Le Mans News

On the eve of the 72nd running of the Le Mans 24 hour race in France, leading motorsports website Crash.net has launched its very own Le Mans 24 hour racing bid.

By Andrew Cotton. Johnny Herbert emerged from the eight hours of qualifying for this year's Le Mans 24-hours with his first ever pole position in the French endurance classic.

Having seen a potential 1-2-3-4 result thwarted by Jan Lammers' Racing for Holland Dome in the opening two-hour session at Le Mans, Audi duly completed its rout by sweeping the top four times in Wednesday night practice.

Johnny Herbert blew the field away in the opening qualifying session for this weekend's Le Mans 24 Hours, setting a lap of 3min 34.907secs to lead his nearest rival - the Team Goh Audi - by just over two seconds.

Motorsport engineering specialist Zytek has developed a new gearshift system for motor racing applications, and is aiming to use it to take the fight to pre-race favourites Audi at this weekend's Le Mans 24 Hours.

RML managing director Ray Mallock will return to Le Mans as a driver for the first time since 1989, having taken the opportunity to get reacquainted with the Roger Bennington-owned Aston Martin Nimrod that his company helped to fettle.

Johnny Herbert has admitted that his decision to take to the grass to pass Audi team-mate Pierre Kaffer was risky but worth it as it effectively handed him victory in the opening Le Mans Endurance Series race at Monza.

Three fan favourites had to battle back after going off the road in open testing for the Le Mans 24 Hours, with Champion Racing, the combined Orbit/BAM effort and the factory Morgan team all needing to patch up their cars during the eight-hour session.

Jan Lammers' Racing for Holland team has pulled off possibly the coup of the pre-Le Mans season by confirming Formula One refugees Ralph Firman and Justin Wilson in its line-up for the 24 Hours.

Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing has confirmed that it will field three of Porsche's most successful drivers in the #90 911 GT3 RSR at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

RML have today [Friday] announced that Nathan Kinch will join the outfit for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, linking up with Mike Newton and Thomas Erdos in the team's Lola MG Prototype. Kinch is familiar with Le Mans having tested and qualified for the race in 2003 with Lister Racing.

BMS Scuderia Italia's automatic entry into this year's Le Mans 24 Hours has been withdrawn by the team, which cited its focus on the FIA GT Championship as the main reason with dropping out.

RML has strengthened its sportscar division with the appointment of three highly-rated technical personnel, including the arrival of former Jordan F1 designer Gary Anderson.

Orbit Racing, in partnership with the BAM! team that was formed by former Orbit drivers, has unveiled a strong line-up for its combined assault on the 2004 24 Heures du Mans.

The Automobile Club De L'Ouest [ACO] - the sanctioning body for the 24 Heures Du Mans - announced yesterday that the Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/ Justice Bros./ Michelin Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has been asked to participate in this year's 72nd Running

The Morgan Works Race Team, favourite underdog of the international motor racing scene, has secured a place in the 2004 Le Mans 24 Hour race in June.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest has released the following entry list for the four classes to contest this year's Le Mans 24 Hours: Prototype LMP1:

Confirming speculation that he is closer to securing a ride in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, Colin McRae this week joined forces with Ferrari endurance specialists Care Racing to test one of its potent Ferrari 550 Maranellos.

The Barron Connor Racing team has signed former Le Mans class winner Jean-Denis Deletraz, GT star Mike Hezemans and the reigning European Ferrari 360 Champion Ange Barde to drive one of the two Ferrari 575 GTC cars that the team has entered for this year's Sebring 12 Hours, the Le Mans 24 Hours a

Team Eurotech will be re-branded as Jordan Warnock Racing following the announcement that Mike Jordan and David Warnock are renewing a partnership that started 15 years ago.

As has been rumoured for some time, ex-F1 drivers Allan McNish and Johnny Herbert, will link up with Audi's renewed attack on the Le Mans 24 Hours and new Le Mans Endurance Series.

The Barron Connor Racing team has signed Italian Thomas Biagi to race in the Le Mans 24 hours, the Sebring 12 Hours, and the Le Mans Endurance Series, partnering John Bosch and Danny Sullivan in one of team's two Ferrari's 575 GTC.

Barron Connor Racing tested the first of their two Ferrari's 575 GTC at Ferrari's own test track in Italy last Tuesday. Both John Bosch and Danny Sullivan drove the new car at the Pista di Fiorano next to the Ferrari factory in Maranello.

Rollcentre Racing boss, Martin Short has revealed that the team have purchased two 2002 ORECA Dallaras for 2004, and that they will enter the new Le Mans Endurance series [LMES], in conjunction with the Sebring 12 hours and the Le Mans 24 hours, the latter subject to being granted approval.