[LM24] Le Mans 2015 Entry List with Updates

[Deleted]

I want to make guesses too... what I believe will happen

LMP1 - 14x
Audi Sport Team Joest (WEC)
Audi Sport Team Joest (WEC)
Audi Sport Team Joest (extra)
Porsche Team (WEC)
Porsche Team (WEC)
Porsche Team (extra)
Nissan Motorsports (WEC)
Nissan Motorsports (WEC)
Nissan Motorsports (extra)
Toyota Racing (WEC)
Toyota Racing (WEC)
Rebellion Racing (WEC)
Rebellion Racing (extra (hunch))
Lotus (WEC)

LMP2 - 19x
Extreme Speed Motorsports (WEC)
Extreme Speed Motorsports (WEC)
SMP Racing (WEC)
SMP Racing (WEC)
G-Drive Racing (WEC)
G-Drive Racing (WEC)
KCMG (WEC)
Strakka Racing (WEC)
Morand Racing / SARD (WEC)
Oak Racing (AsLMS)
Oak Racing (extra)
Signatech Alpine (ELMS)
Thiriet by TDS (ELMS)
Sebastien Loeb Racing (ELMS)
Pegasus Racing (ELMS)
Murphy Prototypes (ELMS)
Greaves Motorsports (ELMS)
Jota Sport (ELMS)
Team Brabham (extra)

LMGTE-PRO - 08x
AF Corse (WEC)
AF Corse (WEC)
Manthey Porsche (WEC)
Manthey Porsche (WEC)
Aston Martin Racing (WEC)
Aston Martin Racing (WEC)
Corvette Racing (USCC)
Corvette Racing (USCC)

LMGTE-AM - 15x
AF Corse (WEC)
AF Corse (WEC)
AF Corse (ELMS)
8star Motorsports - AF Corse (WEC)
Aston Martin Racing (WEC)
Aston Martin Racing (WEC)
Aston Martin Racing (extra)
Prospeed Competition (WEC)
Proton-Dempsey Competition (WEC)
Proton Competition (extra)
Sofrev-ASP (ELMS)
SMP Racing (ELMS)
SMP Racing (extra)
AAI Motorsports (AsLMS)
IMSA Performance Matmut (ELMS)

Reserves
LMP2#1 - Krohn Racing (partial USCC/WEC)
LMP2#2 - Race Performance (ELMS)
LMP2#3 - RSR Racing (USCC/ELMS???)
LMP2#4 - Graff Racing (ELMS)
LMP2#5 - Ibanez Racing (ELMS)
AM#1 - JMW Motorsports (ELMS)
AM#2 - AAI Motorsports (AsLMS)
AM#3 - Gulf Racing UK (ELMS)
AM#4 - V8 Racing/Selleslagh (ELMS)
AM#5 - Prospeed Competition (extra)

They'll likely do the same trick for AAI as they did for Taisan this year, same for USCC at-large me thinks?

Had to leave out many seconds cars from P2 in particular but I think that's just what's gonna happen anyway

[Simmi]

You think they'd reserve Krohn two years in a row, even if he has other outings in Europe - plus his new machinery purchase?

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Chiana

They'll likely do the same trick for AAI as they did for Taisan this year, same for USCC at-large me thinks?

Remind me again please what that was?

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Simmi

You think they'd reserve Krohn two years in a row, even if he has other outings in Europe - plus his new machinery purchase?

Yes

They tend to favor their full season entries unless you're big team, celebrity or special friends with ACO. And if they're going to cater LMGTE-AM to the level I fear it's going to be again, there's simply no room in P2... besides ACO's made many weird decisions in the past, to loyal (French) teams too

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Remind me again please what that was?

Throwing them to the reserve lists despite having "automatic entries"

With Taisan it was extra disgusting violation from ACO's end as they were the only GTE supporter of that garbage AsLMS series yet only got reserve status (initially), no wonder they ditched it

[Deleted]

Ok that was how I believe it's gonna look like, here's how I'm gonna wish it would look like (while keeping within realms of possibility in the current environment ie not total fantasy, even if unlikely)

LMP1 - 16x
Audi Sport Team Joest
Audi Sport Team Joest
Audi Sport Team Joest
Porsche Team
Porsche Team
Porsche Team
Nissan Motorsports
Nissan Motorsports
Nissan Motorsports
Toyota Racing
Toyota Racing
Toyota Racing
Rebellion Racing
Rebellion Racing
Lotus
Lotus

LMP2 - 22x
Extreme Speed Motorsports
Extreme Speed Motorsports
SMP Racing
SMP Racing
G-Drive Racing
KCMG
Strakka Racing
Morand Racing / SARD
Oak Racing
Signatech Alpine
Thiriet by TDS
Sebastien Loeb Racing
Pegasus Racing
Murphy Prototypes
Greaves Motorsports
Jota Sport
Team Brabham
Zoo Racing (Pillbeam)
Krohn Racing
Race Performance
RSR Racing
Ibanez Racing

LMGTE-PRO - 9x
AF Corse
AF Corse
Manthey Porsche
Manthey Porsche
Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing
Corvette Racing
Corvette Racing
Risi Competizione

LMGTE-AM - 9x
AF Corse
8star Motorsports
JMW Motorsports
Aston Martin Racing
AAI Motorsports
Prospeed Competition
Proton-Dempsey Competition
IMSA Performance Matmut
V8 Racing/SRT

And maybe then ACO gives a surprise by saying that they actually did construct 57th garage (as originally promised last February) and then gives even bigger shock by saying that it's gonna be home to "Garage 57" GT500 car, in order to re-establish warm relations with the GTA in Japan But okay that would be too much of a fantasy, so scrap that... :/

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by Simmi

You think they'd reserve Krohn two years in a row, even if he has other outings in Europe - plus his new machinery purchase?

Talking with Tracy Krohn at Petit Le Mans this year he seemed to think there was no doubt that he would have an invite for Le Mans. He said it was an absolute. Maybe it's him being optimistic, but he seemed pretty certain of it.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Talking with Tracy Krohn at Petit Le Mans this year he seemed to think there was no doubt that he would have an invite for Le Mans. He said it was an absolute. Maybe it's him being optimistic, but he seemed pretty certain of it.

As an American LMP2 entrant I suspect he's got decent grounds for confidence.

[Deleted]

So what...

Larbre is very much ACO loyal + French + had LMP2 for this year, yet was thrown to the reserve list. Same fate in 2009 with their GT1 Saleen for a class that was lacking entries anyway.

Pegasus Racing is ACO loyal running LMP2 and every single time they've entered the race (Norma 2010 / Courage 2011 / Oak Pesca 2014) they've been put to the prototype reserve list.

There are many other examples

[Deleted]

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian...omment-1075563

Even though AII has two auto entries, will ACO grant them if they don't do any racing in their own series next year (understandable that they don't necessarily want to continue in that trash Asian series)? It's been the norm for couple of years now to have that policy

What was the last team not to do any, nor even planning to do other ACO(/IMSA) races the season they went to Le Mans? I suppose Team Taisan this year, although they were planning to do Fuji 6 before that got canned. But still, only one ACO race.

Hope Racing entered it's "hybrid" P1 for 2011 without aiming to do anything else, but they didn't advance from the reserve list.

I guess if Zoo Racing / Pillbeam were to get entry somehow while wanting to stick to African scene otherwise, similar thing might happen there.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by Chiana

So what...

Larbre is very much ACO loyal + French + had LMP2 for this year, yet was thrown to the reserve list. Same fate in 2009 with their GT1 Saleen for a class that was lacking entries anyway.

Pegasus Racing is ACO loyal running LMP2 and every single time they've entered the race (Norma 2010 / Courage 2011 / Oak Pesca 2014) they've been put to the prototype reserve list.

There are many other examples

After the ACO went begging to Tracey Krohn earlier this year to grt him to enter late when others pulled out, I'd bet he slipped a quiet deal in there about not sticking him in the reserves again this year.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Chiana

So what...

ACO's desire to have a global pyramid, lack of ability to attract US entrants in the last couple of years, relative paucity of people running LMP2s in the US.

I'll stick at three for the moment.

[Mike E]

I prefer the slightly higher pitched sound of the Judd over the Nissan.
Krohn testing at Estoril last month.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/TuOvnEngi08

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Mike E

I prefer the slightly higher pitched sound of the Judd over the Nissan.
Krohn testing at Estoril last month.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/TuOvnEngi08

Likewise, although for some reason the Nissan sounds really sweet in the Zytek.

What I love most of all is a mixture of sounds.

[911targa]

“Currently we are putting all our attention and efforts to prepare for the Dec. 7th final race at Sepang. Team AAI will further review which car is best suited for the team to be entered at 2015 Le Mans.” S365

That's confusing.

At the moment, they've a pair of BMW Z4, a pair of SLS AMG plus a R35 GTR, but all above are GT3 machines, and only BMW offers GTE update package(as in TUSC), considering they signed two BMW factory DTM guys for Macau GT, 2 Z4 GTE could be possible. Or will they pick up their 2012 Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, or leasing cars from another team?

Anyway having two entries confirmed is not that difficult, they just need to handle their entry fee and withdraw later.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

Likewise, although for some reason the Nissan sounds really sweet in the Zytek.

What I love most of all is a mixture of sounds.

The exhaust exits are on the top of the rear deck on the Zytek, rather than a single tailpipe ahead of each rear wheel on the Oreca. Maybe that makes a difference to the sound.

[Deleted]

Killarney Raceway's / African motorsport PR department seem to be fairly confident that Zoo Racing will get P2 entry for Pilbeam

-- Entries for this event from all the main centres around South Africa include cars not often seen at Killarney such as the menacing 8.4-litre V10 Dodge Viper, a debuting Pillbeam LMP 100 turbo that is destined for next year’s Le Mans 24-Hour race --

I hope so too but not as confident as them...

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Killarney Raceway's / African motorsport PR department seem to be fairly confident that Zoo Racing will get P2 entry for Pilbeam

-- Entries for this event from all the main centres around South Africa include cars not often seen at Killarney such as the menacing 8.4-litre V10 Dodge Viper, a debuting Pillbeam LMP 100 turbo that is destined for next year’s Le Mans 24-Hour race --

I hope so too but not as confident as them...

They're making it up, but good luck to them.

[Deleted]

If the ACO wants to build connections to Africa (I don't know if they do though) they should allow them in, even if the team don't really run anywhere else.

Also the car is currently fitted with Hankooks, so you could have another potential tire make to boost up the lack of variety there currently is (whether or not Yokohama joins Michelin and Dunlop)

It's the sort of "weird garage effort" that's been missing from LM past few years. Also a bit more exotic? I think there should always be at least one

[CTD]

If the car can run, and have a chance at completing the full 24 hours with a reasonable pace, it should be allowed in!
It is better than another Zytek Nissan from a random team who doesn't have the funds to challenge the top of LMP2

[Deleted]

I doubt it would/will really have the pace, probably similar to Norma or Radical or something. The design is aged and their facilites small. Not that one could really even make any comparisons if it only runs against some homebred GT cars and cheap fourth division prototypes in African venues.

But ACO used to give entries to FIA GT teams (automatic 2xGT1+2xGT2), as well as in less extent to Super GT teams. I think it adds to variety if there's couple, or at least one team coming in from "different backgrounds" and/or running something not overly fashionable. Even if the limited 56 car space is jammed with traffic already

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by Chiana

It's the sort of "weird garage effort" that's been missing from LM past few years. Also a bit more exotic? I think there should always be at least one

I couldn't agree more, and for that type of effort LMP2 is the perfect category.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

After the ACO went begging to Tracey Krohn earlier this year to grt him to enter late when others pulled out, I'd bet he slipped a quiet deal in there about not sticking him in the reserves again this year.

That would be a good business move by Krohn if that were true. Either way I hope to see the screaming green Ligier rocketing down the Mulsanne this summer.

[Rodger Davies]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

After the ACO went begging to Tracey Krohn earlier this year to grt him to enter late when others pulled out, I'd bet he slipped a quiet deal in there about not sticking him in the reserves again this year.

I thought the same thing, after the way they treated him this year and he still came through at the last minute, they owe him an entry for this year and it wouldn't surprise me if this was the deal done. Either that, or he's planning on WEC with it too.

[Simmi]

The ACO has announced the auto-invites for the race next year:
http://www.24h-lemans.com/wpphpFichi...es-du-mans.pdf

No surprises but the "at-large" TUSC invites are for Wayne Taylor Racing (LMP2) and Scuderia Corsa (GT-Am).

It will be interesting to find out more about WTR. I'm assuming they asked for the invite and if there's a plan to source a chassis.

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by Simmi

The ACO has announced the auto-invites for the race next year:
http://www.24h-lemans.com/wpphpFichi...es-du-mans.pdf

No surprises but the "at-large" TUSC invites are for Wayne Taylor Racing (LMP2) and Scuderia Corsa (GT-Am).

It will be interesting to find out more about WTR. I'm assuming they asked for the invite and if there's a plan to source a chassis.

They'll never go. It was pointless to see them get the invite. The only way they would go is if they were allowed to enter their DP and everyone else was slowed down to their speed. Since that won't happen, and Chevy doesn't even have a P2 engine, it's pointless for them to get the invite.