Motor racing doesn't get tougher than this!

RML AD Group heads back to La Sarthe this June for the team's seventh consecutive stab at the Le Mans 24 Hour sports prototype class. Circumstances have changed dramatically since 2009, when the team arrived in France already steeling themselves for what seemed the inevitability of an engine failure. Twelve months later and the prospects look better than they have in years, with a new engine package that has not only secured two podiums for the Lola HPD already, but also established a slim lead in the race for the Le Mans Series title for its three drivers; Mike Newton, Thomas Erdos and Andy Wallace.

Back-to-back wins in the LMP2 category in 2005 and 2006 (right) stand out as triumphant peaks amid a sea of class-leading runs, and while the Le Mans hat-trick eluded them in 2007, they did gain the alternative satisfaction of taking the Le Mans Series title instead. Even so, a third LMP2 victory in the 24 Hours remains top of the team's list of aspirations, but this is Le Mans we're talking about, and nothing can ever be taken for granted.

The competition in 2010 is as tough as ever - perhaps tougher - with four or five entries being openly touted as potential winners. In addition, the days when the LMP2 field was considered fragile are a fading memory. These days almost any one of the eleven candidates now stands a fair chance of reaching the chequered flag, and at Le Mans, that in itself is as good as a win on any other circuit.

Just a handful of days before the car was loaded into the transporter and began the journey across the Channel, Thomas Erdos and the squad descended on Snetterton in Norfolk for a final shakedown (below). "The car ran faultlessly all day," said the Brazilian. "I just kept on going round and round the track, looking for anything that needed additional fine-tuning, but I couldn't fault it. The car felt very easy to drive, very comfortable, and as final shakedowns go, it couldn't have been better. Yes, a very positive way to complete our Le Mans preparations, and I'm happy to be heading over there now in a car that handles so well."

In partnership with Lola Cars of Huntingdon, the team had been working on some revised aerodynamics, better suited to the high-speed straights of the fifteen kilometre La Sarthe circuit. "Sometimes a low-aero kit can make a car feel difficult to drive, skittish perhaps, and with less grip through the corners than you'd truly like, but I was so impressed with the way the Lola behaved during the test. It felt very stable, and the mechanical grip was impressive. We also made significant strides with regard to the suspension set-up and our understanding of the new tyre compounds from Dunlop. All things considered, I think we have an excellent package now for Le Mans," said Tommy.

There was a BBC film crew on hand to witness the car's final test before heading for France, and a short piece about Lola and RML was prepared for the local evening news programme; Look East. If we can find that hosted on-line, we'll add a link here, but last month the team's drivers were interviewed by the producers of Channel 4's Mobil 1 The Grid, as part of a review of the Spa 1000 Kilometres, and that clip is now available on the programme's dedicated website, and is embedded here.

If the video clip doesn't play properly, then click here for a direct link to the original.

Bumper Grid for 2010

Despite a series of late withdrawals, mostly from teams with mechanical, financial or logistical problems, there's guaranteed to be a bigger than ever grid for the Le Mans 24 Hours this year. In fact, not since 1955 have so many taken to the famous La Sarthe circuit. A total of 56 cars is now anticipated, thanks to the announcement from the ACO, just a week before the teams were expecting to arrive at the circuit, that an additional garage has been added to the pitlane. Room was found between the original pit complex and the low-level extension added a couple of years back, and work on the new garage has just been completed.

Ultimately, the occupant of this extra space is destined to be chosen by the ACO to represent the innovative nature of motorsport, and the slot will be awarded, at their discretion, to a team considered most worthy of a place on the grid, based upon this criteria. In time, this is expected to encourage participants with new technology systems, combining hybrid engines with, perhaps, pure electric drive, or even hydrogen-power. Time will tell. For 2010, however, the surprise and delight of a late invitation has gone to Race Performance. The team has been a regular in the Le Mans Series this season, with a Radical SR9, but was not even listed as a reserve until the name appeared on a press release on May 28th. Technically still first reserve, the wording of that ACO announcement hinted that the Radical was almost guaranteed a run, and even suggested that further reserves were being considered. A few days later the 56th entrant was officially confirmed.

For a brief examination of the entry list this year, we begin with the one of keenest interest to RML AD Group and the team's followers; LMP2 . . .

LMP2

The inclusion of the Race Performance Radical (left) means an almost complete complement of Le Mans Series LMP2 runners at Le Mans this year, with only the #30 Racing Box Lola absent. Within the ranks, just a few driver changes, and one chassis update catch the eye.

The Pegasus Racing team have exchanged their regular Courage LC75 for an all-new and untried Norma M200 Judd, making this a very high profile debut for a new car.

Significant driver changes within the class include the appearance of Jan Charouz (ex-Aston Martin) in the #35 Oak Racing Pescarolo, and the arrival of Gary Chalandon in the Bruichladdich Ginetta Zytek. The Frenchman's nomination has been prompted by Thor Ebbesvik's high-impact meeting with a concrete wall at Spa last month. The Norwegian sustained a compacted vertebra and has been ruled unfit for Le Mans, although the promising and very speedy youngster is expected to return in July for the Algarve round of the LMS.

In other respects, the line-up looks remarkably familiar . . . until one notices the bright lime-green and black car bearing the number 26. The interloper is also, perhaps, the most significant addition to the whole grid this year.

The Patrón Highcroft Racing HPD ARX-01c, with last year's Le Mans winner David Brabham sharing cockpit duties with Marino Franchitti and three-time winner Marco Werner (for Audi), arrives in France having just won the Laguna Seca ALMS race outright.

The Stateside LMP2 front-runner has regularly made mincemeat of the opposition, starting last weekend's race from the back of the grid, yet running fifth overall within four laps and eventually winning by a margin of seven. Cars left trailing included a Porsche Spyder, similar to the one that won LMP2 at Le Mans last year, and the Dyson Racing Lola Mazda.

The pundits certainly have the American squad pencilled in amongst the favourites for this year's 24 Hours, but it's by no means cut and dried.

Strakka Racing has claimed pole in the opening two rounds of this year's Le Mans Series in their similar HPD chassis (left), while RML's trio of drivers remains a firm favourite amongst those that value experience and reliability over outright speed.

The RML Lola HPD is no slouch, of course, and the speed traps at Paul Ricard, where the cars were using low-downforce Le Mans configurations, clocked the Lola as quickest along the Mistral on more than one occasion. All three share the same Honda Performance Development naturally aspirated V8.

Others tipped for a tilt at the podium include the Quifel ASM Ginetta Zytek, which won at Spa last time out. The Portuguese team was testing a new aero kit in the final days before heading for France, and declared themselves impressed by a fresh injection of pace.

Neither would the wise dismiss the two Oak Racing Pescarolos (left). Now powered by Judd V8s, despite the Mazda logo on the nose, these cars now perpetuate the name of Pescarolo at Le Mans, although Henri himself has vowed that he won't attend. Their surprising pace in this year's first two LMS races hint, perhaps, at the potential that might have been realised by the Frenchman's LMP1 chassis this season. Now, and regrettably, we may never know, following the recent failure of the team to find a buyer. Another significant development may be the swapping of the #30 Racing Box Lola from Pirelli to Dunlop rubber; back-to-back testing apparently convincing the Italian squad that perhaps all bar one of the other class runners had a point.

The remaining entries may not necessarily be the most highly favoured, but the Le Mans 24 Hours is ever an unpredictable race, and no eventuality can be ruled out until that flag falls on Sunday afternoon.

The full LMP2 entry is as follows:

	LMP2
24		Oak Racing	FRA	D	Pescarolo - Judd	Jean-François Yvon (FRA) Richard Hein (MCO) Jacques Nicolet (FRA)
25		RML AD Group	GBR	D	Lola HPD Coupé	Tommy Erdos (BRA) Mike Newton (GBR) Andy Wallace (GBR)
26		Highcroft Racing	GBR	M	HPD ARX -01c	David Brabham (AUS) Marino Franchitti (GBR) Marco Werner (GER)
28		Race Performance	CHE	D	Radical SR9 - Judd	Pierre Bruneau (FRA) Marc Rostan (FRA) Ralph Meichtry (CHE)
29		Racing Box	ITA	D	Lola Coupé B09 Judd	Marco Cioci (ITA) Piergiuseppe Perazzini (ITA) Luca Pirri (ITA)
35		Oak Racing	FRA	D	Pescarolo - Judd	Matthieu Lahaye (FRA) Jan Charouz (CZE) Guillaume Moreau (FRA)
37		WR Salini	FRA	D	WR-Zytek	Philippe Salini (FRA) Stéphane Salini (FRA) Tristan Gommendy (FRA)
38		Pegasus Racing	FRA	D	Norma M200 - Judd	Julien Schell (FRA) David Zollinger (FRA) Frederic Da Rocha (FRA)
39		KSM	GER	D	Lola B08/47 Judd	Jean de Pourtales (FRA) Hideki Noda (JPN) Jonathan Kennard (GBR)
40		Quifel ASM	PRT	D	Ginetta-Zytek 09S	Miguel Amaral (PRT) Olivier Pla (FRA) Warren Hughes (GBR)
41		Team Bruichladdich	GBR	D	Ginetta-Zytek 09S	Karim Ojjeh (SAU) Tim Greaves (GBR) Gary Chalandon (FRA)
42		Strakka Racing	GBR	M	HPD ARX -01c	Nick Leventis (GBR) Danny Watts (GBR) Jonny Kane (GBR)

LMP1

It would be hard, and perhaps wrong, to view LMP1 as a single class. There's little debate now over the relative capabilities of the diesel cars compared to those with petrol-power. In truth, there's no contest. The winner overall this year will, almost certainly, be whisper-quiet and hustled along by several tankfuls of diesel.

In effect, the petroleum-fuelled cars will be in a class apart, even if not technically classified that way.

No less than nine of the eighteen LMP1 prototypes will employ diesel engines, including four Peugeot 908s, three Audi R15s (above) and two Audi R10s. The R10s are being entered by the works-supported but independent Kolles outfit, and arrive at Le Mans having done no racing at all this year. Their performance in 2009 was hardly stellar, considering the pedigree of their machines, but better perhaps than lacklustre showings in the Le Mans Series had suggested. Even so, the final victor is most likely to come from amongst the rest - all of them works-entered save the privateer Team Oreca 908. Take your pick - probably out of a hat, as any one could win.

The petrol-engined car that's almost guaranteed to gain the most media attention is the Beechdean Mansell Ginetta Zytek, carrying three Mansells and the emotive number 5.

Having Nigel Mansell and his sons sharing a car at Le Mans has already got the daily papers interested in the 24 Hours for the first time in years, but being pragmatic for a moment, they have little chance of a podium, and almost no hope at all of a win. Indeed, they'll be hard pressed to claim top slot amongst their immediate rivals, with the two Rebellion Lolas, a pair of factory Lola Aston Martins, plus the Signature Plus version, and Team Oreca's open-topped AIM all with a better chance of success, on paper at least.

So, as we contemplate yet another diesel win at Le Mans, it's hard to believe that Rudolf Diesel's original engine of 1892 ran on coal dust, and the first diesel-powered car to race at Le Mans was a Delettrez special in 1949.

The Delettrez was entered several times, but never made it to the finish. After its final appearance in 1951, no further attempts were made to race with diesel power at Le Mans until Taurus Sports turned up with a Lola B2K/10 in 2004. With a 5-litre twin-turbo V10 engine, it managed just 35 laps before retiring. Fellow competitors muttered about fumes that reminded them of Saturday nights down at the fish and chip shop, but it set a precedent. Two years later Audi arrived with the diesel-powered R10, and won outright. The gestation, from concept to motor racing domination, was perhaps longer in coming than one might think, but these days, it almost goes without saying that one of the nine diesel cars in this year's race will take top honours again.

GT

Eight GT1 cars are entered in 2010, and the key interest here will be to see how the new Ford GT performs over 24 Hours. The car, launched in 2005, was inspired by the GT40 that Ford created in the early Sixties (with help from Lola) with the sole intention of breaking Ferrari's stranglehold on Le Mans. That original model won Le Mans four times in a row, from 1966-1969, and if current form is anything to go by, the latest incarnation has every chance of repeating at least some degree of that success.

Three Ford GTs take on a pair of Luc Alphand's Corvette C6Rs, one works-supported Aston Martin DBR9, and a singleton Saleen S7-R. Entered by Larbre Competition, the S7-R remains a favourite with the crowd, and with RML. Rather like Ford with the GT40, Saleen turned to Europe for the design and concept of their first bespoke musclecar, and chose RML to help in the creation of the S7. It remains a stylish and capable machine, although championship success in shorter races has never quite been repeated at Le Mans.

The equal largest class is GT2, with another eighteen listed entries. The size of the grid, and the popularity, reflects the even playing field. Almost anyone has a fair crack of the whip here, although there are favourites, of course. These include the Team Felbermayr Porsche of Marc Lieb et al, and the two AF Corse Ferrari 430s, with the likes of Jean Alesi and Mika Salo in the driver line-up. BMW is back at Le Mans with a two-car M3 works entry, and General Motors returns to the site of so many GT1 victories with a pair of GT2 Corvettes. If driver pedigree is any sign of good prospects, then the Corvettes must be in with a chance - and if not, why swap classes?

Eight different marques are represented in GT2, with plenty of British interest in the form of the JMW Aston Martin Vantage and a the RSR Jaguar XKRS.

If you like quirky, then a few pennies on Spyker (left) might not go unrewarded. Dutch designed, but with a factory now in Coventry, Spyker has been a regular at Le Mans since 2002 and finished 5th last year. Don't dismiss them.

If you would like to download or view a full listing of all the entrants for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours in PDF format, please click this link.

Spotters' Guides

If you are going to be trackside at La Sarthe for this year's race, then your indispensable guide to who's-who on track might well be a copy of Andy Blackmore's famous Spotters' Guide.

Each year Andy creates a series of guides covering the American Le Mans Series, British Touring Car Championship, Formula 1 and Le Mans 24 Hours. As we prepare this preview he's still working on the final details for this year's Le Mans guide, but it should be ready in time for Scrutineering on Sunday 6th June. He'll then revise and update the guide, based upon any logo or livery changes he's noticed, and re-issue the guide before practice and qualifying, probably on Wednesday 9th June. There will be one sheet for prototypes and a second sheet for GT cars.

Visit the website by clicking on this link, or the image above, and download the latest version as a high-resolution JPG file. You can then print out copies at either A3 or A4, and use them to help identify the cars as they speed past on track, or follow the TV commentary crew as they use exactly the same sheets to help them keep pace with the latest on-screen broadcast.

New Website for Le Mans

Just in time for this year's 24 Hours, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest has completed a radical overhaul of the official Le Mans website. In association with French design agency, SQLI, and 6TM, the new site went live on May 17th. It offers easy access to booking tickets for events at the Sarthe circuit, a history of the 24 Hours, live timing, information for visitors, data downloads and regular updates during the course of races at Le Mans.

There is an on-line "Fan Zone" with e-shop for official merchandise, videos, copies of official posters from years past, books, branded clothing and much more.

Also revealed on the new website is an on-line game being promoted in association with French tyre manufacturer Michelin. Players are invited to set up their own team and, using strategy and skill (and perhaps a bit of luck) "win" the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The ACO is, of course, a club in much the same vein as the RAC in the UK, and full membership affords a variety of benefits to anyone who is a regular visitor to France, including road-side recovery and legal support in the event of an accident. However, for a little less (39€ a year, in fact) you may also join the dedicated supporters club for the 24 Hours. Members enjoy various perks not available to regular racegoers, including phone text and internet updates, a special "supporters pack" that includes a full set of the data sheets from the race week, booklets and guides, and 10% off all official merchandise when they show their membership card.

The Full Week Schedule

• Sunday 6 June
  14:30 – 19.00 Scrutineering
• Monday 7 June
  09:30 – 17:30 Scrutineering
• Wednesday 9 June
  16:00 – 20 :00 Free practice sessions 24 Heures du Mans
  20:30 – 21:30 Free practice sessions Porsche Carrera Cup
  21:00 – 24:00 Concert
  22:00 – 24:00 Qualifying practice sessions 24 Heures du Mans
• Thursday 10 June
  16:00 – 17;00 Qualifying practice sessions Group C
  17:30 – 18:30 Qualifying practice sessions Porsche Carrera Cup
  19:00 – 21:00 Qualifying practice sessions 24 Heures du Mans
  21:15 – 21:35 Qualifying practice sessions GP ELEC
  22:00 – 24:00 Qualifying practice sessions 24 Heures du Mans Friday 11 June
• Friday 11 June
  10:00 – 20:00 Pit Walk
  18:00 – 19:00 Drivers' parade (City centre)
• Saturday 12 June
  09.00 - 09:45 Warm-Up 24 Heures du Mans
  10:00 – 10:40 Race Porsche Carrera Cup
  11:05 – 11:50 Race GP ELEC
  14:22 Beginning of starting procedure 24 Heures du Mans
  15:00 Start of the 78th race of the 24 Heures du Mans
  21:00 – 00:00 Concert
• Sunday 13 June
  15:00 Finish of the 78th race of the 24 Heures du Mans

TV and Radio

The best way for racegoers to keep tabs on what's happening, not only during the race but also in the days leading up to it, is to tune in to Radio Le Mans. The crew at RLM must be amongst the most knowledgeable in motor racing anywhere, and as well as anchor man John Hindhaugh's seemingly endless banter, the Man from up North will be joined by twinkle-toed pitlane reporter Graham Tyler (known as GT, no less), Joe Bradley, Nick Damon, Bruce Jones and Dailysportscar's Graham Goodwin. Tune in to 91.2 FM, or log on to www.radiolemans.com. This year the feed to the web won't be exactly the same as the live broadcasts, with the Internet offering access to some pre-recorded interviews as well as blow-by-blow action.

As was the case last year, the Radio Le Mans commentary will also be relayed through the Kangaroo TV system. These lightweight, handheld TV monitors were introduced a couple of years ago, and have proved to be a popular way to keep tabs on all the happenings at Le Mans.

Not only is there a live feed of TV footage, with accompanying RLM commentary, but it is also possible to access timing screens and leaderboards class by class. Coverage extends across most of the Le Mans circuit, with guaranteed feed throughout the section from the Porsche Curves through to Tetre Rouge, everywhere within the Village, Paddock, Tribunes and Bugatti Circuit. There is also some chance of picking up the signal in the central campsites.

The Kangaroo TV costs 55€ to hire for the duration of the event, and can either be reserved in advance by visiting the website, or picked up on arrival at the circuit. Demand is likely to be high, and it is possible that units could run out, so sign up now if you're interested. Last year the main drop-off and collection point was just outside the eastern Paddock entrance.

If you don't want to be bothered with carrying a Kangaroo around with you, there will be 11 massive TV screens spread around the circuit this year, between Arnage and Tetre Rouge.

If you are unable to make it to La Sarthe this year, and want to follow the 24 Hours on TV, then coverage will be extensive in 2010. Eurosport will be offering extended live and review programmes for most of this year's event, from practice and qualifying, through to the end of the race. Although subject to change, the following outline schedule has been released. Times are for the UK:

• Monday 7th June
  23:45. Le Mans update on British Eurosport and British Eurosport 2. (30 minutes)
• Tuesday 8th June
  08:15. Le Mans update on British Eurosport, (30 minutes)
  08:30. Le Mans update on British Eurosport 2. (30 minutes)
  08:45. Review of Spa 1000 Kilometres on British Eurosport. (60 minutes)
  12:00. Le Mans update on British Eurosport 2. (30 minutes)
  18:35. Le Mans update on British Eurosport. (30 minutes)
  22:00. Le Mans update on British Eurosport. (30 minutes)
  23:15. Le Mans update on British Eurosport. (30 minutes)
• Wednesday 9th June
  07:45. Le Mans update on British Eurosport. (30 minutes)
  12:00. Le Mans update on British Eurosport 2. (30 minutes)
  15:30. Le Mans LIVE Practice on British Eurosport 2. (180 minutes)
  18:30. Le Mans LIVE Practice on British Eurosport. (30 minutes)
  20:15. Le Mans update on British Eurosport 2. (30 minutes)
  21:00. Le Mans LIVE Practice on British Eurosport 2. (120 minutes)
• Thursday 10th June
  18:00. Le Mans LIVE Qualifying on British Eurosport 2. (30 minutes)
  18:30. Le Mans LIVE Qualifying on British Eurosport. (30 minutes)
  19:00. Le Mans LIVE Qualifying on British Eurosport. (30 minutes)
  21:00. Le Mans LIVE Qualifying on British Eurosport. (120 minutes)
• Saturday 11th June - Sunday 12th June
  18:00. Le Mans LIVE Qualifying on British Eurosport (45 minutes)
  10.00. Group C LIVE Race on British Eurosport (60 minutes)
  13.15. Le Mans Build up and Start on British Eurosport (120 minutes) - 15.15 Eurosport
  15.15. Le Mans LIVE Race on British Eurosport 2. (5 hours)
  18.30. Le Mans Race Roundup on British Eurosport. (30 minutes)
  21.00. Le Mans Race Roundup British Eurosport. (30 minutes)
  21.30. Le Mans Race Roundup British Eurosport 2. (30 minutes)
  22.15. Le Mans LIVE Race on British Eurosport. (45 minutes)
  23.30. Le Mans LIVE Race on British Eurosport. (10 Hours)
  08.00. Le Mans Race Roundup British Eurosport 2. (30 minutes)
  09.30. Le Mans LIVE Race on British Eurosport 2. (2 hours 45 mins)
  12.05. Le Mans LIVE Race top Finish on British Eurosport. (2 hours 30 minutes)

To double-check the latest schedule, please visit the Eurosport website.

If you can’t receive satellite, it is still possible to view Eurosport’s coverage on-line by subscribing to their Live On-Demand service. Similar to the BBC’s iPlayer, the service is available world-wide, and prices start from £3.99 per month, or £34.99 per year. More details here.

The Track

For a general view of the circuit, we repeat the high-resolution images we created for the race in 2008, based upon the excellent Google Earth mapping program.

The image above depicts the entire circuit, with the Bugatti Circuit almost hidden away in the bottom left. North is to the left, with the overall orientation being East to West, top to bottom.

The second image, on the left, is a close-up of the pit, paddock and Village area. Clicking the images will open enlargements in new windows, and these can be navigated by using the slider bars to the right and base, depending on the size and resolution of your screen.

For direct access to Google maps, click here.