Runners and Riders for Le Mans 2010
Here's a brief run down of who to look out for at this year's legendary 24-hour race.
Battling for the overall win
The French Automobile Club de l’Ouest sets the rules for racers at Le Mans, and the premier racing class is prototype 1 (LMP1).
Back the Auto Express at Le Mans 2010
The diesel-powered LMP1 cars fielded by Audi and Peugeot will fight for top honours. Each team will enter three specially-built cars, with the German firm entering its latest 5.5-litre V10-powered R15+ open-roofed prototypes, while the French firm enters three of its closed 5.5-litre V12-powered 908 HDI FAPs in its bid to retain the title it won from Audi last year.
Brit ace Anthony Davidson joins the Peugeot line-up that won last year, while once again, endurance legend Allan McNish drives for Audi.
Both teams will be bolstered by private entries – Peugeot will be supported by the Oreca team which will run a 2010-spec car, while Audi will be backed up by the two-car Team Kolles team, which has entered two older R10 diesel cars.
Other class highlights include the spectacular Gulf-liveried Lola Aston Martins which will be ready to capitalise should the top runners slip up, and the family Mansell team - 56-year-old ex-F1 star Nigel Mansell will share a Ginetta-Zytek with sons 22-year-old Greg and 25-year-old Leo.
Aston Martin goes big
The Gaydon firm will be well represented at Le Mans, with the firm’s cars being entered in three of the four categories. The Gulf-liveried LMP1 cars will be joined by the DBR9 which will race for honours in the GT1 category, against the likes of the Murcielago entered by Japanese Lamborghini Owners Club, and the Ford GT driven by the all-Swiss, all-female line-up of Rahel Frey, Natacha Gachnang and Cyndie Allemann.
Supercars fight it out
A V8 Vantage will be entered in the GT2 category by the team which won the category last year. Aside from the battle at the front of the grid, this class will be the one to watch, as the Aston goes up against the might of the all-conquering Corvettes and BMW M3s – one of which featuring as the firm’s latest Art Car, driven by Brit Andy Priaulx.
Five Porsche 911s, Five Ferrari 430s, a lone Spyker C8 and the stunning Jaguar XKRS of US stalwart Paul Gentilozzi will also be gunning for class honours.
