72nd Le Mans 24 Hours –
GT Preview
It’s settled out
at 16 cars in the class, with the relatively late addition of the
#84 Freisinger Porsche: that’s more than ever before, in the
current incarnation of the GT class.
The composition of the
class is more heavily biased towards Porsche than ever before, but
the ACO can’t realistically be blamed for this situation:
the XL Racing Ferrari 550 would have been in the race but was withdrawn
(and is now for sale), while the Risi Ferrari had an automatic entry,
but the team decided not to take it up.
So two TVR Tuscans, two
Ferrari 360s, the Morgan Aero 8 and eleven 911s: we’ll go
for another Porsche win!
Now if only we could
have some sixth sense to indicate how the GT race is going to evolve
on June 13. A Porsche 911 was at one time almost the GT equivalent
of an R8, in that you could be sure that a 911 would make it to
the end trouble-free. But it doesn’t seem to happen this way
any more. Has the manufacturer stretched its pace to the point where
failures are inevitable? If Daytona is supposed to be so tough (tougher
than Le Mans), why was it that by the mid-point of last year’s
French race, every significant 911 had met a significant problem?
Yet Kevin Buckler and friends could hammer a GT3-RS around Daytona,
to the overall win, trouble-free, just 16 months ago?
It’s easily the
second largest class in the race, and it’s going to be a very
good race – but who is going to win? Three entries stand out,
but as we saw at the mid-point last year, it’s not always
the swiftest that win this one – although it was in the end.
What is clear is that a trouble-free run for one of the three should
ensure the win at the 72nd running of the race.
 #70
JMB Racing
Melo / Daoudi / de Fournoux
The JMB 2003 chassis was almost a match for anything at the Monza
1000 Km, and with a driver line-up like this, perhaps this is the
best chance of a Ferrari GT win for years. It will simply come down
to who can run hardest for longest, without significant delays.
 #72
Luc Alphand Aventures
Alphand / Almeras / Lavieille
A grid filler of the local variety. French crowd appeal? Last raced
in June 2002.
 #75
Thierry Perrier
Khan / Sugden / Smith
Now this isn’t one of the three: or should that read “this
is one of the four”? “We’re going to go for pole,
no doubt about that,” says Tim Sugden. The car will not qualify
or race with a sequential gearbox, the team preferring to go with
the H pattern ‘box, especially with time at a premium since
the Monza event. Sugden was very quick at the Test Day, early in
the day, but didn’t go out on qualifiers: “That was
my first timed lap. It’ll do a 5 something next week, and
the car will look fantastic, in its new blue and white colour scheme.”
So the EMKA look is no more, but we’d love to see T. Sugden
do it for S. O’Rourke. Ian Khan and Nigel Smith provide solid
back-up.
 #77
Choroq Racing Team
Kurosawa / Nishizawa / Orido
The Japanese trio performed valiantly at Monza, right up with the
leaders until the rain came. We’ll aim to find out more about
this entry: currently, relevant information is in short supply.
 #78
PK Sport
Warnock / Matthews / Daniels
No Liddell or Masarati this year, and no expectations of a fast
(Liddell) time in qualifying. Looking for a solid finish, and a
top six would be a fantastic result for the team in its fourth appearance
at the 24 Hours (it already has a sixth and seventh to its credit).
 #80
Morgan Works Team
Cunningham / Sharpe / Hyde
The first non-Porsche, non-Ferrari on the entry list. May there
always be room for a Morgan on the entry list. Steve Hyde replaces
Keith Ahlers (didn’t get his laps in on April 25, and races
at the ‘Ring instead), so it’s still a strong line-up.
Hyde is the only connection with the car that ran in 2002. It would
be a highlight of the last hour to see the Aero 8 still charging
round.
 #81
The Racers Group
Donaldson / Fisken / Nielsen
Note to Ed. For heaven’s sake find out once and for all if
The Racers Group name has an apostrophe or not. Kevin, have you
been apostrophised? The Racers Group / The Racer’s Group /
The Racers’ Group? The most stunning livery in the class,
from the man who has made running GT Porsches into an art form,
literally. The drivers won’t be aiming to be the quickest,
but they should go round and round until the cows come home. Top
six or top four, for the RSR that John Nielsen tried to get into
the race?
 #83
Seikel Motorsport
Rosa / Caffi / Merksteijn
#84 Seikel Motorsport
Burgess / Collin / Willingham?
Peter Seikel saw his 2003 gentlemen have an amazing 12 hour run.
It’s possible that both of these cars could have amazing 24
hour runs. Not the newest equipment, but beautifully prepared and
expertly run. A top three is a possibility.
 #85
Freisinger Motorsport
Ortelli / Dumas / TBA
#86 Freisinger Motorsport
Fomenko / Vassiliev / Nearn
Robert Nearn is the experienced one in the second Freisinger RSR
(what is the story regarding Yukos sponsorship?), while the two
known pilots of the lead one couldn’t be stronger. This could
be another classic Freisinger charge at the front: why didn’t
Manfred receive this opportunity last year? Monza 1000 Kms winner,
could make it two out of two under ACO rules in 2004. Bernhard has
jumped ship to race at the ‘Ring. Dunlops, not the Michelins
used in April.
 #87
Orbit / BAM!
Hindery / Lieb / Rockenfeller
Leo Hindery is a very wise man. Leo Hindery also goes racing in
a very clever manner…. For example employing these two co-drivers.
“Hey, Marc, Mike, they’ve decided to run the race over
48 hours this year. Can you two drive for about 22 hours each?”
“Yup, no problem.” Maiden Le Mans for the amazing Rockenfeller,
while Lieb rejoins the team that he’s never really left: they
love him. Peter Baron isn’t sure whether they will race with
a sequential, but expect to see it in qualifying: “It’s
faster.” Pole position? Sebring form would suggest that this
would be a good bet. What a fun team to be around: but deadly serious
too. Performing in the style of Steve O’Rourke, with American
touches thrown in.
 #89
Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport
Berridge / Stockton / Caine
#96 Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport
Greensall / Tomlinson / Coleman
We haven’t seen the best of these developed TVRs yet, but
the wider stance gives a more purposeful look, there’s been
time to get them settled and sorted (Sebring was a real *** fight),
and the drivers are a perfect blend of pace and experience, if not
necessarily at Le Mans. If two of Stockton / Caine / Greensall get
a chance to really go for a lap in qualifying, it should be really
worth watching. It’s time for a TVR to produce a really good
long distance run: Sebring 2003 seems a long time ago now. With
Hugh Chamberlain masterminding the operation, a great result is
a possibility.
 #90
Petersen / White Lightning Racing
Long / Bergmeister / Maassen
In association with AJR, the winning team from last year, and must
start out as favourites for 2004. Perfect trio to drive, a proven
team that can win in the ALMS, a perfectly prepared car. Can anything
go wrong? Dale White is in charge of this one, and the whole ensemble
comprises proven winners. Bet against them at your peril.
 #92
Cirtek Motorsport
Frank Mountain / Rob Wilson / Hans Hugenholtz
We’d like to see Rob Schirle don a helmet from one of the
other three and go out to set a qualifying lap – but we don’t
think that will happen! The 360 GTC does seem like a fast, reliable
package out of the box, and frank Mountain has provided the car
so that Cirtek could take up the entry earned by the win (with the
Engelhorn chassis) last November. A top six finish would do very
nicely.
So have you worked out
which cars are the three favourites?
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