24 Hours of Le Mans

This is the list! — Final Le Mans 2005 entry list released

The final choice of the field for the 73rd Le Mans 24 Hours has been made. The overall quality of the teams selected for the race on 18th - 19th June will ensure a fierce battle for outright victory; and the struggle for first place in each category will be no less intense.

© Planetlemans.com

This total of 50 cars represents 38 different entrants: 10 in LMP1, 12 in LMP2, 7 in GT1 and 9 in GT2. They will all take to the track during the Test Day on 5th June.

The 73rd Le Mans 24 Hours looks like being a very open race to which extra spice will be added by the presence of some newcomers. In addition to the Champion Audi’s, one-two in the 2005 Sebring 12 Hours, and the French ’Blue’ Audi running under the Team Oreca colours, the new Dome-Mugen entered by team Jim Gainer International will be making its Sarthe debut. It will not be the only Japanese representative as one of the two Rollcentre Racing Dallaras is powered by a Nissan engine. Zytek, DBA, Nasamax and Jan Lammers’ team’s Dome are also entered in LMP1 in addition to the two Pescarolos and the two Courages with Judd power.

Yves Courage is making a welcome return to the LMP1 Category and his name is well represented in LMP2 with no fewer than seven C65 prototypes (a total of 9 cars in all for the local constructor). It will be interesting to compare the performances of the different engines and tyres, which vary from one Courage to another. In addition to the C65, winner of its class in the Le Mans Endurance Series in 2004 and more recently in the Sebring 12 Hours, the presence of the new Lolas and the Luchini as well as evolutions from WR and Pilbeam has led to an increase in both quality and quantity in the LMP2 Category.

In GT1 the major attraction of the 2005 Le Mans 24 Hours is the return of Aston Martin (outright winner in 1959 and absent since 1989). The British manufacturer’s season got off to an excellent start with a category victory in the Sebring 12 Hours on Corvette’s home territory. The American make is the current Le Mans GT1 titleholder and will be out for revenge in the Sarthe with its new C6-R (6th generation). In addition to the above-mentioned makes other prestigious entries include no fewer than 5 Ferraris, four 550 Maranellos and one 575 GTC, entered by teams that are accustomed to the topmost step of the rostrum. A Saleen S7R, another American GT, completes the GT1 field.

Finally, the GT2 Category is more varied than in the past with a couple of Ferrari 360 Modenas, a TVR, and the comeback of the Dutch GT, the Spyker C8 in spyder form, plus the arrival of the new Panoz Esperante. They will be up against a formidable armada of Porsches, which is currently the make to beat in this category.

{mospagebreak}

Le Mans 2005 Entry List

PROTOTYPE “LM” P1
2 * CHAMPION RACING USA LMP1 - LMP 900 AUDI 3600T
3 CHAMPION RACING GBR LMP1 - LMP 900 AUDI 3600T
4 AUDI PLAYSTATION TEAM ORECA FRA LMP1 - LMP 900 AUDI 3600T
5 JIM GAINER INTERNATIONAL JPN LMP 1 DOME MUGEN 4000A
7 CREATION AUTOSPORTIF LTD GBR LMP1 - LMP 675 DBA JUDD 3397A
8 ROLLCENTRE RACING GBR LMP1 - LMP 900 DALLARA NISSAN 3600T
9 TEAM JOTA-ZYTEK ENGINEERING LTD GBR LMP1 - LMP 675 ZYTEK 3396A
10 RACING FOR HOLLAND NLD LMP1 - LMP 900 DOME JUDD 3998A
12 COURAGE COMPETITION FRA LM P1 COURAGE JUDD 3997A
13 COURAGE COMPETITION FRA LM P1 COURAGE JUDD 3997A
14 TEAM NASAMAX GBR LM P1 NASAMAX JUDD 4997A
16 PESCAROLO SPORT FRA LMP 1 PESCAROLO JUDD 4997A
17 PESCAROLO SPORT FRA LMP 1 PESCAROLO JUDD 4997A
18 ROLLCENTRE RACING GBR LMP1 - LMP 900 DALLARA JUDD 4000A

PROTOTYPE “LM” P2
20 * PIERRE BRUNEAU FRA LMP2 PILBEAM - JPX 3396A
23 GERARD WELTER FRA LMP2 WR 3367A
24 * RACHEL WELTER FRA LMP2 WR - PEUGEOT 1999T
25 RML GBR LMP2 LOLA MG 3397A
30 KRUSE MOTORSPORT LTD GBR LMP2 COURAGE JUDD 3395A
31 NOEL DEL BELLO FRA LMP2 COURAGE - CG 3400A
32 * INTERSPORT RACING USA LMP2 LOLA AER 1995T
33 * INTERSPORT RACING USA LMP2 COURAGE JUDD 3397A
34 * MIRACLE MOTORSPORTS USA LMP2 COURAGE - AER 2000T
35 G-FORCE RACING / BOKKENRIJDERS BEL LMP2 COURAGE JUDD 3400A
36 PAUL BELMONDO RACING FRA LMP2 COURAGE FORD 2000T
37 PAUL BELMONDO RACING FRA LMP2 COURAGE FORD 2000T
39 CHAMBERLAIN - SYNERGY MOTORSPORT GBR LMP2 LOLA AER 1995T
45 LUCCHINI ENGINEERING SRL ITA LMP2 LUCCHINI JUDD 3400A

GRAND TOURISME (”LM” GT1)
50 * LARBRE COMPETITION FRA LM GT1 FERRARI 550 MARANELLO 5853A
51 * BMS SCUDERIA ITALIA ITA LM GT1 FERRARI 550 MARANELLO 5853A
52 BMS SCUDERIA ITALIA ITA LM GT1 FERRARI 550 MARANELLO 5853A
55 * ACEMCO MOTORSPORTS USA LM GT1 SALEEN S7R 6999A
58 ASTON MARTIN RACING GBR LM GT1 ASTON MARTIN DBR9 5992A
59 ASTON MARTIN RACING GBR LM GT1 ASTON MARTIN DBR9 5992A
61 CIRTEK MOTORSPORT RUS LM GT1 FERRARI 550 MARANELLO 5853A
63 * CORVETTE RACING USA LM GT1 CORVETTE C6-R 6991A
64 * CORVETTE RACING USA LM GT1 CORVETTE C6-R 6991A
69 JMB RACING MCO LM GT1 FERRARI 575 GTC 5993A

GRAND TOURISME (”LM” GT2)
71 ALEX JOB RACING USA LM GT2 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR 3600A
72 LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES FRA LM GT2 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS 3598A
77 PANOZ MOTOR SPORTS USA LM GT2 PANOZ ELAN 5000A
78 PANOZ MOTOR SPORTS USA LM GT2 PANOZ ELAN 5000A
80 * FLYING LIZARD MOTORSPORTS USA LM GT2 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR 3600A
83 SEIKEL MOTORSPORT DEU LM GT2 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR 3598A
85 SPYKER SQUADRON b.v. NLD LM GT2 SPYKER C8 SPYDER 3800A
89 * SEBAH AUTOMOTIVE LTD GBR LM GT2 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR 3600A
90 * WHITE LIGHTNING RACING USA LM GT2 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR 3600A
92 CIRTEK MOTORSPORT RUS LM GT2 FERRARI 360 MODENA GTC 3586A
93 SCUDERIA ECOSSE GBR LM GT2 FERRARI 360 MODENA 3596A
95 RACESPORT PENINSULA TVR GBR LM GT2 TVR TUSCAN 400 R 3996A
*Automatically selected competitors

RESERVE CARS
91 S1 T2M MOTORSPORT JPN LM GT2 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS 3598A
60 S2 LARBRE COMPETITION FRA LM GT1 FERRARI 550 MARANELLO 5853A
11 S3 RACING FOR HOLLAND NLD LMP1 - LMP 900 DOME JUDD 3998A
99 S4 GPC SPORT SRL ITA LM GT2 FERRARI 360 MODENA GTC 3586A
74 S5 RAYMOND NARAC FRA LM GT2 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS 3600A
65 S6 GRAHAM NASH MOTORSPORT GBR LM GT1 SALEEN S7R 6986A
86 S7 SPYKER SQUADRON b.v. NLD LM GT2 SPYKER C8 SPYDER 3800A
75 S8 THIERRY PERRIER FRA LM GT2 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS 3598A

Please note:

• In addition to the 50 entries, the Selection Committee has also drawn up a reserve list of 8 cars. It will remain valid for withdrawals announced up to 27th May 2005 which will then be replaced by the reserves in their numerical order whatever the category.
• Next date: Friday 3rd June with the start of scrutineering for the Le Mans 24-Hour Test Day on Sunday 5th June from 09h00 to 13h00 and 14h00 to 18h00.
• 2005 will be the first year of the new calendar with the Test Day two weeks before the race itself.