Le Mans Series 2010 - Entry List

The full season entry list for the 2010 Le Mans Series has been published by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, and includes one or two surprises, as well as a handful of ill-kept "secrets".

LMP1

Starting from the top, we have a total of eleven official entrants in LMP1, but this includes one or two that are unlikely to complete a full season, and also omits several more that will certainly be participating in at least some of the year's five headline events.

The two works Audi R15s are listed, but will probably only appear at the pre-Le Mans events; the Paul Ricard eight-hour in April, and the Spa 1000 Kilometres in May. Both are seen as proving grounds ahead of the 24 Hours. Lola is even better represented than expected, with an unexpected LMP1 entry from Noel del Bello Racing. Significantly absent are the Aston Martin Lolas that won the title in 2009, although an announcement earlier this week confirmed one car for Paul Ricard, and the possibility of other singleton entries later in the year. Their emphasis, once again, is the 24 Hours in June.

In amongst these are several familiar teams from 2009, and one or two that might be more familiar if their names hadn't changed. Signature Plus moves up a notch with an ex-works Lola Aston Martin, while Oreca retains one of its AIM chassis, but replaces the second with one of the diesel-powered Peugeot 908s. Rebellion Racing is the new name for Speedy Sebah, who championed the Aston-powered Lola in 2008 and took the race to the factory Lolas in 2009 with their red and silver car. The Beechdean Mansell entry is last year's Strakka Racing Ginetta Zytek, now re-liveried in a patriotic Union Jack scheme and carrying the iconic "red five" number and three Mansells.

LMP2

Rule changes intended to make the class more affordable and to generate a more pro-am foundation to the category have rendered LMP2 by far the most competitive sector. Sixteen confirmed entrants at this stage in the season, and rumours mulling under of yet more cars likely to join as the year progresses.

The news-hounds have been quick to pick up on the change of powerplant for the RML Lola. There will be more news on that here in due course, of course, but for now we just acknowledge the designation of HPD as the engine supplier in 2010. Also present is the familiar Lola MG EX265 AER. This is the same car that Mike Newton and Thomas Erdos raced at Le Mans and in the Le Mans Series in 2008. This season it will be managed by Team RLR

As was the case in LMP1, most of the names will be familiar to anyone who followed the Le Mans Series in 2009, but some of the details have changed. Oak Racing returns with their Pescarolo chassis, but using Judd engines. However, the relationship with Mazda France survives, and there is an understanding that the 2010 units may still be badged as Mazda.

Another Swiss entry, adding to the Rebellion LMP1 cars, comes in the form of the Race Performance Radical Judd. This is understood to be Martin Short's ex-RollCentre car, which also saw service with Embassy in 2007. Another Radical SR9, to be campaigned by Pierre Bruneau, will be the ex-Bruichladdich AER engined car. Bruichladdich themselves return, but this year in partnership with Renate Ojjeh and the ex-GAC Ginetta Zytek chassis - one of three for 2010, including the title-holding Quifel-ASM entry from Portugal.

Hache Team did not impress in 2009 with their single Lucchini, and return with that car again in 2010, but this time bolster their campaign with a Ginetta Zytek 09S. Also returning is Ibanez Racing, but gone is last year's Courage, to be replaced by a Lola B05/40. This is the same open-topped chassis previously raced by BK Motorsport.

Despite an impressive debut in LMP1 last year, taking pole in Round 1, Strakka Racing has stepped across to LMP2 this year, and with a new chassis. Theirs is the first HPD ARX-01 (formerly Acura) to appear in Europe, and is the same car that recorded seven pole positions and eight wins from ten starts in the American Le Mans Series last year, finishing on the podium in every race.

GT1

Only two entries for GT1, and no guarantee that both of these will see it through the year. Hugely disappointing, but with the rise of the other GT categories, not wholly surprising.

GT2

A strong entry once again in GT2, and with many of the familiar protagonists returning for another crack at the title. The appearance of the Schnitzer BMW is an unexpected addition to the list, as is a three-car line-up for AF Corse, although it is currently uncertain as to how many of these will appear regularly. Notably, the squad includes Giancarlo Fisicella and Jean Alesi, hinting perhaps at the future intentions of Ferrari to become big-name players in sportscar racing again. JMW Motorsport returns, but this season replacing their title-winning Ferrari F430 with an Aston Martin V8 Vantage - one of two in the class.

Further information is available at the Le Mans Series website