Almost too close to call, but for whatever reason, at Le Mans, GT2 doesn’t always offer as much bumper-to-bumper excitement as it does in some the short-track races. It’ll definitely by better than GT1, and I really can’t wait till next week.

I’ll tip #63 Corvette for the win, but I’ll be hoping for the JMW Aston and the IMSA Matmut car.

I would have said something totally different but -

1) How is a Corvette going to win in class? Have they suddenly solved the riddle of tire wear? Near the end of every stint the car is some 1-2 seconds off the ultimate pace. This is the first time the GT2 version of this car has been here and Fehan has admitted this car has a much bigger learning curve than the GT1 cars which will allow to “bump” the rules here and there to allow it to competitive, specially when the Factory Vipers were competitive.

2) The Aston will break, it hasn’t even proved it can run 8 hours without problems and even then, they’ll be so far off the leading pace it won’t matter, Top 10 finish is all they can hope for. Maybe in the future the Factory will get serious about this car.

3) Matmut stands a chance, but honestly. Risi was leading when Melo went off course and damaged the cooling system during the night. The Ferrari has been the car to beat here since 2006 as stuck wheel nuts prevented the car from winning in 2006. When nothing happens, they win (’08 and ’09). Also have you seen the new wrinkles on the Ferrari at Le Mans? – http://www.endurance-info.com/version2/galerie/photo/le_mans/lemans2010/2010-veillepesage/J5-2010_LeMans_VieillePesage_12.jpg

Despite this being the swan song for the F430, delays with the GT2 F458 mean it might not be until after Sebring next year we see the new car. So they are going to keep massaging it when possible.

Note – Risi was on pole at Sebring, Long Beach and Laguna Seca, is there any reason to suspect they won’t be on pole or the front row at Le Mans?????

Forza Risi Ferrari!!!

@Anthony: Naw I got a Porsche on pole in GT2 class. It has been for like the pass 3 years. Front row….. maybe.

I don’t see a Ferrari 1-2-3 finish this year, but its going to be a close one. Also I really do think one of the AF Corse Ferrari’s will be a big sleeper this year.

Im not going to lie, I am wishing that we still had BMS Scuderia Italia in our camp. But oh well…

I got Ferrari finishing 1-2 in GT2 class this year. That’s right, I said it.

I personally think that this years GT2 field is a varied one, but in truth only the Ferarri’s and Porcshes will battle for victory.

No-ones mentioned the Jag yet?!?!?! It doesn’t have a prayer really, but i’d love to see it still driving on sunday morning, i think it’s the best looking car out there?

Also i’d love to see the Spyker fighting for a podium too, but can only see this happening if mistakes happen further up the GT2 field, like if the Porcshes and Ferarris all take each other out (which i definately don’t wnat to happen).

I think there will be 2 Ferarris and 2 Porcshes in the top 4, but i’m not sure what the order will be.

P.s. @Anthony: thanks for the web link to the Ferarri’s ‘gills’, they look really cool, and a little more agressive

By far the most impossible to pick!

We have relatively no idea of what the BMW can do in full on going for the win trim.
The vettes can always win.
The 430′s would be a safe bet, but their competition imploded last year so we can’t be sure.
Vantage… good looks and noise – hopefully it hangs around so we can watch it.
Jag… utter slug in every respect! But will be good to see another car there
Spyker – they had a dream run last year and only came 5th – I’d say 8th would be their perfect result this year.

BUT! The C8 has a new engine that was reeling in the 430′s at the HTTT – so maybe just maybe they can squeeze some pace out of it.

i’m for a porsche win,but i think it’s going to be BMS or IMSA(not felbermayr or lizard),they need a class win so far this year,especially for BMS,they have to make money this time and get ready for 24h Spa,their 3 drivers all suffer bad luck this year(ProSpeed porsche,hybrid porsche and DTM A4).
for race results,i’d like to see a porsche 1-2 and a ferrari or corvette on podium,not optimistic about Jaguar,AM and BMWs

Don’t discount the BMWs! I’m telling you, these guys have everything they need to win their class.

If speed and tire wear are the issues, I expect Ferrari and especially Risi to win. There might be a chance for one of the Porsches too, and I agree with avilab that you shouldn’t forget BMW. They might not be on the speed of the best Ferrari and Porsche, but they have the very experienced Schnitzer team which should guarantee good reliability and a very short time in the pits overall, see the 24h of Nuerburgring. So they might have a chance if the best Ferrari and Porsche get into troubles. Agree with Anthony that Corvette won’t be on the same level and that Aston and Spyker won’t be reliable enough. For the Jaguar it will be a success to finish.

Forza Risi!!!

It is going to be hard to repeat last year, but im hoping they will. Be great this year. Ferrari 1-2 with AF Corse second.

all i have to say is lets go BMW

I’m guessing the BMW’s to win in GT2. They seem the most reliable and they’ve got everything going for them. Also, they’ve got some really good drivers behind the wheel of both of the cars, especially the #79. So, I’ll be looking for one of them to win.

I also think the AF Corse #96 will have a good chance at finishing on the podium. They’ve got great, solid drivers, and the Ferrari 430 is a reliable car.

Also, don’t count out the two Corvette Racing cars. They might be able to pull a win off. The car’s reliable, even though it might not be the fastest on cornering. They proved they can win the 24 hours of Le Mans when they won many times in the GT1 category.

BMW!!!!

Also the Hankook Team Farnbacher finish the 24hrs of Nuerburgring in 2nd overall. Interesting to see how Leh Keen does for them.

true!

by the way, does anybody know how to save/record the live streaming of the video for the 24h race? my dad isnt going to be home and he doesnt want to miss the 5 and 1/2 hrs that are going to be on the internet. thanks for how ever can help me!!!!

Good luck to ALL our British drivers,especially the Mansell family.Red.

you should for a program on the internet that does that. Firefox browser has an extension for it.

To be fair, the Aston is a pipe dream for me, but I’m a huge fan of that little car and also of Rob Bell!

I have a hunch that the Corvette will surprise. It was hailed as a class-killer last year, and this year it has been in the hunt everywhere but Sebring, where it had an odd pit-stop mistake, but I’m sure its a one-off. I don’t know why, but I have a gut feeling about the Corvette, and I can’t help thinking it will be suited to La Sarthe. I wasn’t really to focused on the tire issue, but I doubt it will be so bad at Le Mans.

I also don’t see Risi getting it this year, if only because their car is getting old (though the GTE spec has definitely helped them) and they have to run out of their current luck some time, though I said the same for last Petit and this Sebring…

It should be a good battle, I think Porsche will be higher than last year, but I don’t see them winning, and the BMW seems a little too new to me. I really have no major evidence of that, but I’ll stick with it.

Its great to be able to chat with people who know this stuff, no-one in my network of friends seems to even know what Le Mans is!

Hey guys if ya want, ya can hit me up on Facebook. I will be up all night again this year, and I will have my laptop also on with the live-stream of the race. So I guess during the race, we could also chat on there.

Here is my link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=1027770736

Yep, it should be a very good race in the GT2 field. I personally am pulling for the Vette boys. I also agree with William. None of my friends could care less about this or any other sports car race. Maybe I need new friends…

ya i agree the BMW might not make the 24 hours, however, they did complete Nurbergring, albiet it being the ALMS car.

Ferarri has 4 good cars (AF-Course, Hankook, and Risi)

Porsche has 3 (Lizards, Felbermayr, and Matmut)
–BMS has 3 great drivers, but they are all rookies and

Corvettes might be going for the win tooo

Spyker sadly, will not i think, along with the Jag and Krohn

Corvette has always seemed capable of making power at La Sarthe , and I think that is going to win it for them. It should be a really tight battle though between four makes. Hope we get to see a great finish in GT2 again.

Being a Lizard fan, you can count them out of a win. The pit crew and engineers are second to none, but Neiman will be driving the n80 once again, putting it laps behind the eventual leader. The day the Lizards win a second entry and staff it with all factory drivers will be the only time they can be seen as a true contender.

The favorites will be Risi, AF Corse, Felbermayer and Matmut. The newer Corvettes and BMWs will have a chance as well, but so far in the ALMS, they seem to be at a disadvantage when double-stinting tires.

Let’s not forget that Mr. Long took out the top running Porsche’s last year…

here is how i see it in quals: (remember, this is qual/top speed, not RELIABILITY)
GT2:
1. #77
2. #63
3. #82
4. #79
5. #80
6. #76
7. #96
8. #95
9. #64
10. #92
11. #89
12. #97
13. #85
14. #78
15. #83
16. #81
17. #75
18. #88

I’m also a Flying Lizard fan, but when I saw Patrick long was driving for someone else and Seth Neiman had put himself behind the wheel (again!), my heart sank. Last year Neiman waited until a couple of days before race day to announce he was just going to drive four hours, and Patrick and Joerg would do the rest. Looks like more double shifts, which is ridiculous, because if it had three proper drivers, Lizard could win this.

All that said, I see why everybody’s jumping on Ferrari’s bandwagon, because give the F430 a long course with lots of straight, and they’re laughing. But here’s some advice: Watch BMW! Those M3s have been absolutely brilliant in ALMS this year, and are one year away from some serious domination. That 458 is going to get a rude welcome whenever it gets trackside.

Anyway, I won’t do numbers, but I’ll say BMW, Ferrari and Porsche for the manufacturer’s order, with the Jag gone in the first four hours, if that.