24 Hours of Le Mans

The first fifteen entries for the 2005 Le Mans 24 Hours

The year has hardly begun and already the distant thunder of the 2005 Le Mans 24 Hours can be heard. Fifteen entrants from the list of teams automatically selected according to their results in 2004 * have confirmed their presence at the greatest endurance race in the world on 18th and 19th June.

© ACEMCO — One of the nine US teams – ACEMCO does Le Mans in 2005

Out of these fifteen teams nine are from the USA, which highlights the motivation of the American Le Mans Series entrants. What is striking is the number of LMP 2s, six in all, that have confirmed their participation promising a no-holds-barred battle between Courage and Lola with WR and Pilbeam waiting in the wings.

Also confirmed are several GT 1s, the new designation of the former GTS Category. Five of the seven automatic entries will be in the Sarthe in June including the new Corvette C6-Rs so another thrilling round in their battle with the Ferrari 550 Maranellos from BMS Scuderia Italia and Larbre Competition looks on the cards. Saleen will also be back in this category with Acemo Motorsports. This year sees the eagerly awaited return of Aston Martin to the Le Mans 24 Hours. The Selection Committee will see the DBR9s racing for the first time on 19th March in the Sebring 12 Hours.

The Selection Committee will meet twice, one in February to draw up a preliminary list based on the entries it has received by 19th January. Another meeting will be held at the end of March after it has seen the cars entered for the Sebring event, the opening round of the ALMS.

Thrilling duels in each category anticipated

Entrants who have not yet confirmed their participation have until 19th January to do so. The focal point of interest concerns names that are not on the above list: Prodrive Racing and Barron Connor in GT 1, Choroq Racing Team, Alex Job Racing and JMB Racing in GT 2 and above all Dyson Racing in LMP 1. The absence of the 2004 winner and runner up Audi Sport Japan Team Goh and Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx is not a surprise as they have already announced their withdrawal from the 2005 event.

“The various contacts I’ve had with the entrants leads me to believe that the 2005 field will be a very varied one and also of very high quality,” smiled Daniel Poissenot, the A.C.O Sports Manager. “It could give a very promising indication as to the involvement of certain manufacturers.”

The above list provides a foretaste of this. The presence of a superb field and the promise of thrilling duels in each category should be confirmed at the end of March.

Automatic Entries

Prototype “LM” P1
Champion Racing USA LMP1 – LMP 900 Audi ALMS

Prototype “LM” P2
Courage Competition FRA LMP2 Courage LMES
Intersport Racing USA LMP2 Lola AER ALMS
Intersport Racing USA LMP2 Courage Judd “24 Heures du Mans”
Miracle Motorsports USA LMP2 Courage ALMS
Pierre Bruneau FRA LMP2 Pilbeam LMES
Rachel Welter FRA LMP2 WR “24 Heures du Mans”

Grand Tourisme (“LM” GT1)
ACEMCO Motorsports USA LM GT1 Saleen S7R ALMS
BMS Scuderia Italia ITA LM GT1 Ferrari 550 Maranello FIA
Corvette Racing USA LM GT1 Corvette C6R “24 Heures du Mans”
Corvette Racing USA LM GT1 Corvette C6R Petit Le Mans
Larbre Competition FRA LM GT1 Ferrari 550 Maranello LMES

Grand Tourisme (“LM” GT2)
White Lightning Racing USA LM GT2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS “24 Heures du Mans”
Flying Lizard Motorsports USA LM GT2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS ALMS
Sebah Automotive Ltd GBR LM GT2 Porsche 911 GT3 RS LMES

* The first two in each of the four categories in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Le Mans Endurance Series; the first one in the American Le Mans Series, the Petit Le Mans and the FIA GT Championship.

Teams that have not picked up their automatic entry

All teams in LMP2 class have taken their automatic entry. The teams bellow did not for various reasons;

Prototype “LM” P1
Team Audi Goh JPN LMP1 – LMP 900 Audi “24 Heures du Mans”
Team Audi Sport UK Veloqx GBR LMP1 – LMP 900 Audi LMES
Dyson Racing USA LMP1 – LMP 900 Lola ALMS

Grand Tourisme (“LM” GT1)
Prodrive GBR LM GT1 Ferrari 550 Maranello “24 Heures du Mans”
Barron Connor NLD LM GT1 Ferrari 575 Maranello LMES

Grand Tourisme (“LM” GT2)
Choroq Racing JPN LM GT2 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR “24 Heures du Mans”
JMB MON LM GT2 Ferari 360 Modena LMES
Alex Job Racing USA LM GT2 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR ALMS

Find the latest updates on Trevor’s excellent site: Mariantic.

© 2005 Planetlemans.com.