Delighted with the last season, but also with the series and competitors level, Jos the Boss is determined to come back next year. Since team Van Merksteijn Motorsport's team manager decided to move direction and sell the Porsche RS Spyder, Jos won't be at the wheel of this car. But he is definitely thinking of a  LMP1 for 2009.

There is a rumor that his "Formula 1 friends", Joan Villadelprat and Sergio Rinland, who now take over at the controls of the team Epsilon-Euskadi, will ask Jos to test their new car in December. But the Dutch champion will not to make his decision before the beginning of the year... Please, wait a little more...

One of them will be driven by three gentlemen drivers (Andrea Ceccato, Filippo Francioni and Ferdinando Geri); the other one by a professional line up which members have yet to be determined.

The engine and tyres specifications have not been defined niether, but in any case, this news is very auspicious for the 2009 season!

The Le Mans Series' meetings will have a new support race, which will be present on each round of the season as well as on the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Formula will offer a lot of bonuses and prize money, such as a LMP1 test for the winner, a test in LMP2 for the runner-up and a test in GT2 for the third!

That's why, every year, the Le Mans Series organisers bring together all the season winners, as well as all the endurance actors.

The appointment is made, on November 15th, in Paris for a big Automobile party, in the presence of Alexandre Premat, Nicolas Minassian, Jos Verstappen...and all the others!

Five races, on circuits which are the “classicals” of the series: Barcelone, Spa-Francorchamps, le Nürburgring, Silverstone, but also a novelty this year with the 1000 Km of Algarve, in Portugal. This round will moreover be a night race!

Discover all the images of the tracklaps of this car which could compete some rounds of the 2009 season, out of competition.

In front of an all-time record crowd for the Le Mans Series, with a gate of 53,000 spectators, Audi drivers Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello scored the victory, their first since winning the Le Mans 24 hours with Tom Kristensen in June.

Michel Barge declared: “Since Peugeot Sport is above all a competition team, we wanted to begin the 908 HY adventure with a dynamic presentation, and to prove the real technological progress that the hybrid development represents.

Let's remind that the "Boss" is already -from the 1000 KM of the Nürburgring - assured to receive the 2008 title of the best driver of the LMP2 category.

The ACO decided to explain how they imagine the future here, at Silverstone, in front of the media, the team managers and the partners.

The surprise came from the GTs too, especially the GT2s, obviously more comfortable under the rain than the protos. The three Porsche GT3 RSR signed the best lap times in the category.

I have been the President  of the Panel of Stewards for the last two years and  I act on a voluntary basis.

In LMP2, a French driver replaces the other: Tristan Gommendy will actually replace Patrice Roussel at the wheel of the WR/Salini's Zytek (n°37).

In LMGT2, Jamie Melo will give Robert Bell a hand on the Virgo Motorsport's Ferarru F430 GT.

Actually, for two hours, they took our guests aboard to discover the English racetrack. Afterwards, they gave a press conference and played the game of the questions/answers in a very friendly atmosphere. Despite a real friendship between these drivers, each of them wanted to demonstrate that he was all set for victory. All the journalist agreed that, considering the feats of the drivers during these tracklaps, the race promises to be tough.

We must keep in mind that Pescarolo Sport is fighting for the third step of the Manufacturer classification this season, right behind Audi and Peugeot.

Darren Turner official Aston Martin Racing driver will be at the wheel of the Strakka Racing team's LMGT1 (n°91).

Sponsorship from the Haymarket Media Group re-creates the glorious days of Silverstone's six-hour sportscar '80's races , also sponsored by Autosport.

The 38-year-old Scotsman aims to steer his Audi R10 TDI to victory on the diesel-engined sports-prototype's British race debuts –without repeating the blunder he made back in 1987. “It was an Autosport Star of Tomorrow Formula Ford 1600 race, my first ever car race after six years in karting,” remembers Allan. “Qualifying had been dry and I took pole. I was thinking 'it iisn't so bad, there's not that much difference to karting'.

The two drivers were able to lap below two minutes for much of the race before they put their competitors a lap down, and they were able to ease off to conserve fuel in the final stages of the race.

The Corvette team suffered a double blow in the second hour when Jerome Policand and Olivier Beretta experienced a fuel leak in the pit lane. The team took the car into the garage, but could not fix the problem and the car was retired.

It was a competitive race, but the battle was mainly for second position after the Team Essex Porsche spun into the gravel with Casper Elgaard on board. The team lost time challenged early on, but the spin dropped them away from the van Merksteijn car which won the class by four laps.

Half a second behind was Danish driver Casper Elgaard in the Team Essex Porsche. The team worked through a set-up programme in the morning which helped in qualifying. Andrea Belicchi was third fastest aboard the Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola B08/80 coupé Judd, before he spun the black car. Michael Vergers set the fourth fastest time in Juan Barazi's Epsilon Zytek 07S, outpacing the Quifel ASM Team's Lola AER in the hands of Oliver Pla.

“In Barcelona, the last time I drove this car it suffered from understeer, but this weekend the balance is perfect” said Beltoise. “I have a good feeling with the car, and the team is very happy.”

Marc Gené signs his first pole of the season and places the Peugeot n°7 just ahead his colleagues Sarrazin and Lamy. Just behind them, with the third time: Stefan Mücke and the Team Charouz Racing System's Lola Aston Martin. Both Audi will take the start on 4th and 5th position, thanks to Alexandre Premat and Dindo Capello.

It becomes a tradition in LMP2: Jos Verstappen takes the pole! Smiles were on Porsche team's faces, because of Jos' pole position of course, but also because of 2nd place of Casper Elgaard (Team Essex) in the category, 9th on the overall starting grid. Good performance of the Porsches!         

Not only is the French man an excellent long format races driver (as he will certainly prove it one more time this week end), but on the top shows he endurance in the endurance world! It is a complete record for our friend Marc who totalizes 23 participations to Le Mans Series races. It means that he participated to EACH race since the beginning of Le Mans Series! What is more he was always involved in the LMP2 category!

A true Endurance lover! Congratulations and thank you Marc. We can't wait for your next 23 participations! 

So we have 46 cars on the entry list. The competitors are in this time running for the free practice session under a cloudy sky but on a dry track!

Felipe Ortiz was not able to race due to a prior commitment. Thus, the English team thought of Liz straight away. Jankowski already signed a deal with the California-born driver for the two last races of the American Le Mans Series season.

“The Nurburgring is a new circuit for me. I've been there before as a spectator, but never to drive, so that's exciting as well. In fact, it's going to be a weekend of firsts; my first race with Creation, first in an LMP1 car and first at the Nurburgring, so obviously I can't wait!”

A touch of feminity in the paddock should enjoy the other drivers, and this is a good way to support Vanina Ickx who maybe felt herself alone in this man's world!

Remember in 2007...: Marc Gené is the poleman after the qualifying sessions, but Pedro Lamy and Stéphane Sarrazin finish the race on the top of the podium, signing in the same time their second victory... before winnning the season a few months later in Brazil!

The Pescarolo team ranked a very good 3rd place, while RML won in LMP2.

To be noticed: Stéphane Ortelli will make his comeback to the circuits on the German track, where he won the LMGT1 class in 2007 with Oreca before the team started its Prototype adventure. 

Let's also remember the LMGT2 victory for the duo Bell/Simonsen on Virgo Motorsport Ferrari.

Certainly the better way for the spectators to follow all the new developments of the race thanks to the mini radio sold in the paddock and et the entrance of the circuit!

And for German people who cannot be present on the circuit, they will be able to follow the race at home on teh same frenquency.

After the press conference, we had the pleasure to interview Pedro Lamy & Mike Rockenfeller!

There is no excuse to leave your favorite teams without any support!

16 LMP1, 16 LMP2 and no less than 17 GT...the race will be forceful. First "rendez-vous" on the track after the 24 Hours of Le Mans : the team members will be rested, equipment will be sharpen and feelings will be running high. Don't miss the ADAC 1000 Km of the Nürburgring on next 15th, 16th and 17th of August.

Some of them, like Stéphane Sarrazin, Pedro Lmay or Jacques Nicolet, have enjoyed again the famous Le Mans circuit with the same layout as in June, for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Some others, like Stéphane Ortelli, after his complete recovery, could drive again, for a demonstration lap, along the 13 Km racetrack while he could not do so during the 24 Hours in June.

Some Le Mans series personalities such as  Henri Pescarolo or Michel Barge enjoyed the possibility to swap their team manager gear against a driver overall...

Almost a 50-car grid will make the show! Some changes need to be noticed.

Nothing else to do than congratulating German team Farnbacher Racing which took  the Ferrari F430 GT n°90 onto the third step of the category podium.  Pierre Ehret, Pierre Kaffer et Lars Erik Nielsen have hardly battled to keep to the very good results gained in the Le Mans Series. Actually, their  first rounds results (4th in Barcelona, 2nd at Monza) take them to the third place of their category.

The French team, known for the friendly relationship between the drivers and the staff,  a spirit which looks like being the one of their best assets,  achieved a race without any major trouble. As a result, they ranked right after the official Astons and Corvettes. A remarkable performance for this team, currently placed first of their class at the Le Mans Series classification, who intends to confirm at the 1000Km of the Nürburgring in forthcoming August!

Neverthelees, placing their  Pescarolo Judd n°35 on the third step of the podium, the Saulnier Racing teams young drivers have also achieved a remarkable feat. Matthieu Lahaye, Pierre Ragues & Cong Fu Chen, each of them less than 24-year old, and "rookies" for two of them (Matthieu & Cheng), have definitety deserved this splendid victory, after they missed the podium twice this year in the Le Mans Series.

To be noticed that 11 out of the ... 11 LMP2s starting at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans, are Le Mans Series regulars! Maybe an omen? Anyway, a promise of a battle at the 1000 Km of the Nürburgring, since any of them will  either try to confirm his position or opposite, or to have his revenge! Wait and see.....

Nevertheless, the German manufacturer was first to cross the world most famous finish line at 15:00 and this for the eighth time! On this occasion, Audi have also signed their third consecutive victory with a diesel-powered engine, making eveidence, if needed, of their  knowledge of this first class competition, both in the technical and tactical side.

Peugeot, with a second participation in the event with the 908 Hdi-FAP, has definitely not to blush! The three cars have taken their drivers through the finish line, two of them being on the podium. A tribute is to be made to their technical staff who were able to produce such an impressive work to repair Marc Gené's car n°7, badly damaged during the Official Practice. A big thank you to them from the car herself under the shape of a podium second step...

Records were broken on the occasion of the 76th 24 Hours of Le Mans. Thanks to the drivers' skills of course, but also thanks to the work achieved by the team crews. A performance they also practice all along the year during the Le Mans Series season which, according to everybody, is a complete and demanding programme.

Now they have finished with  their quest for the French highlight, they carry on, on 15,16 and 17 August, at the Nurburgring, in Germany.

The 24 Hours are gone, but the endurance season is not done yet... Just follow us to Germany and Great Britain !

Figures are edifying! There is no doubt about the sporting justification of the series which are celebrating this year their fifth season.

In LMP1, is it nececessary to underline Audi's strategic victory? Obviously based on their Le Mans -good!- experience, but also on the observation of their main challenger during the three first  races of the season...

As for their LMP2  little sisters, they also invade their category's podium. Let's pay a special tribute to the Saulnier Racing team and to its drivers, mainly made of  "rookies", who are placed on the podium third step!

The Ferrari held the advantage for much of the race, but Lieb and his co-driver Alex Davison kept pace and did not allow the British team to make any mistakes.

It was a dramatic race in which the IPB Spartak Racing Lamborghini showed magnificent form and came close to scoring its first win of the year.

With their second win of the year, Gene and Minassian are tied with Alexandre Premat and Mike Rockenfeller at the head of the drivers' table, the two cars filling the top steps of the podium. Yet it was the sister cars of both teams that set the early pace, Pedro Lamy leading for Peugeot ahead of Allan McNish's Audi.

On Motors TV...

The Italian beat the Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche of Marc Lieb, who will share with Alex Davison, by little more than a tenth of a second.

Jacques Villeneuve, Marc Gené and Nicolas Minassian will be in charge of the 908 HDi FAP n° 7, whilst the n°8 will bne managed by the trio Alexander Wurtz/Pedro Lamy/Stéphane Sarrazin.

For each team, a new comer in Le Mans Series, and they are not jsut anybody ! These two names of the car race competition will complete the Peugeot line up and give help to the no less talented regulars of Le Mans Series. The competitors, Audi especially, know that the battle will be more than tight.

Motors TV will provide a live broadcasting from 12h25 to 13h45, then from 14h45 to 18h45.

They were chased over the line by the Farnbacher Racing Porsche of Richard Westbrook, Lars Eric Nielsen and Allan Simonsen which inherited the win. They lost time with a puncture behind a safety car which led to a damaged bumper and an extra pit stop.

The lead of the class was rarely more than 15 seconds and after five hours of hard racing, the margin of victory between the two was just 12 seconds.

The battle was hard fought between the two manufacturers, both of which have their eyes firmly focussed on Le Mans. Peugeot had a driveshaft break on the Nicolas Minassian/Marc Gene car and the pair were delayed during the race with the same problem. [...] click here to read the end of the article

Ultimately, overall victory went to the Peugeot of Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy, less than a minute ahead of the Audi R10 TDI of Mike Rockenfeller and Alexandre Premat. [...] click here to read the end of the article

Already there has been drama in qualifying as two cars have been put to the back of the grid for having excessive cockpit temperatures. The rule is designed to protect the driver from overheating while driving and affects the second Corvette C6R, qualified by Sebastien Dumez, and the Spyker C8 Laviolette of Ralf Kelleners. [...] click here to read the end of the article

Davison commented; "We are closer to the Ferraris, the circuit seems to suit us much better and the Porsche is going well."[...] click here to read the end of the article

Deputising for the team owner, Luc Alphand, Beretta set a time of 1m44.102s, just two tenths of a second faster than Tomas Enge managed in the Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9 and 1.3s quicker than Stephane Ortelli managed in the Saleen S7R in 2007. [...] click here to read the end of the article

In 2008, it faces its biggest challenge from the factory Audi team, and at the moment seems to have the measure of the competition. "When the difference is so big, it is difficult to say that it is one area," said Capello. "We have to catch up."[...] click here to read the end of the article

This is maybe the most beautiful proof of the Endurance passion!

Do not forget: you can follow the whole race thanks to an audio streaming on our website!

The pair worked hard to get to Marc Lieb's leading Porsche called into the pits losing his lead.

Richard Lietz and Raymond Narac, had handling problems and have a long list of improvements to make ahead of the second race in Monza at the end of April.

They also assisted to a lot of support races, such as Classic Endurance Racing, the Radical European Masters and VdeV…a complete show for all the the automobile lovers, the Spanish sun added!

Eurosport from 11h15 to 12h00, from 17h00 to 17h30 and a resume at 23h00

Motors TV from 13h00 to 14h55, from 16h00 to 17h40, and on another channels all over the world:consult the broadcast plan on the Barcelona page of this site

Peugeot secured the top two tmes today during the qualifying session. They will start on the first line, tomorrow, at 11h35, on the Catalunya circuit. Stéphane Sarrazin is even beating Marc Gené, the local driver by almost six tenths of a second. Allan McNish will start on the third position, ready to fight during 1000 kilometres....the Spyder Porsche, driven by Jos Verstappen, hit itself to the 5th position...to be followed tomorrow!

Team Peugeot Total has profited from its traditional press conference prior to the start of the 2008 Le Mans Series at Barcelona to specify its driver line-up for the Le Mans 24 Hours. It also announced the recruitment of a third driver for each of the two 908 HDi FAPs that will contest next May's LMS round at Spa-Francorchamps.
See the press release.

The Lucchini Judd n°30 is finally able to run. No other problems to report, and several improvement are made, the most noticeable being the Epsilon Euskadi n°20.

Very fast sunday afternoon practice session under the sun. Few technical problems. We met experienced drivers helping teams develop, such as Andy Wallace for RML, Olivier Beretta for Luc Alphand, Jan Lammers on the Lola n°12, Jens Petersen for BruichLadich Radical and Amanda Stretton for Chamberlain.

"LM"GT1 are dreaming cars. This year, they will play their role more than never. Of course, this is not the better supplied class, but the diversity of the competitors is exceptional: Saleen S7R, Lamborghini Murcielago, Aston Martin DBR9 and Corvette C6R…the competitiveness level will continually be renewed. Further drivers such as Luc Alphand, Guillaume Moreau or David Halliday know that well: the fight will be harsh on the track to win the race…and the public's heart!

Only five cars are entered in the GT1 class this year, but with very high standard and top-notch teams. After the titles won with a Ferrari in 2004 and wiht an Aston Martin in 2006, Larbre Competition are looking to score a third with a Saleen S7R. Larbre's major challenger could be Luc Alphand Aventures with their two Corvette C6.Rs. Unless they could both be beaten by the single Aston Martin entered by Team Modena? The Lamborghini Murcielago is also considered as an outsider.... Wait and see!

Can one imagine a more exciting duel than Porsche vs Ferrari? This is why the GT2 class desserves great attention. Porsche was beaten for the first time in 2007, and will be more motivated than ever to win the title again, with upgraded and numerous GT3-RSR (six entries including two by Ima Performance- Matmut). Regarding Ferrari, Virgo Motorsport will try to win a second title in a row, whereas JMB Racing has entered two cars. With C8 Laviolette GT2Rs entered (including two factory cars), Spyker plans to be the troublemaker in this duel of the giants. Last but not least, is Aston Martin's GT2 debut with a new Vantage GT2 entered by James Watts Automotive.

The first one is a closed prototype, while the other one is open. But, except this essential difference of choice, both manufacturers are beginning the season on equal terms, in principle: two against two, two first class teams which are running smoothly now, two diesel engines…

A Danish team, a Dutch one and a Swiss one with a Belgian and Dutch accent… RS-Spyder Porsches make their entrance into Le Mans Series, and they come without any doubt from North! After having proved their performance level overseas, the RS-Spyders come to be confronted with the best challengers in Europe, among a very rich "LM"P2 grid (15 cars entered)… With drivers as Jos Verstappen, the show will without any doubt be up to the event!