Pescarolo 01

Racing car
Car_name = Pescarolo 01


Category = Le Mans Prototype
(LMP1 and LMP2)
Constructor = Pescarolo Sport
Designer = Andre de Cortanze
Team = flagicon|FRA Pescarolo Sport
flagicon|GBR Rollcentre Racing
flagicon|FRA Saulnier Racing
flagicon|DEU Kruse Motorsport
Drivers = flagicon|FRA Emmanuel Collard,
flagicon|FRA Jean-Christophe Bouillon,
flagicon|FRA Romain Dumas,
flagicon|SUI Harold Primat,
flagicon|FRA Christophe Tinseau,
flagicon|FRA Benoit Treluyer,
flagicon|GBR Stuart Hall,
flagicon|POR João Barbosa,
flagicon|BEL Vanina Ickx,
flagicon|CHN Cheng Cong Fu
Technical ref =
Chassis = Carbon fibre monocoque
Front suspension = Double wishbone, push rod operated over damper
Rear suspension = Double wishbone, push rod operated over damper
Wheelbase = convert|2795|mm|1|abbr=on|lk=on
Track =
Engine name = 5.5 litre Judd GV5.5 S2 V10 or Judd XV675/DB
Capacity = 3.4 litre
Configuration = V8
Turbo/NA = naturally aspirated
Engine position = mid-engined, longitudinally mounted
Gearbox name = X-Trac
Gears = 6-speed
Type = sequential manual
Differential =
Weight = 925kg (2039lbs)
Fuel =
Tyres = Michelin, Dunlop, Kumho
Debut = 2007 1000 km of Monza
Races = 13
Wins = 0
Cons_champ = 0
Drivers_champ = 0
Poles = 0
Fastest_laps = 0|The Pescarolo 01 is the first sports prototype racing car built entirely by French team Pescarolo Sport. It is designed to meet the LMP1 and LMP2 regulations for Le Mans Prototypes in the Le Mans Series as well as at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and replace Pescarolo's previous C60 chassis which had been heavily modified from cars purchased through Courage Compétition. The first 01s debuted at the 2007 1000 km of Monza, and are still used by several teams today.

Development

At the end of 2006, new regulations came into affect for the various series supposed by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). These regulations required extensive changes to the layout of a chassis, leaving many teams to purchase or build new cars as their current cars would be ineligible in 2007. Pescarolo Sport at the time was campaigning two Pescarolo C60s, cars which Pescarolo Sport had extensively modified from their origins as Courage C60s a few years prior. The C60s however did not meet the 2007 regulations, and team owner Henri Pescarolo chose to become a full constructor for the first time. Many features from the C60 were carried over in the design of the 01.

Unlike the C60, the 01 was intended to be not only used by the Pescarolo Sport team, but also to be sold to customers. In order to broaden their customer base, the 01 was designed to meet the regulations of both the LMP1 and LMP2 classes with minor variation required.

Racing history

2007

As the first 01s were being completed, several teams announced their intent to purchase the chassis. Rollcentre Racing chose to reenter the LMP1 category and campaign an 01-Judd alongside the two Pescarolo Sport cars. The German Kruse Motorsports team were the first to purchase an LMP2-spec car, using the smaller Judd V8 as a powerplant. Lister Cars also announced their intentions to purchase a chassis, which they would later modify, to replace their ineligible Storm LMP.

At the Pescarolo 01's debut in the Le Mans Series opener, the #16 car of Pescarolo Sport managed to finish in second place, between the two factory Peugeot diesels, while the #17 car finished fourth. The Rollcentre and Kruse cars also finished the event in points-earning positions. Pescarolo's #16 car earned two further second place finishes over the six race season, and was able to secure second place in the LMP1 Teams Championship. Pescarolo's #17 car struggled to earn points and finished seventh in points, but the Rollcentre team were able to outperform the one factory Pescarolo and finish fourth in the championship. Kruse's season was cut short as a fire onboard the team's transporter destroyed their car.

At the 2004 Hours of Le Mans, Pescarolo Sport was returning as the previous year's runner-up. All four 01s from the Le Mans Series were entered, and three of them were able to successfully reach the finish. The #16 Pescarolo of Emmanuel Collard, Jean-Christophe Boullion, and Romain Dumas was classified third, eleven laps behind the winning Audi, while Rollcentre Racing's car was a further eleven laps behind in fourth place. Pescarolo's #17 car finished well back in 13th, while Kruse's car suffered mechanical problems and retired in the first half of the event.

2008

For the 2008 season, five Pescarolo 01s would once again be entered in the Le Mans Series. Pescarolo Sport and Rollcentre Racing remained as they had the year before, but two more 01s were entered by the French Saulnier Racing. The team, which had been purchased by Pescarolo Sport at the end of 2007, entered an 01 each in the LMP1 and LMP2 classes.

In the LMP1 category, the four teams faced stiffer competition from not only the returning Peugeots, but also newcomers Audi. Pescarolo Sport finished on the podium twice in five races, once each for the #16 and #17 cars. It was the #16 car which once again led amongst Pescarolos in the Teams Championship, finishing in sixth place, while every other Pescarolo team managed to earn at least a point during the year. In LMP2, the Saulnier car using the latest V8 from Judd had a best finish of second in class at the 1000 km of Nürburgring and successfully finished the year fourth in the Teams Championship, the best non-Porsche in the field.

As in the previous year, the entire contingent of 01s competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and once again nearly all were able to finish. #17 led the 01 field home in seventh place, the best finisher using petrol fuel. Rollcentre's race ended in eleventh place, while the LMP1 Saulnier entry survived for 26th. In LMP2, the Saulnier 01 was third in its class, 21 laps behind the winning Porsche, and ranked eighteenth in the overall standings. Only the #16 Pescarolo, which had earned a podium the previous year, was unable to complete the full race.

External links

* [http://www.pescarolo.com/ Pescarolo Sport official website]
* [http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3187/Pescarolo-01-LMP1-Judd.html Pescarolo 01-Judd Specifications]