.

Commenting on the testing:
Car No. 26
Jonny Kane
This is the best testing that we’ve completed yet. The car ran without any major dramas, which enabled us to get the best from it. I’m very pleased and hoping it all goes well for the race.

The rear wing set-up for Warren Hughes was changed to assess the handling characteristics of the car.

Warren Hughes
The increase in down force did a tremendous amount to settle the car into a rhythm which was less aggressive on the tyres. It enabled me to settle myself back into the car and make the best of a sunny day on a fast track.

Anthony Reid
It was strange to be driving a touring car on Tuesday and a Le Mans car on Thursday and it took time for me to adjust. We made a series of small changes, which produced a quick and comfortable car. I also found that over a 30-lap stint we achieved a good consistency of lap times, which is so important for Le Mans. I feel more prepared for the race this year.

Car No. 27
Julian Bailey
We spent time in the car trying to find the right balance between speed and fuel consumption. The test was most notable for reliability and the absence of unplanned stops..

Mark Blundell
I was especially interested in the strategy surrounding the fuel consumption and have tried several driving techniques to assess the car. I’m delighted with the results.

During the test Mark was also informed that he had been elected to the board of the BRDC (British Racing Driving Club).

Kevin McGarrity
I decided on a different approach and drove the car as hard and fast as I could. I’m very pleased with the results and in particular the car’s mechanical reliability Hopefully this means we can get much more from it during the race this year.

May 5,2002 Ascari Pre-Q Report

British Team Ascari recorded the 15th fastest time of the day after eight hours of intensive testing at Le Mans' official practice day on Sunday. Werner Lupberger recorded the team's fastest lap in the Judd-powered KZR1 at 3m 39.589s (228.030 kph), despite not using qualifying tyres. No fewer than 52 cars took part in an incident free day in preparation for the famous 24 Hour race on June 15th and 16th.

Bristol's Ben Collins and Silverstone-based South African Werner Lupberger, were joined at the last minute by Nevada's T.J. Bell and all three drivers had long runs in the car which ran reliably throughout the eight hours.

Ian Dawson, Race Director, Team Ascari:
"This was a very satisfying day for us. We learned a lot about running on Dunlop tyres and had excellent reliability. All morning we were up in the top ten.

Although posting times was not our main priority I think we might have stayed in the top ten but this afternoon T.J. Bell had a small incident and afterwards we changed the nose. This upset the balance of the car.

I am particularly pleased with the drivers who were all closely matched. T.J., despite having never raced at Le Mans, was quick to get to grips with the circuit whilst our experienced pairing of Ben and Werner proved their worth throughout the day.

I was also pleased that the Ascari KZR1 finished in front of teams such as Cadillac."

The team were running on Dunlop tyres for the first time and with new rear bodywork. A new transverse gearbox and rear suspension modification are expected to be fitted to the car for the race although they were not used for the test.

The test day does not count towards the actual race but nevertheless over 20,000 spectators paid to watch the practising.

May 3,2002 Panoz Drivers Check Out New Turns

May 3,2002 Herta Excited About Le Mans

Panoz Motor Sports' Le Mans debutante Bryan Herta is eagerly awaiting the chance to get behind the wheel of the Panoz "Spirit of America" LMP900 car for pre-qualifying on Sunday after seeing the track for the first time today.

Herta joined team-mates David Brabham, Jan Magnussen, David Donohue, Bill Auberlen and Gunnar Jeannette in a tour of the circuit aboard one of the team's crew busses.

While today's lap was at a sedate 35mph, on Sunday Herta and his fellow Panoz drivers will reach speeds in excess of 215mph.

"I had a look at the track on a Playstation game back in the US, but nothing can prepare you for when you see it in the flesh," Herta said.

"I am really looking forward to getting in the car on Sunday, the high speed straights and series of fast corners are just brilliant.

"The circuit is absolutely fantastic - way better than what I was expecting. This is going to be a new experience for me and it was handy to do a slow lap of the track today and have some of the other guys give me a few tips about particular parts of the circuit."

Herta and his team-mates also had their first chance to take a look at the new section of the course which runs from the famous Le Mans landmark bridge down to the esses leading into Tertre Rouge.

Brabham was particularly impressed with the new changes which were installed to improve the corner leading onto the Bugatti circuit that is used for the French Motorcycle Grand Prix.

"I was certainly wondering what the new part was going to be like, but it looks like they have done a fantastic job," Brabham said.

"As you come under the bridge you are now immediately turning to the left and the new section looks like it will flow really well.

"We won't know for sure what it is like until we run on Sunday, but I think it is really a great addition to the circuit."

The Panoz LMP-1 Evo machines will undergo their final preparations tomorrow before tackling two four-hour practice sessions on Sunday.

The team will then return to the US for the next round of the American Le Mans Series at Sears Point on May 19, before returning to France for the Le Mans 24 Hour on the weekend of June 15-16.

May 3,2002 Ascari Le mans Pre-Q Preview

Team Ascari's 'grand tour' of the sports car racing classics continues as the Banbury, Oxfordshire, team heads to Le Mans this weekend for the obligatory test day.

Having had only one of their two entries selected for the race by the event organisers they have a very big point to prove. The all-British NDS-sponsored Ascari KZR1 Judd V10 gets even more British this weekend as, for the first time, it will run on Dunlop tyres.

These complement a re-design of the rear of the car from both mechanical and aerodynamic aspects which the team are sure is going to find them more speed. Sharing the driving duties on Sunday will be team regulars Ben Collins and Werner Lupberger, although there is a possibility that a third driver will be added to the test weekend line-up at the last minute.

Both Collins and Lupberger raced the famous French circuit for Ascari last year. Although they completed the opening hour of the race - together with Finn Harri Toivonen - in 23rd position, they moved the car up to a superb fifth place overall as the race reached half distance only to have an electrical problem three hours later.

Ian Dawson, Race Director, Team Ascari: "Both myself and team owner Klaas Zwart were devastated to have our second entry refused this year, particularly as we ran two strong cars in 2001. But it means we have a very big point to prove. Last year we were running in the top six and we can improve on that. I know that we can be very strong this year. The test day will be busy and we shall concentrate on maximising the performance of the car in its new configuration and with Dunlop tyres." The changes to the rear end, the work of Chief Designer Roger Griffiths, engineer Peter Weston and aerodynamicist Andy Coventry include a new transverse rather than longitudinal gearbox, plus revised rear suspension and rear bodywork. Ascari's sports car racing ‘grand tour’ commenced at the Daytona 24 Hours where Werner Lupberger put the car on the front row and continued in Florida at the Sebring 12 Hours. Here Collins, joined by Christian Vann and Justin Wilson, finished in sixth place - the second best result by a British car with British drivers in the history of the race. This Sunday's test no longer has a pre-Qualifying element to it and while times are officially recorded they are purely for the interest of the public - many thousands of whom attend the test - and of course the teams and drivers.

May 3,2002 Audi Pre-Q Preview

On Sunday 5 May, the Le Mans pre-practice serves as a Le Mans dress rehearsal for Audi Sport Team Joest. To date, only a few car manufacturers have managed to win the legendary Le Mans 24 Hour race three times in succession. After netting victories in 2000 and 2001, Audi has the chance to claim a hat-trick this year and prepares intensively for the season highlight on 15/16 June. After the 2002-spec Infineon Audi R8 won the opening race of this year's motorsport season, the Sebring 12 Hour race, and successfully completed a 30 hour endurance test at Magny-Cours as well as high-speed tests on a company owned test track, now comes the dress rehearsal at Le Mans.

The pre-practice offers the only chance to test on the Le Mans circuit, most of which consists of public roads. This year, the pre-practice - run on Sunday from 0900 to 1300 hours and 1400 to 1800 hours - is extremely important. The track has been redesigned between the famous "Dunlop bridge" and the "Esses" section and is now 275 metres longer. "This passage has a totally new character now, so it will therefore be difficult to make comparisons with last year's data," explains Head of Audi Sport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "At the pre-practice on Sunday we'll concentrate on finding an optimal set-up for the changed circuit and to verify the potential of this year's R8."

Since the Sebring win in March, the Infineon Audi R8 - today's most successful racing sportscar - was further refined. At the Le Mans pre-practice, a new development stage of the FSI engine will be run, providing more torque and an even wider usable rev-band. Through modifications to the rear section, the rear wing of the R8 now receives an even more efficient air-flow.

In order not to disrupt preparations for the season highlight - the Le Mans 24 Hour race - the three Infineon Audi R8 cars will remain in Europe after the pre-practice until the race in June. Thanks to the customer team, Champion Racing, two R8 cars will nevertheless contest the second round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at Sears Point on 19 May. Tom Kristensen joins Johnny Herbert and Andy Wallace at the wheel of the ADT Champion R8. Audi Sport North America enters a 2000-spec R8 for Frank Biela, Rinaldo Capello and Emanuele Pirro, which Champion Racing has lent to the Audi "works" squad for this race.

May 2,2002 Dunlop & Ascari Team Up

Team Ascari has confirmed that Dunlop Tyres has become an official partner for the teams 2002 race programme. With the 24 Hours of Le Mans now the main focus of attention for the worlds leading sportscar manufacturers, the agreement, to provide a full test and development programme for the British marque, is a major boost to the Le Mans aspirations of the Ascari KZR1 and is already making a significant impact.

The team has recently undergone a series of test days in the UK and Europe, culminating in last week's sessions at Paul Ricard where, on a new Dunlop inspired compound, the Judd V10-powered Ascari KZR1 ran quicker with increased durability.

Ian Dawson, Race Director, Team Ascari:
"In recent tests we have been very impressed by the responsiveness of Dunlop to our needs. Their understanding and interpretation has been excellent, exemplified by the performance of the tyres tested at Paul Ricard last week." "Immediately our performance level was on a par with the Michelin runners and tyre degradation, even after a triple stint, was minimal. We were able to complete more than 1000km and this has provided invaluable intelligence that will result in further improvements to performance between now and mid-June. All at Team Ascari are excited by our Le Mans prospects and are looking forward to a long and successful relationship with Dunlop."

Ben Collins, Driver, Team Ascari:
"The new tyres have made such a difference to the cars performance and I can't wait to get behind the wheel at Le Mans. The high speed cornering there suits the Ascari as we demonstrated last year and now with the support of Dunlop we will be competitive and have every reason to be optimistic about our chances."

April 30,2002 Oreca Le Mans Livery

Photo Coutersy:ORECA

Photo Coutersy:ORECA

April 29,2002 Ascari Drivers

Team Ascari has today announced that Britain’s Ben Collins will drive with South African Werner Lupberger at this years 24 Hours of Le Mans as the British sportscar marque makes its final preparations for the weekends Preliminary Practise Sessions in France.

The decision underlines the teams intention to present the best possible line-up for its one-car assault on the French Classic and ends weeks of speculation as to whom, from an original team of six drivers, would pilot the Ascari KZR1. The announcement of the third driver will be made shortly.

Last week the car completed more than 1000km in testing at the Paul Ricard circuit, proving competitive against Bentley, Courage and Dallara and further demonstrating the potential of Team Ascari to take on the might of the establishment at Le Mans.

Ian Dawson, Race Director, Team Ascari:
“Werner and Ben have been outstanding performers for Team Ascari and the decision to invite them to drive at Le Mans reflects our intention to compete at the event with the strongest possible package. The current test and development programme is clearly demonstrating the outstanding performance capabilities of the Ascari KZR1, now matched by the quality and talent of our driver line-up. We will use the time between this weekends practise and qualifying on the 12th June for further refinements to the KZR1 and more testing to ensure that team and drivers are thoroughly prepared.”

Ben Collins, Driver, Team Ascari:
“I can now concentrate fully on preparation for the 24 Hours, hearing the decision was the best phone-call of the year and I am determined to prove the team has made the right decision. Last year was a steep learning curve for Team Ascari at Le Mans and the team and car equipped themselves well. This year the KZR1 is fast, reliable and has true potential whilst Werner and myself are one year older and a lot more experienced in competing over long distances.” “Last year at Le Mans I gained a greater appreciation of the historical importance of the event and the performance levels it demands of driver and machine. It will be a privilege to return and I shall be doing everything possible to ensure that the Le Mans 2002 is an historic landmark for Team Ascari.”

April 26,2002 KnightHawk To Test At Snetterton / Add Duncan Dayton

KnightHawk Racing, in preparation for the Le Mans Practice Session on May 5th, will be testing their MG Lola 675 LMP at Britain's Snetterton circuit on Monday and Tuesday, April 29 and 30.

The two driver/owner's, Steve Knight and Mel Hawkins, will be testing in the new car over a two-day period, after which the car will be transported to Le Mans on Wednesday in preparation for Sunday's practice session.

Located on a former WWII US air base, the Snetterton circuit has two of the longest straights in England and is an ideal venue for speed trials -- and for simulating Le Man's famed Mulsanne Straight.

The team has also secured the driving skills of Duncan Dayton for the Le Mans race in June. Dayton is no stranger to the MG Lola, having helped score a 1st in class and 7th overall in Intersport's MG Lola at this year's Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring. Dayton is currently second in Driver's Points for the American Le Mans Series LMP 675 class. Although Dayton will not be participating in the testing session at Snetterton, he will be joining the team at the Le Mans Practice Session.

"We chose Snetterton because it presents a combination of great safety, good technical turns and high speed," says Hawkins. "Steve and I both really need to shake this car down in non-race conditions and gain a greater understanding of the car. As I've said previously, we just got the car in mid-February and have not had much time behind the wheel at all. I look forward to spending a considerable amount of time in the car, behind the wheel -- hopefully 3-4 hours each day. We will not be conducting any development -- except with regard to tires. I'm also glad that we've finalized the addition of Dayton to the Le Mans effort -- I'm looking forward to competing with him."

"We're really excited about the opportunity to test for a few days at Snetterton. I know that both Mel and I welcome the chance to spend more time in the car," says Knight. "It will also give the crew the chance to work on various set-ups -- I know that we're all looking forward to it."

"I very much look forward to this opportunity to drive KnightHawk's MG Lola at Le Mans," says Dayton. "I think they are a great team, and driving together with Steve and Mel, I think we have a very good chance for a strong finish."

"This test will be great for KnightHawk as a team," remarked Team Manager Mike Johnson. "We had to put this effort together on such short notice to make it to Sebring, and subsequently we experienced a few teething problems. These test days will allow the team to come together without race pressure. I feel confident that after the two days at Snetterton both the team and drivers will be ready to press forward."

April 26,2002 Walter Lechner Jr To Test ROC-VW

2001 Formula VW champion Walter Lechner Jr. will test a ROC-VW LMP675 at Dijon. The son of former German ADAC and Brun Motorsports driver Walter Lechner will get is first taste of an all out prototypye.

This weekend already, Walter Lechner jr. will meet the ROC team in France and will have a seat fitted. Then on to two intensive test days . The organiser of the Formula Volkswagen supported by ZF Sachs, Werner Aichinger, declares: "I am happy that Volkswagen Racing is offering a staircase for young talents: from the Jörg van Ommen karting series through the Formula König powered by Volkswagen into the Formula Volkswagen. A test with an LMP 675 sportscar and the possibility to get established in sportscars when it all goes well, is a great chance for all young drivers who are being supported by Volkswagen Racing."

April 25,2002 The Racers Group Preparing For Le Mans

For American Le Mans Series driver Kevin Buckler, the chance to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a dream come true. But as driver/owner for The Racers Group racing team, Buckler is going through his most intense management and planning ever as he prepares for racing in France as well as at home over the next two months.

“Being invited to race at Le Mans is a dream; it’s almost a bit surreal,” said Buckler. “I can’t believe that after watching and following the race since I was a kid that we will actually be competing there. I hold respect for the institution of Le Mans in the highest regard.”

Along with the other 16 American Le Mans Series teams that will be racing at Le Mans, and the rest of the field of 48 cars, Buckler and his team have to be at the Circuit de la Sarthe for a special practice session on May 5. The 24 Hours of Le Mans will be run June 15-16 and The Racers Group will be competing in the GT class for production-based cars.

But action in the United States won’t shut down. The American Le Mans Series will run the Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on May 19. Buckler’s team is based in the industrial park at Sears Point, so his team and much of his equipment will come back from France for the Sears Point race, then return to Le Mans. After Le Mans, the American Le Mans Series resumes with an event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 30, necessitating a quick return of people and equipment from France. The Le Mans effort is requiring a great deal of organization and time on Buckler’s part.

As soon as Buckler received word from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) that his entry for Le Mans had been accepted, he knew he was going to need help. Unlike many American teams that have raced several times at Le Mans, it will be the first time for The Racers Group. He freely admitted that he didn’t know the intricacies of preparing for a 24-hour sports car endurance race in a foreign country.

One of the first things Buckler did was hire Henry Greder, a Frenchman who has raced at Le Mans nine times and been involved in the event 24 times. Greder will help the team in many ways, including translating, interpreting and dealing with local customs and language. Breder, Buckler said, also knows many of the “little things” that will help make the event run more smoothly for the team. “He knows everybody there, and everybody knows him,” Buckler said.

Buckler, who will campaign a new Porsche 911 GT3 RS in the event, also hired a German company to assist with support for the race team. The company will help with bulky items such as nitrogen regulators (which work differently in France than in the USA), voltage regulation, etc. Unlike some USA-based teams, The Racers Group is not sending its team transporter to France.

The third outside agency assisting Buckler and the team is Project 100, an English company that specializes in event management. Project 100 is responsible for travel, lodging, food, credentials, etc., for the team and its guests, a daunting task in itself. There will be 15 team members and approximately 30 guests attending the race, and six will go to the testing session. One of the more important details to look after is transportation to the race track from the house where the team will stay. Even with the outside help, Buckler finds his days consumed. “It’s almost like setting up a mini-business just for Le Mans,” said the Novato, Calif., resident. “I have a list in my laptop of things to do that’s at 20 pages and growing.

“But I’m enjoying it,” he said. “I’m the kind of person who likes to wake up in the morning and have a crisis or something to deal with. If I don’t, I don’t feel like I’m at my best. I need challenges.”

The team has shipped six cargo containers, each weighing 500 pounds, from California to France. Included are such items as spare parts, spare bodywork (painted and decaled), radio equipment ad other essentials. The car that will be used didn’t have to be shipped because it is being picked up from the Porsche factory in Germany right before the test. It will be shipped to the states after the race.

After all of the management and preparation, Buckler is ultimately going to Le Mans to drive in the race. His many years of experience will be useful at Le Mans, a circuit that is 8.625 miles in length with many challenging turns. Learning the circuit in the practice time permitted is a challenge all newcomers face, and Buckler has even tried to accelerate the learning process through the use of a realistic Le Mans video game.

Buckler will co-drive with Porsche factory drivers Lucas Luhr and Timo Bernhard, both from Germany and both regulars on the American Le Mans Series with Alex Job Racing, which is not competing at Le Mans. With sponsorship from Suncoast Porsche, Thalist.com and Rennlist.com, Buckler said The Racers Group is approaching the competition at Le Mans with intensity.

“We are not going over there just to be seen,” he said. “We’re one of only two GT teams from America to be accepted and it’s a big honor that has been bestowed upon us. If we go over there and do anything but shine, we’ll be letting down a lot of people who helped us get in the race. We’re not about to do that.

“We’re loading up, and we’re going there to win.”

April 24,2002 Prodrive Withdraws Reserve Entry

Photo Courtesy:Prodrive
Prodrive has announced the withdrawal of its second Ferrari 550 GTS Maranello from the reserve entry list for the Le Mans 24 Hour next month.

The team will now concentrate on the number one entry, which has a confirmed place for the race and will be driven by Tomas Enge, Alain Menu and Rickard Rydell. The team will be at the Le Mans prequalifying session on 5 May, having not been together since last month's Sebring 12 hours..

Prodrive took the decision following the first round of the FIA GT Championship at Magny-Cours, where two of its customer cars were running with the BMS Scuderia Italia team. This allowed Prodrive to assess the resources required to simultaneously run a two-car entry at Le Mans and to support its programme with the BMS Scuderia Team in the FIA GT Championship.

"Our focus has to be first and foremost on supporting our client," said George Howard-Chappell, Ferrari team principal, "There is always a finite resource within any motorsport programme and we believe the best way to use ours is to support the two BMS cars in the GT series, and to focus on a single Prodrive entry for Le Mans."

After some initial teething problems in practice and qualifying, both BMS Ferraris performed well in the first GT race of the season, with Deletraz and Piccini finishing sixth. During the second half, Piccini unlapped his car from the leading battle of Christophe Bouchut and Mike Hezemans, showing the potential of the Ferrari. The second car was involved in an incident on lap ten and retired.

"Our aim for Le Mans is still to get on the podium in the GTS class and while having two cars would clearly have statistically given us a better chance, we feel we can still achieve this with the single car and strong driver line up," Chappell explained.

April 23,2002 Panoz Squad Ready For Pre-Qualifying

Panoz Motor Sports assault on the 2002 Le Mans 24 Hour officially kicks off tomorrow with the two "Spirit of America" Panoz LMP-1 Evo machine departing the team's Braselton, Georgia headquarters, bound for France.

The team will contest the all-important Le Mans pre-qualifying day on Sunday, May 5, a vital shakedown in preparation for the 24 Hour event which is staged on July 15 and 16.

More than 10 tons of equipment including the two racecars will be transported by truck to Orlando tomorrow, before being air-freighted to France.

The Panoz team will arrive in Le Mans this Sunday, March 28, to oversee the final preparations of the cars.

After a successful test last week at Virginia International Raceway, both Panoz cars were shaken down at Road Atlanta yesterday before being packed away for the trip for France.

"The team has worked extremely hard in the past couple of weeks and the test at VIR last week was extremely encouraging," David Brabham said.

"We are in an intense development phase at the moment which I confident will provide us with a very strong package for the 24 Hour.

"Le Mans is always a key highlight of the year and I am really looking forward to the pre-qualifying day.

"We know the competition is going to be very tough, but there has been no shortage of effort from the team, the Elan Motor Sports Technologies group, our suppliers and Michelin to make sure we give this our best shot."

Brabham will team up with Jan Magnussen and Bryan Herta in the team's #11 car for Le Mans, while Gunnar Jeannette, David Donohue and Bill Auberlen will form an all-American line-up in the #12 machine.

For Jeannette, the chance to compete in the prototype class is a lifetime dream for the 19-year-old team test driver.

"I can't wait to try the car at Le Mans and I am really thrilled with the chance to form an all-American line-up with David and Bill," Jeannette said.

"We are really looking forward to waving the stars and stripes in the 'Spirit of America' car. This is going to be an experience I will never forget.

"The atmosphere in the team is extremely positive and I have learned an enormous amount already from all the guys. The experience level in this team is quite amazing and I can't wait to get to France to sample what this car is like at Le Mans."

April 23,2002 KnightHawk Racing Le Mans Livery

KnightHawk Racing has commissioned an all-new graphic design for it's MG Lola 675 LMP, and this new design will debut on the team's prototype at the Le Mans Practice Session.

The MG Lola was delivered to the team in mid-February painted high gloss black -- one of KnightHawk's traditional three colors. As the Sebring event was rapidly approaching, the team applied graphics to the car adding the team's two other colors -- orange and silver. Working within a narrow window, the team did it's best to have the graphics depict the team's theme -- a soaring nighthawk.

After the Sebring event, and with more design time available, the team enlisted the design services of Dean Thompson at Fineline Signs and Graphics in Colorado. What you see here is the stunning result of Thompson's creative concept.

"There is nothing "cookie cutter" about what we do at Fineline -- every single job has its own characteristics which makes each job completely custom, " says Thompson. "In working with KnightHawk, we developed a concept that fulfilled their vision -- while staying within the requirements of a vinyl application. This is never an easy thing to do, so the relationship we build with the client is vital to the success of each project.

"We wanted to convey a unique design -- one that might make the fans say ' Wow -- did you see that!' adds team co-owner Steve Knight. The design that Dean has created beautifully depicts the teams "nighthawk" motif, and with the use of reflective orange and silver vinyl -- the car should really stand out in the dark, especially at Le Mans. It's going to be a lot of fun to "wing" this car around the track!"

"We certainly hoped for a very eye-catching design scheme -- and Dean Thompson and Fineline have certainly delivered," remarks co-owner Mel Hawkins. "It symbolizes the theme of KnightHawk Racing very well. I hope the fans like it, and to be honest with you -- I can't wait to see it reflect at night!"

Fineline Signs and Graphics started designing and producing racecar graphics over ten years ago. The company has grown to include everything from jet aircraft graphics to giant banners, but in this period of growth Fineline has not forgotten its roots. The Studio at Fineline has designed graphics for racecars, trailers, transporters and team merchandise that have been present at many of motorsport's major events. To create the graphics from these designs Fineline has extensive, state-of-the-art large format digital printing equipment that posses the capability to produce materials for virtually any advertising and event need.

April 23,2002 Bentley, van de Poele Escape Big Crash

Eric van de Poele was at the wheel of his Bentley EXP Speed 8 when it became airborne at the end of the mile-long Mistral Straight on Monday night as the team carried out its preparations for Le Mans at France's Paul Ricard circuit. The car slewed sideways, took off and caught the top of the guard rail before coming to rest upside down against a small outside retaining wall.

Van de Poele walked away from the wreck unaided, was not taken to hospital and continued driving the team's second car on Tuesday morning.

A brake problem is believed to be the reason for the accident, which began at the point on the circuit on which the car hit 200mph. A puncture has been ruled out as the cause.

Van de Poele said: "As soon as I hit the brakes the car went to the left onto the kerbs, went sideways and flew."

But he ruled out the accident as one comparable to those which have affected Porsche, Mercedes and BMW prototypes which flipped in a straight line in the past four years.

April 15,2002 MG Lausitzring Testing

MG Sport and Racing's Le Mans challenger, the MG Lola EX257 sportscar, has been put through its paces during a three day test at the Lausitzring circuit in Germany. Five of the six MG drivers took to the track in the rapid car - which competes in the LMP 675 class at Le Mans.

The first day's testing took place on the Lausitzring's conventional circuit, while the subsequent days used the venue's high speed circuit - a favourite for sportscar teams aiming to simulate the long straights of Le Mans.

“We experienced no major problems,” said Lola's Senior Engineer, Frank Dernie. “We carried out some engine mapping and durability testing. The engine worked well and although we still have some development work to do, we should be in good shape for the official practice session on 5th May.'

Julian Bailey, Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes, Jonny Kane and Kevin McGarrity all sampled the MG Lola, team member Mark Blundell being in Italy carrying out media duties at the San Marino GP.

April 15,2002 Guy Smith Virginia Test Report

Guy Smith successfully completed three days of testing at the Virginia International Raceway in South Carolina last week in preparation for his assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. The 27 year old from Hull, joined team-mate Marc Goossens in the Jim Matthews Riley & Scott he took to second place at Daytona and third at Sebring.

"We had a really good test at Virginia," said Guy. " I'd never been to the track before, it's a great circuit, a cross between Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca, with the best bits from each. We ran three trouble-free days and had some very productive results. Mainly we were checking out new front splitters, nose and wings and overall we're really pleased with how things went."

"Panoz were there too with Brabham, Magnussen and Herta, so it was a good opportunity to see how competitive we were there against those guys, and we're really happy with the end result. We wound up only slightly slower than them and we were running with low downforce so it's a fantastic performance."

"We were able to produce some really good top speeds, around 190mph, and it really was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward now to pre-qualifying for Le Mans and feel even more confident that we can do a good job there."

Pre-qualifying for Le Mans takes place on May 5th, prior to the French classic event, which takes place on June 15/16th. The race itself will be Guy's third visit to the event, and following two hugely successful outings so far this year, is optimistic of a good finish.

"So far this year, we've been up against all the top factory teams and been able to finish on the podium in both races, which for a private entry is really amazing. In endurance racing the reliability factor is crucial and the Riley & Scott has impressed me very much on that score. Hopefully we can continue that run into the most famous sportscar race ever and get a strong finish."

April 12,2002 MBD Announces Le Mans Lineup

MBD Sportscars Team Sporting Director Vic Elford today confirmed the team plans for the 24 hours of Le Mans. The number 19 Panoz-Mugen will be driven by Milka Duno, Didier de Radiguès and John Graham, who took the top three spots in the 2001 ALMS LMP 675 drivers championship.

Considering that the second car, number 20, has, statistically, little or no chance to move from it's third place on the reserve list into the final field, MBD has withdrawn it's entry request for this car. Instead, it will concentrate it's efforts on achieving a good result from its lead car.

Technical director Larry Holt, confirmed that extensive development has been taking place since Sebring. "We have had time to address the issues that were recognized at Sebring. We are on schedule with our test program and with the strong support of Panoz and Mugen we know that many improvements will be in place before Le Mans. With the decision to withdraw the second car from the reserve list we are now able to focus on the number 19 car for Milka, Didier and John. It also gives us breathing room to develop both cars for Sears Point and the entire ALMS championship season".

Team manager Barry McSherry confirmed that the preparation of the cars is on schedule.

For Milka this will mark her second start in the French classic. "I loved driving this car at Sebring and I look forward to going back to Le Mans. I am confident about our chances there and for the whole of the ALMS season".

Didier de Radiguès summed up the team's feelings. "We are extremely focused on a strong performance at Le Mans this year. The team has meshed together very well and very quickly, they have worked very hard, and I am sure that we can achieve a strong result".

"I believe that we have a solid combination and Multimatic knows how to win at Le Mans" said John Graham who had a class win with Multimatic in 2000 and will be making his 7th start there.

MBD will be testing soon before heading off to La Sarthe for the May test weekend.

Scott Maxwell will be present for the testing and will join Milka, Didier and John for the rest of the ALMS season starting at Sears Point.

April 12,2002 Panoz & R&S VIR Testing:

Two of the world's premier sports prototype racing teams wrapped up testing at VIRginia International Raceway today as the Panoz Motor Sports and Riley & Scott teams refined their machines on the 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit near Danville, VA.

It was the first visit to VIR for the Panoz team, which had drivers David Brabham, Jan Magnussen and Bryan Herta on hand for two days to work on systems testing for its LMP-1 Roadster S, specifically its engine management electronics and new paddle-shifter system. According to team manager Andy Waldrep, the team may be back more frequently.

"We really like the track," he said. "It's nice; the drivers really love it."

Despite the fact that VIR is well-suited to high-speed aerodynamics testing, which the Riley & Scott team is working on this week, Waldrep said that the Panoz squad was doing no aero work at all during this visit.

"None whatsoever," he said. "We're testing out some new systems this week, and making a lot of progress. We have a new tail that will be fitted up to the car when we get back to Atlanta, and then we'll get out and get testing on that before we go to Le Mans."

The team's lead driver, David Brabham, was all smiles when asked about his first visit to VIR.

"I think it's great," he enthused. "You've got some sections of the track here, like the Esses up there, which are flat-out in sixth gear [approximately 170 mph]. Just unbelievable! Both of us [he and co-driver Jan Magnussen] think that's probably one of the best sections of racetrack in the world."

Brabham agreed that VIR lends itself to high-speed aero testing. "It's quite a long track, and it's got a long straight," he said. "I think if we'd had the bodywork here for Le Mans, it would have been a good place for us to test it, for sure."

The son of three-time Formula 1 World Champion Jack Brabham said he hopes that the team's test schedule will include more trips to VIR.

"Now that we've come here and looked at it, we've obviously got a lot more information about the track," he said. "It's obviously a place that we'd like to come back to, because we enjoy driving it."

Across the paddock, the Riley & Scott team was wrapping up its third day of trying out aerodynamic modifications to their MkIIIC in preparation for its first trip to France with drivers Marc Goossens, Guy Smith and Jim Matthews.

For team co-owner Bill Scott, it's always nice to return to VIR. "This is our favourite place to test," he said. "We came here in 2000 with the Cadillac program a couple of times. It's a real good place to test for us; it's smooth, and it's pretty fast. Right now we're doing some pre-Le Mans testing; mostly aero work, and getting mechanical grip for a smooth track, because most of the circuits we work on have bumpy surfaces."

April 9,2002 Ascari Le Mans Preperations:

With Le Mans pre-qualifying just four weeks away preparation is now in full-swing as Team Ascari prepare the KZR1 at its state-of-the-art premises in Banbury, boosted by the cars excellent sixth place showing at the Sebring 12 Hours last month. The performance of the Ascari KZR1 actually equalled a similar sixth place finish by an all-British car and driver combination back in 1958 when the legendary Lotus founder Colin Chapman drove a little Lotus Climax into 6th place with fellow Brit Cliff Allison.

With a tyre test at Snetterton this week, to be followed by high speed testing at Circuit Paul Ricard, a clear momentum of activity is building as the Team look to be in the best possible shape come the weekend of 15th/16th June.

"There is no substitute for preparation and more preparation," explains Ian Dawson, Race Director for Team Ascari. "It is an essential requisite for an event as arduous as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and you can rest assured that Team Ascari will arrive at Le Mans with a thoroughness and attention to detail in every conceivable area."

"We have assembled a highly talented team of people at Team Ascari with a commitment to win. Everyone in the organisation has the desire and we are all very confident about the long term potential of the KZR1."

Although there is a deep disappointment that the team received only one invitation from its two Le Mans entries, clearly 'the show must go on' and there is a determination not to feel victimised by the politics of the decision as the UK's Team Ascari prepare to take on Europe and America's finest.

"We must now clear our minds of all distractions," continues Ian. "Our number one priority is to make sure its Judd-powered Ascari KZR1 single entry performs to its maximum potential at the 70th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours."

April 5,2002 Racers Group Announces Le Mans Lineup:

Rolex 24 GT Winner
The Racer's Group has announced the driver lineup for its #81 Porsche 911GT3-RS 70th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Piloting the No. 81 Le Mans GT Porsche will be team owner Kevin Buckler along with Porsche factory drivers Timo Bernhard and Lucas Luhr.

"Being invited to race at Le Mans is a dream, it's almost a bit surreal. I can't believe that after watching and following the race since I was a kid that we will actually be competing there. The team couldn't be doing any of this without the help of our sponsors, Bill Hodges and all the people at Suncoast Porsche, Thalist.com and Rennlist.com. After our win together at The 2002 24 Hours at Daytona we realized what a good partnership and a well-prepared race team can do together. I hold respect for the institution of Le Mans in the highest regard. We are all truly honored to be taking part in the event and also honored to be associated with Porsche. It doesn't get any better than having Porsche factory drivers Timo Bernhard and Lucas Luhr driving with us. From our crew, sponsors and team as a whole, this effort will be a "for real" first-class assault on this year's 24 hours of Le Mans. I realize this is only our first year. We just want to do our absolute best. We're on it," said Buckler of his invitation to the race.

April 5,2002 Panoz Set Le Mans Lineup:

Panoz Motor Sports founder Don Panoz believes his team's 2002 driver line-up for this year's Le Mans 24 Hour will be one of the strongest he has ever assembled.

Panoz today announced the #11 machine will be driven by David Brabham, Jan Magnussen and Bryan Herta at Le Mans, while David Donohue, Gunnar Jeannette and Bill Auberlen will contest the race aboard car #12.

"I am very excited about our line-up for this year because we have a fantastic blend of speed and experience," Panoz said.

"Audi will obviously be very tough, but the team is working very hard in the preparation for the race and all the drivers are extremely keen to do well.

"David, Jan and Bryan should make a fantastic combination and I am also very pleased to take an all-American trio to Le Mans in the #12 car as well.

"It will be Gunnar's first Le Mans in a prototype but David Donohue and Bill Auberlen have a lot of experience and the three of them should combine well. Gunnar is the youngest driver to ever finish the 24 Hour and his podium finish in GT last year was very impressive.

"It will be great to see the three of them wave the flag in one of the 'Spirit of America' machines."

Since the 12 Hours Of Sebring, Panoz has launched an extensive testing program on new components and improvements - already undertakening more than 30 hours of testing in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

For David Brabham, this year will be his sixth assault on the event with the team.

"I truly believe we have a great combination and I am really looking forward to the race," Brabham said.

"Jan, Bryan and myself have worked really well together so far this year and Bryan did a great job in the car in his first drive at Sebring.

"For Jan and myself, our speed around Le Mans is probably as good as anyone. Bryan hasn't been there before but he knows the car well and Jan and I should be able to teach him a bit about the place."

For David Donohue, a former winner in the GTS class at the classic French event, the challenge of Le Mans is one he is eagerly awaiting after missing the race last year.

"I have a win, a second and a DNF in three visits to Le Mans and last year was probably a good one to miss with the weather," Donohue said.

"Having four American drivers in the team with this colour scheme should be a fantastic experience.

For myself, Bill and Gunnar, we are all new to the program, but we all got the chance to get plenty of laps at Sebring to get familiar with the car."

Auberlen returns to Le Mans after having previously driven a BMW prototype in the fabled french event.

"The team is extremely focused on performing well at Le Mans this year and I believe both cars will be extremely strong," Auberlen said.

"I really loved driving the car at Sebring and can't wait to get back into a prototype at Le Mans.

"It will be fantastic for the three of us as Americans to drive the car at Le Mans - if ever there was a car that deserved to wear the stars and stripes - it has to be the Panoz."

April 4,2002 Katayama Returning In 2002 With Pescarolo:

Ukyo Katayama has signed to drive one of Henri Pescarolo's Peugeot-Courage C60.

Katayama last race in 1999 with Toyota, where the Japanese driver finished second after an exciting chase of the BMW before a tire blew.

"I was looking for a driver with money or a very good driver who could help me raise sponsorship outside of France," said Pescarolo. "I'm very happy to have a driver as good as Ukyo."

Katayama will partner C60s Stephane Ortelli and Eric Helary in one of Pescarolos newly designed C60's.

March 26,2002 Second Factory MG Now In:

The factory MG team has been given the go-ahead from the organisers of the Le Mans 24 Hours to take a second car to the classic race on June 15/16.

The move is a reprieve for the marque, which was only given a single entry for the race when the full list was published last week.

A second Chamberlain Motorsport-run MG-Lola has made the cut following Olive Garden Rafanelli's decision to scratch its GTS-class Ferrari 550M from the race.

Gabriele Rafanelli explained his decision to withdraw, saying that his team would concentrate on the American Le Mans Series instead. "It is our strong desire to be the principal independent challenger for the ALMS GTS crown this year," he said. "While all of us are thrilled at the honour of the invitation to Le Mans, we must focus on our primary goal which is to succeed in the 2002 ALMS GTS championship.

"Ours is a multi-year programme, so it is our dream to be invited to Le Mans in 2003 and to win the GTS catgeory there."

March 23,2002 KnightHawk Excited About Le Mans Bid:

KnightHawk Racing has been extended an invitation by the Automobile Club de l' Ouest to compete in the most famous sportscar event in the world -- the 2002 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.

KnightHawk will immediately finalize preparations to insure the safe travel of it's new MG Lola 675 LMP, all necessary support equipment and the entire crew to the Sarthe region of France for the May 5th Preliminary Practice Session.

The ACO is the organizing body of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and as so, sets and monitors the compliance of all the rules and regulations concerning the event. What makes the legendary event even more prestigious is that not all teams that enter are invited to attend. All teams that desire an invitation must go through extensive observation by the ACO in areas such as competitive ability and presentation. Today, after a long study of the 96 entries submitted for this year's race, the ACO released the names of the 48 teams confirmed, and 8 teams in reserve, that are honored with an invitation.

In order to advance to the May 5th Preliminary Practice Session, the team must first submit their MG Lola for an in-depth and thorough Scrutineering Session that will be conducted by the ACO the day before -- Saturday, May 4th. On Sunday, the circuit is open for practice for all teams from 9:00am -- 1:00pm and then again from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.

The team will field its new purpose-built LMP 675 -- the MG Lola -- that qualified an outstanding 3rd overall in the just-run 50th Anniversary Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring. Piloting the Le Mans Prototype will be team owner/driver's Steve Knight and Mel Hawkins, with an additional driver TBA.

"We are very honored, and we graciously accept the invitation to the 2002 24 Hours of Le Mans," says team owner/driver Hawkins. "The Le Mans race represents the pinnacle of global sportscar racing and we feel very fortunate to be able to race at this year's event."

"When Mel and I formed KnightHawk over four years ago, one of our main objectives was to be invited -- and then to hopefully win at Le Mans," said owner/driver Knight. "I can't begin to tell you what this invitation means to me as driver -- and team owner. From a very early age I've been fascinated with the history and glory of this spectacular event -- to actually be involved is a dream come true. I can't wait to be in the car and on the circuit."

"The team is very excited about this opportunity to race at Le Mans," said Team Manager Mike Johnson. "In fact, we've been preparing for sometime in hopes that we would be granted an invitation. Now that we've received the formal invitation we will continue our preparation and look forward to the big race. Drivers, of course, feel very excited and honored with an invitation -- but I'm here to tell you -- so do Team Managers!"

March 22,2002 Audi Confirms Driver Lineups:

The Audi driver line-up for the 2002 Le Mans 24 Hour race is complete: Germans Michael Krumm and Marco Werner will form a German-speaking trio together with Austrian Philipp Peter at the season highlight on 15/16 June. The three are part of the driver team of "auto motor und sport" special interest magazine, which supports the running of the third Infineon Audi R8 at Le Mans as a media partner.

Marco Werner and Philipp Peter start at Le Mans for the first time but are no newcomers to sportscar racing. Werner won the 24 Hours at Daytona in 1995, Peter was runner-up in the 2000 Sportscar World Cup. Michael Krumm has competed at Le Mans twice and secured the title in the 1997 Japanese GT Championship. "To be successful at Le Mans has always been one of my major goals," explains Krumm. "With Audi I now have a unique chance - I can´t wait for June to come."

His colleagues are equally euphoric. "To do Le Mans with Audi is a dream," says Marco Werner. Philipp Peter, an Audi works driver in the mid-nineties, adds: "The Infineon Audi R8 has won at Le Mans twice already a driver couldn´t wish for better prerequisites." In April, Krumm, Peter and Werner will gain their first experience of the Infineon Audi R8 in a 30 hour test when the Audi works team prepares for the season highlight in June. On 5 May pre-practice takes place at Le Mans.

Audi starts the Le Mans 24 Hour race with three silver Infineon Audi R8 sportscars which fly the additional colours of black, red and yellow resembling the German flag. Krumm/Peter/Werner drive the "black" R8. The winning trio of the last two Le Mans races, Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro, share the "red" car. Rinaldo Capello, Johnny Herbert and Christian Pescatori " the winners of the 2002 Sebring 12 Hour race compete in the "yellow" Audi. Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Sport, is convinced: "With this strong driver team we have the best chance to claim a hat-trick at Le Mans."

A fourth Audi sportscar will be run at Le Mans by a customer squad, Audi Sport Japan Team Goh. Japanese drivers Seiji Ara and Hiroki Katoh start together with four times Le Mans winner, Yannick Dalmas (France), in an 2001-spec R8.

March 7,2002 Audi Confirms 3 Works Cars:

Audi contests the Le Mans 24 Hour race on 15/16 June with three "works: cars run by Audi Sport Team Joest and Audi Sport North America. The three silver Infineon Audi R8s will fly the extra colours of black, red and yellow taken from the German flag, like at the triple victory of 2000.

The Le Mans countdown begins for Audi on 16 March with the 12 Hours of Sebring. The season-opening round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) is at the same time the first serious test for the 2002-spec Infineon Audi R8, which despite undergoing minor changes to detail, looks exactly the same as last year's car at first glance. The bodywork features only subtle changes which are barely visible to an expert. However, under the bodywork the most successful contemporary racing sportscar was refined in many details. With success: "The tests with the modified R8 have shown that we have uncovered potential, and now we just have to use it in the race," explains Head of Audi Sport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich.

The 12 Hours of Sebring is for Audi an important indicator of where it stands prior to the season highlight at Le Mans. "We'll see at Sebring how well the cars work and where we stand compared to our competitors," says Dr Ullrich.

March 7,2002 Dalmas To Join Team Goh:

Four-Time Winner Yannick Dalmas is close to signing a deal for this years race with Team Goh. The Japanese team will be running a 2001 spec Audi R8.

Dalmas says that there are only a few minor details to sort out before he signs a contract. He will partner Goh regulars Seiji Ara and Hiroki Katoh in the car for the race.

Dalmas spent three days testing the car at the Mine circuit.

"I was impressed with the team," said Dalmas. "Mr Goh has made a big effort."

March 6,2002 96 Entries Received:

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest has announced that 96 entry requests were received for the 2002 Event. This is up 20 % from the 2001 race.

"A good number of cars of high quality will be at the event, thus guaranteeing us a 2002 race which will be ranked among the best in the history of the 24 Heures du Mans" stated an ACO spokesman.

The Selection Committee will have to decide between :
44 Prototypes representing 46% of the entry requests.
and 52 GT representing 54 % the requests.

The Selection Committee will also take into account the officially pre-selected competitors :
AUDI SPORT TEAM JOEST (AUDI) , 24 Hours of Le Mans 2001
AUDI SPORT NORTH AMERICA (AUDI), Petit Le Mans 2001
PESCAROLO SPORT (COURAGE PEUGEOT), 1000KM Estoril ELMS 2001
CORVETTE RACING GARY PRATT (CHEVROLET CORVETTE), GTS 24 Hours of Le Mans 2001
CORVETTE RACING GARY PRATT (CHEVROLET CORVETTE), GTS Petit Le Mans 2001
RAY MALLOCK LIMITED (SALEEN), GTS 1000KM Estoril ELMS 2001
SEIKEL MOTORSPORT (PORSCHE) GT 24 Hours of Le Mans 2001
FREISINGER MOTORSPORT (PORSCHE) GT 1000KM Estoril ELMS 2001.

The Selection Committee will be attending the 50th 12 Hours of SEBRING and will announce the list of the 48 cars which have been convened to the scrutineering of the 70th race of the 24 Heures du Mans, in the days following the American race.

February 28,2002 MG Launches 2002 Le Mans Team:

MG’s return to the motorsport scene was heralded when the MG Lola EX257 competed at La Sarthe circuit for the 24 Heures Du Mans, in June last year. Despite atrocious weather conditions, the MG LOLA EX257 exceeded all expectations reaching as high as third place overall before eventually succumbing to the torrential rain.

The MG Lola EX257, designed and built by Lola Cars International, has been modified during the winter period with a focus on reliability and serviceability. 2001 provided a vital platform from which to learn and 2002 will see improved performance all round. It is powered by the MG XPOWER 2-litre, four-cylinder turbo unit developed by racing engine specialists Advanced Engine Research (AER). Two EX257’s have been entered into the LMP675 class in this year’s 24 Heures De Mans.

Frank Dernie, chief engineer, Lola Cars International said: "I am looking forward to Le Mans because the reliability issue we had with the engine, due to its newness last year, has been addressed. We are certainly looking to challenge the front running cars. Testing so far has shown the car to be quick and with no reliability problems to date - but that’s not to say they won’t happen!"

In response to Frank’s delight at the improvements to the engine, Mike Lancaster, managing director, Advanced Engine Research (AER) added: "2002 will give us the chance to show that the MG XP-20 engine has truly world class performance"

Whislt the team to run the cars remains under discussion, the 2001 strong line-up of British drivers - Mark Blundell, Julian Bailey, Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes, Kevin McGarrity and Jonny Kane are firmly back in the driving seats. Commenting on the 2002 challenge:-

Mark Blundell
"I am very proud to be associated with the MG name. It is fantastic to be linked with the biggest British mass car producer and to be involved in their motorsport programme. I am looking forward to leading the team back into Le Mans for 2002 and feel very confident that we can build on the performance of last year. An outright class win and a shot at overall honours are my aim."

Julian Bailey
"I’m looking forward to getting back in the car testing. It has improved as a lot of development work has been done over the winter. The engine has also had some work done on it, which should improve our performance and give us a real chance. The car showed potential last year so by building on that I think we can go for an outright challenge at Le Mans in 2002"

Warren Hughes
"Le Mans last year was a first for me -the event was so big, I was staggered by the support we received. I can’t wait to get back, hopefully with drier conditions. The car was awesome to drive - you have to be fit, committed and motivated to get the most out of it. It’s probably the best and most satisfying car I have ever driven in my career - my favourite! This year should be much better. We know more about the package and the testing done so far has been very positive. I just want get in it again - I can't wait!’

Jonny Kane
"It has been a great experience being involved with MG - a lot of fun. I always wanted to have a relationship with a motor manufacturer and the fact that MG is British is the icing on the cake. Last year was my first trip to Le Mans so I had many new things to enjoy - the track is just wild. This year now that I know what to expect outside of the car I will be able to focus even more. Testing has been very encouraging and I can't wait to get back to La Sarthe for a crack at the great race."

Kevin McGarrity
"I am really excited about my second year of racing at Le Mans and delighted to be involved with a leading manufacturer like MG. I am confident that the car will be a front runner this year. Last year was a great experience for me, as Le Mans is a very special motorsport event. The support we received was phenomenal and I am sure that this year it will be even better."

Anthony Reid
"There is no doubt that MG was a sensation at last year’s Le Mans. Recent testing has shown the car has the pace to match the Audi and the main reliability issues have been addressed. The MG LMP 675 is stunning to drive - a great car - the best sports car I have ever driven. I am very much looking forward to a great performance at this year’s race."

February 28,2002 Blundell Named Ambassador For MG:

MG Sport & Racing Limited have today announced Mark Blundell as Ambassador for the MG XPOWER programme at their 2002 motorsport reveal at Longbridge.

Mark who made his debut with MG Sport & Racing last year in the 2001 Le Mans 24 Hour race, has been confirmed as the sixth driver to lead MG's assault for 2002. He will also now take on the new role of Ambassador for the MG brand, promoting and advising the company on its various motorsport activities.

Commenting on his increased involvement with MG, Mark said: "It's going to be a busy, exciting and hopefully, fun year.

I'm proud to be Ambassador for MG's motorsport programme and I plan to be very proactive in flying the flag for them and supporting the company's efforts in the various categories of racing in which they are competing."

February 21,2002 Team Goh Gets Audi Japan Support:

Autosport are reporting that Team Goh has won the backing of Audi Japan for the Le Mans 24 Hours. Goh will run a 2001-spec Audi R8.

Audi Japan's Johan de Nysschen said: "As a Japanese team we'll be aiming for the highest success at Le Mans to reflect the similar strong resurgence of the Audi brand in Japan."

"We're very proud to have the Audi name with us, but it certainly puts the pressure on. Victory is very difficult at Le Mans, but I believe that a podium finish is an achievable target for us" says Kazumichi Goh.

The team began testing this week at its home base, the Mine circuit. Fourteen days of testing are scheduled for the car at Mine and Fuji before Le Mans.

Drivers Hiroki Katoh and Seiji Ara had their first taste of the car in the shakedown of the chassis. The third driver, who will also be Japanese, is expected to be announced in early April.

February 21,2002 New Le Mans Film:

Bob Berridge's Lola B98/10 that will race in this seasons FIA Sportscar Championship is also set to be a film star this year.

The chassis that Jean Marc Gounon and Eric Bernard drove to four race wins in 1999 will take part in filming when it is entered for the Le Mans 24 hours in June. The film is a project headed by Leon and Nikita director Luc Besson and will centre around the comic strip hero Michael Valliant and his dream of winning the famous French enduro.The film will have echoes of the classic Steve McQueen Le Mans film of 1970,but unlike that,the new project will field cars that are actually racing in the gruelling event. The other chassis to be used will be a Panoz Roadster.

Berridge has entrusted original owners DAMS with running the car at Le Mans but the multiple Throughbred F1 champion still plans to contest the final three FIA races after filming finishes in August."We'll do the races when we get the car back after filmimg," confirmed Berridge."I've got Bobby Verdon Roe and maybe Amanda Stretton,depending on her media committments,so I'd like to think that we can be among the top cars or thereabouts."

January 30,2002 Bentley Announces 2002 Plans For Single Car:

Bentley Motors has confirmed that they will run one car at Le Mans for Andy Wallace, Butch Leitzinger and Eric van de Poele.

Bentley Motors chairman elect Franz-Josef Paefgen confirmed that the Bentley EXP Speed 8 for this year's assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be powered by a new engine

"It will be good to have the Le Mans class winning team back in the Bentley EXP Speed 8," he said, "2002 will be a very important development year for Team Bentley as we will have the new Bentley engine in the race car for the first time.

"I can confirm that the powerplant will be a 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged, direct injection engine, which will be unique to Bentley and developed in close co-operation with Audi.

"As the engine will not be ready for testing in the car until March, however, we will have a single entry at Le Mans for 2002, but we plan to carry out extensive testing throughout the rest of this year with the possibility of an additional race later in the season.

"Furthermore, we know there is a great deal of potential in the chassis, so we intend to develop a next generation EXP Speed 8 for the 2003 season. With this new Bentley, which we will roll out by the beginning of next year, we plan a fully competitive assault beginning in Sebring in March and, of course, including Le Mans in June.

"We would like to repeat, if not better, our 2001 podium position this year, but believe me we are definitely aiming for the top step in 2003 with the new car!"

Team Bentley will continue its intensive test programme leading up to the race, and development of the new Dunlop tyres continues apace with encouraging results.

The second Bentley crew is now expected to find alternative employment in June. Martin Brundle has already admitted that his grand prix TV commitments would rule him out of the 2002 Le Mans, but both Guy Smith and Stephane Ortelli remain hopeful of securing alternative rides in the 24 Hours.

January 30,2002 Prodrive Announces Return To Le Mans:

Photo Courtesy:Prodrive
Prodrive is taking the best known marque in motorsport, Ferrari, back to the most famous race in the world, the Le Mans 24 hour.

Prodrive will be running two Ferrari 550 Maranellos in the GTS class at Le Mans in June (subject to entries being accepted). Alain Menu and Rickard Rydell are already confirmed as drivers and Prodrive is currently talking to a number of other candidates to make up the full team.

A front-engined Ferrari, the 275 GTB, last competed at Le Mans in 1966 and Ferrari last won the classic race the year before with the 250LM in the hands of Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory. In 2002, Prodrive is aiming for a podium finish for its 550 Maranello in the GTS class.

In preparation for the endurance event, Prodrive will be running a durability and development programme over the coming months. As part of this, one of the cars will be raced at Sebring in the USA in March by Rydell, Menu and a third driver. The second Le Mans specification car is currently being prepared at Prodrive’s headquarters in Banbury, UK.

Prodrive’s race winning FIA GT car, which won two out of the five races it entered in last year’s FIA GT Championship, will once again be competing in the series in 2002, but this time in the hands of a private team.

“When we won at the A1 Ring last year, in only our second sports car race, it was a tremendous achievement for everybody involved,” said George Howard-Chappell, Prodrive Ferrari team principal. “We are lucky to already have two fast, experienced drivers in Menu and Rydell, who know the car and if we can find another four who come close to their speed then we will give ourselves an excellent opportunity to emulate our achievements last year.”

January 22,2002 Herbert Is Official For Audi:

In the 2002 season, AUDI AG faces one of the biggest challenges in motor racing: after two consecutive victories, Audi Sport Team Joest starts the legendary Le Mans 24 Hour race on 15 and 16 June 2002, trying to achieve a hat-trick.

The Audi works team will be strengthened by Johnny Herbert. The former Formula 1 driver and Le Mans winner will team up with Rinaldo Capello and Christian Pescatori at Le Mans and the 12 Hours at Sebring. The Briton got to know the undeniable advantages of the Audi R8 in the past season as driver of the Audi customer team Champion. Since then, he is convinced:

"The R8 is simply a wonderful car. You can drive it on the limit from the first to the last lap - and this is exactly what I like." Herbert replaces Frenchman Laurent Aiello who will concentrate fully on the German Touring Car Masters (DTM).

According to the slogan "never change a winning team", the winning trio of the past two Le Mans races comprising of Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro will continue to form a line-up at Le Mans and in the Sebring 12 Hour classic. Should Biela/Kristensen/Pirro win Le Mans again, Audi would add a further chapter to the history of motorsport: never before has an unchanged driver combination won the French endurance classic three times in a row.

"Our aim is very ambitious: We want to win the Le Mans race for a third consecutive time in order to finally get the historic trophy to Ingolstadt", says Audi Head of Sport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich.

In the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), Audi will also defend its titles in the constructors', drivers' and teams' standings. After the season opener on 16 March at Sebring, Audi Sport North America contests the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with their proven driver line-ups: Frank Biela and title holder Emanuele Pirro share the cockpit of the Infineon Audi R8 with start number 1 whilst Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen will drive the sister car.

The Infineon Audi R8, which has already achieved 20 victories, is one of the most successful sports racing cars in the history of motor racing and will be improved in detail for the 2002 season. "The car and the new FSI engine still have potential that we want to exploit", declares Dr Ullrich.

December 12,2001 Bentley Confirms Le Mans Return:

Photo Coutersy:BENTLEY
Team Bentley confirmed today that it will return to the famo