24 Hours of Le Mans
Planetlemans analyzes the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours list – GT1
© Planetlemans – Marcel ten Caat
In the final year of GT1 as we know it every spectator was hoping for the ultimate battle between Corvette and Aston Martin. In recent years these teams fought out some great fights resulting in 2 wins for Corvette and 2 for Aston Martin since the latter returned in 2005. Unfortunately it could ended undecided.
With Aston Martin Racing changing its focus to LMP1 the only two Aston Martin DBR9s will be entered by Gigawave Motorsport and Jetalliance Racing. Both teams will be works supported, but will still be very much privateer entries. Even though no complete driver line-ups are confirmed at the moment it can probably be said that the two teams need some luck to extend Aston Martin’s winning streak in LM GT1.
Main rivals Corvette Racing will go to Le Mans to reclaim the LM GT1 title they lost in 2007. After Le Mans the Corvette C6.R GT1 race car will be replaced with a “little” GT2 brother. Unlike their British opponents Corvette Racing will go all-out at Le Mans. Corvette Racing regulars O’Connell, Magnussen, Gavin and Beretta will be joined by Antonio García (who was part of the DBR9 squad that won Le Mans in 2008) and Marcel Fässler. It is almost unnecessary to say that the #63 and #64 Corvette C6.Rs should be considered as the likely winners.
The factory squad’s effort to reconquer Le Mans will be supported by a two-car entry of Luc Alphand Aventures. Even though the exact line-up of these cars are yet to be announced they could well help Corvette to secure a clean-sweep.
Lamborghini takes up the final confirmed two places on the GT1 grid. IPB Spartak Racing is back at Le Mans after not being classified in 2008 as they finished 78 laps behind the winning DBR9. The second Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT to race at Le Mans is the JLOC Isao Noritake, returning after a year absence . No drivers are yet announced for either of the two Murcielago’s.
Missing this year is a Saleen S7R. Despite several teams announcing their intention to race the American sportscar in the Le Mans Series and/or FIA GT this year, the only Saleen S7R that has a small chance of racing at Le Mans is the Larbre Competition entry. This car is ninth on the entrylist though and chances of it actually being there in June seem very slim.
LM GT1
55 – IPB Spartak Racing – Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT
60 – Gigawave Motorsport – Aston Martin DBR9
63 – Corvette Racing – Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
64 – Corvette Racing – Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
66 – Jetalliance Racing – Aston Martin DBR9
68 – JLOC Isao Noritake – Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT
72 – Luc Alphand Aventures – Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
73 – Luc Alphand Aventures – Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
RESERVE
R9 – Larbre Competition – Saleen S7R
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Boring. If Speed covers the race, I hope they don’t waste their coverage fawning all over the Corvette team.
“Unfortunately it could ended undecided.”
Marcel Ten Caat is that a joke??? Both the C6R and the DBR9 have 2 LeMans wins against each other so normally you would look for another tie breaker.
As you know they weren’t just meant to race at LeMans, but also in the FIA GT, LMS and ALMS.
The C6R has won championships in the ALMS and the LMS and almost won it in the FIA GT. The DBR9 has only won it in the LMS in 2006.
Overall C6R teams have simply looked stronger than DBR9 teams, not even counting the official squad.
The decision rightfully goes to the americans.
I looked at the official factory teams racing each other. 2005 and 2006 it was Corvette, 2007 and 2008 it was Aston Martin. So 2 vs 2.
In the final year of GT1 Corvette is sending a factory entry but they will be racing against 2 privateer entries with factory support. Not the same as Corvette Racing vs Aston Martin Racing. In that way it will stay undecided..
Having seen the C6.R in action, it seems pretty obvious that they will finish 1 & 2. It’s a shame the ACO club can’t ban factory entries if it becomes clear that there will be a monopoly, and then let the privateers fight it out?
To break the tie their other accomplishments have to be taken into consideration.
Corvette racing has more wins aside from LeMans than Aston Martin. They have been a lot more visible, a lot more active and willing to confront opponents.
Audi was not banned when they were going against pescarolo for LeMans wins. Manufacturers bring in a lot of publicity because their vehicles and names are readily recognizable.
If GM goes under, will Corvette Racing still be around?