[LM24] ACO Entry Press Conference 2015 - Feb 5th

[GT6]

And still loads of rumours about more to come, would have liked a few more different gt's but overall a good time to be watching le mans, and in a little over 4 months we will be there

[airbusA346]

3rd Porsche 919 drivers:

- Nick Tandy
- Earl Bamber
- Nico Hulkenberg

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Did the Morand-SARD cars have engines badged as Toyota or did they keep them as Judd(-BMWs), didn't notice. And haven't found the full official PDF yet

They engines themselves have been re-badged as SARD. Absolutely no Toyota references have come from the team in anything I've read.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

They engines themselves have been re-badged as SARD. Absolutely no Toyota references have come from the team in anything I've read.

Originally it was reported that they were gonna be badged as Toyotas. But better this than that'd had been

AF Corse and AMR both with five again, but obviously the Italians also have the three SMPs to take care of (not sure of the American car)

There's not that many new Oreca coupes btw, just as with HPD I was expecting more

8 open top P2s vs 12 coupes (10 vs 13 if reserves counted), the reign of power is slowly switching.

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Originally it was reported that they were gonna be badged as Toyotas. But better this than that'd had been

You could create a crazy diagram starting with a Courage showing its relationship with HPD and Pescarolo and then the OAK which became the Morgan, with all the engines those cars have had and their constant badging and re-badging. The Ligier as well allegedly has some Pescarolo and therefore Courage in its DNA.

That car should probably have six fingers.

[Deleted]

I've added series affiliations for easier spotting

Le Mans entries consist of
WEC 35x
ELMS 12+5x
USCC 3+1x
AsLMS 3x
"Extra" 3+1x

LMP1 - 14x
1 – Toyota Racing – Toyota TS040 Hybrid WEC
2 – Toyota Racing – Toyota TS040 Hybrid WEC
4 – ByKolles – CLM P1/01 AER WEC
7 – Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R18 e-tron quattro WEC
8 – Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R18 e-tron quattro WEC
9 – Audi Sport Team Joest – Audi R18 e-tron quattro *EXTRA*
12 – Rebellion Racing – Rebellion R-One AER WEC
13 – Rebellion Racing – Rebellion R-One AER WEC
17 – Porsche Team – Porsche 919 Hybrid WEC
18 – Porsche Team – Porsche 919 Hybrid WEC
19 – Porsche Team – Porsche 919 Hybrid *EXTRA*
21 – Nissan Motorsports – Nissan GT-R LM NISMO WEC
22 – Nissan Motorsports – Nissan GT-R LM NISMO WEC
23 – Nissan Motorsports – Nissan GT-R LM NISMO *EXTRA*

LMP2 - 20x
26 – G-Drive Racing – Oak/Ligier JS P2 Nissan WEC
27 – SMP Racing – BR01 Nissan ELMS
28 – G-Drive Racing – Oak/Ligier JS P2 Nissan WEC
29 – Pegasus Racing – Oak-Pescarolo/Morgan Nissan ELMS
30 – Extreme Speed Motorsports – HPD ARX-04b WEC
31 – Extreme Speed Motorsports – HPD ARX-04b WEC
34 – OAK Racing – Oak/Ligier JS P2 Nissan AsLMS
35 – OAK Racing – Oak/Ligier JS P2 Nissan WEC
36 – Signatech-Alpine – Oreca-03/Alpine A450b Nissan WEC
37 – SMP Racing – BR01 Nissan ELMS
38 – Jota Sport – Zytek/Gibson 015S Nissan ELMS
39 – Team SARD-Morand – Oak-Pescarolo/Morgan Evo SARD WEC
40 – Krohn Racing – Oak/Ligier JS P2 Judd ELMS
41 – Greaves Motorsport – Zytek/Gibson 015S Nissan ELMS
42 – Strakka Racing – Strakka-Dome S103 Nissan WEC
43 – Team SARD-Morand – Oak/Morgan Evo SARD WEC
45 – Ibanez Racing – Oreca 03R Nissan ELMS
46 – Thiriet by TDS Racing – Oreca 05 Nissan ELMS
47 – KCMG – Oreca 05 Nissan WEC
48 – Murphy Prototypes – Oreca 03R Nissan ELMS

LMGTE-PRO - 9x
51 – AF Corse – Ferrari F458 Italia WEC
63 – Corvette Racing-GM – Chevrolet Corvette C7.R USCC
64 – Corvette Racing-GM – Chevrolet Corvette C7.R USCC
71 – AF Corse – Ferrari F458 Italia WEC
91 – Porsche Team Manthey – Porsche 911 RSR WEC
92 – Porsche Team Manthey – Porsche 911 RSR WEC
95 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin Vantage GT2 WEC
97 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin Vantage GT2 WEC
99 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin Vantage GT2 WEC

LMGTE-AM - 13x
50 – Larbre Competition – Chevrolet Corvette C7.R WEC
55 – AF Corse – Ferrari F458 Italia ELMS
61 – AF Corse – Ferrari F458 Italia ELMS
62 – Scuderia Corsa – Ferrari F458 Italia USCC
66 – JMW Motorsports – Ferrari F458 Italia ELMS
67 – Team AAI – Porsche 911 GTE RSR (997) AsLMS
68 – Team AAI – Porsche 911 GTE RSR (997) AsLMS
72 – SMP Racing – Ferrari F458 Italia WEC
77 – Dempsey Proton Racing – Porsche 911 RSR WEC
83 – AF Corse – Ferrari F458 Italia WEC
88 – Abu Dhabi Proton Racing – Porsche 911 RSR WEC
96 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin Vantage GT2 WEC
98 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin Vantage GT2 WEC

RESERVES
1) 53 – Riley Motorsports-TI Auto – Dodge Viper GTS-R USCC
2) 49 – KCMG – Oreca 03R Nissan *EXTRA*
3) 60 – Formula Racing – Ferrari F458 Italia ELMS
4) 86 – Gulf Racing UK – Porsche 911 RSR ELMS
5) 25 – Algarve Pro Racing – Oak/Ligier JS P2 Nissan ELMS
6) 65 – Proton Competition – Porsche 911 RSR ELMS (albeit different car but this should still be the ELMS spot)
7) 44 – Ibanez Racing – Oreca 03R Nissan ELMS

[rdjones]

I'm stuck at work and I followed the press confrance by Twitter. Did they say how many application's they had as there is always someone who entries and doesn't get picked.

[Rodger Davies]

With only 7 reserves, In not sure that's the case this year. Likely a victim of their GTE perseverance and people knowing they weren't going to get an entry so not entering unless they thought it likely (iirc, there's a nonrefundable cost to lodging an entry).

[Deleted]

Some probably plain rejected too (Pilbeam...)

Anyway if they only got 63 entries in the first place, that would be like 15-20 entries less than in recent years. But I don't buy that

[GT6]

Well lets just hope we do not get to many drop outs this year, one would be nice to let the Viper in but the grid looks very strong so let us hope

[Deleted]

Viper and second KCMG at least are basically already in, or when was the last time no-one folded before scrutineering?

[Deleted]

Mildy amusing that Autosport has hidden the entry list under some article conserning Porsche driver additions. Don't let the F1 world see the riches here!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report...ce=mostpopular

Speaking of hiding, do we still have the official PDF yet?? You know with tires and details and such

[Rodger Davies]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Speaking of hiding, do we still have the official PDF yet?? You know with tires and details and such

Not sure if there's a PDF around, but this was on the official Twitter.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9FuisKIEAAEOTf.jpg



To anyone playing the "what nationality is Kolles this year?" game, congratulations to anyone that guessed Austrian.




Hope to see the Viper get in (although it being in reserve makes me think they maybe haven't 100% sorted the details yet), so who do we thing will/might withdraw?

Kolles? They've surprised me every time so far, every time they've turned up at a race, so I won't bet against them doing so again.

Ibanez? If they were planning on two cars and have Wolf backing, I don't see that their single entry would be in too much doubt.

AAI? They were willing to spend the money last year to race against no-one in order to get the auto-invites and I assume that their package will be in place. There will be no shortage of 997s around and teams to run them, and they could well be hiring the IMSA-Matmut crew for this one.

#99 AMR? Surprised to see this one on the list, will be intriguing to know who the other drivers are. Glad to see it there though, and the WEC entry makes me think it must have funding already.

SMP P2s? Doubts if they'll be ready for the test day or the start of the season maybe, but should be sorted by Le Mans. Political situation might make it a bit difficult though, so remains to be seen. Hope we do see these cars.

3x AF Corse Ams? Can't see any of these dropping out; they're each listed with a well-known Bronze driver next to them, so I don't see them having any issues fulfilling the entry, and I'm sure they could find a taker in case one was needed.

Nothing else looks too dubious.

[Deleted]

Thanks

Unless those couple of TBA tires surprise us, it's all-Dunlop LMP2 except Dome And no Yokohama as originally rumored. That's actually the most disappointing thing regarding this whole conference, lack of tire variety in P2.

At least JMW is sticking to (spec-ELMS) Dunlops in otherwise Michelin land GTE, so it'll automatically improve the statistics over last year. But how interesting is it that the the ELMS GT teams running with Dunlop are mass changing to Mics for LM... well I guess they had no choice in ELMS, but still

[whitemr2]

Does anyone know how ACO decides who is on the reserve list? I can imagine Viper is on it because they backed out last year. That also means ACO 'punishes' teams???

[GT6]

I think the Viper was a very late entry but rather than bump another team it was place at the head of the reserve list expecting at least one withdrawl

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by whitemr2

That also means ACO 'punishes' teams???

Anyway they decide the list pretty much however they want, sure there are 'obligations' and entries given based on results - to lesser extent than in the past though - but for the most part it's just them sitting on table and choosing who lives and dies. Being best buddies with the ACO is always essential.

[Victor_RO]

The Viper is not a full-season entry in any championship with cars that "conform" (word braced like that to appease others) to ACO rules. Team is running a GTD/modified GT3 car in TUSC, they are not running in GTLM.

[GT6]

And it does help to be french

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

The Viper is not a full-season entry in any championship with cars that "conform" (word braced like that to appease others) to ACO rules. Team is running a GTD/modified GT3 car in TUSC, they are not running in GTLM.

Auto-entry WTR wouldn't have had full season car to 'conform' with rules either, so that reasoning doesn't work.

Same for the GT3/GTC auto entries.

Oh and Scuderia Corsa as well

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Auto-entry WTR wouldn't have had full season car to 'conform' with rules either, so that reasoning doesn't work.

Same for the GT3/GTC auto entries.

Oh and Scuderia Corsa as well

Auto entries, and the ACO policy for auto entries is known (GTD/GTC auto entries are automatically in GTE-Am). Riley/TI are not an auto entry, they had to apply to the ACO for an entry.

And before you mention Risi's auto entry being rejected/shafted to the reserve list last year, that was an exception due to Krohn involvement.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Auto entries. Riley/TI are not an auto entry, they had to apply to the ACO for an entry.

That changes nothing in context to Riley. ACO still had to "accept" them as auto entries.

And last year's Taisan auto entry reserve place is much better example than Risi/krohn btw.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Chiana

That changes nothing in context to Riley. ACO still had to "accept" them as auto entries.

Only auto entry that was rejected by the ACO in recent years (by being pushed down to fifth GTE reserve) was Risi/Krohn last year. All the other auto entries that were not taken up were not taken up by the teams/the teams withdrew after accepting the entries.

EDIT: Okay. Still only 2 "ACO-rejected" auto entries out of 10-15 every year for the last 10 or so years.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Only auto entry that was rejected by the ACO in recent years (by being pushed down to fifth GTE reserve) was Risi/Krohn last year. All the other auto entries that were not taken up were not taken up by the teams/the teams withdrew after accepting the entries.

Taisan 2014.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Taisan 2014.

Edit above acknowledging that. My point still stands. Also, Taisan didn't race anywhere with that Ferrari apart from LM in 2014.