Analysis

The Planetlemans LMS 2008 preview (the GTs)

© Planetlemans - Gabriel Portos // The Alphand Corvette C6R at Silverstone in 2007

After a strong 2007 season the Le Mans Series will present a similar scenario for the GT classes in 2008. With GT1 champions Oreca moving to LMP1 and GT2 having a very similar grid as last year, the LMS may have some trouble to offer attractive GT racing this year.

The top class will have a Saleen vs Corvette battle, Larbre taking over the Oreca 2007 cars should be a strong opponent to a renewed Luc Alphand team which will see their two C6Rs fully supported by GM. While the Larbre drivers are not yet announced, we can expect the “Ollies” (Gavin and Beretta) to be behind the Corvette wheels often.

Team Modena should be back with their Aston Martin challenging these two, the last race at Silverstone was the final proof that they have a good shot at a win, 2008 could be their year even when it does not appear as an easy job. Completing the small GT1 grid we should see a Kox-Rusinov Lamborghini Murciélago but this will happen only at selected races. It is also likely that the JMT team will inscribe a Porsche 996 in this class but this is not confirmed at this point.

GT2 should see the top teams coming back and a Porsche-Ferrari classic battle as its main attraction. Reigning champions Virgo will be back with a Rob Bell-Gianmaria Bruni driven Ferrari 430 GT and they have serious title aspirations. Felbermayr-Proton should be their main rivals even if Xavier Pompidou has a very big chance of getting an LMP2 drive with the Speedy LMP2 Lola.

© Planetlemans - Gabriel Portos // The IMSA Matmut Porsche in 2007

Other “usual suspects” in this class include Le Mans winners IMSA Matmut (2 cars in 2008), Farnbacher, James Watt and Thierry Perrier, all of them with Porsche as it was the case last year. On the Ferrari camp Ice Pol and JMB could be back while GPC and Villorba Corse have opted for national championships this year. Spanish top team RSV also had announced their intention to join but this has not been confirmed yet. The final list of season entries end of February should give us the last word on the matter.

The Spykers will be back using their Laviolette coupes for both Speedy and the works team, improvement in aero and engine could move the Dutch cars further up the grid after an upbeat final two races in 2007. While Markland might not be back with their top drivers moving to the second Barazi Zytek, the big question mark remains about LNT and their future. A frustrating season with the Panoz had a significant change when Watts and Kimber-Smith shined at Silverstone in an LMP2 Zytek. We might still see the British team in GT2 however but it will most likely not be on the Panoz…to be continued.

While the prototype classes seem to have had a significant boost on interest and entries, the GT classes seem to have slightly declined in terms of grid numbers and quality. We should still be able to see some good racing in GT2, let’s hope GT1 follows suit to ensure the health of the series as a whole.

Link to prototype classes analysis here