2008 Le Mans Series season

Sportscar season
Sportscar_series = Le Mans Series
Current = 2008
Next = 2009
Previous = 2007The 2008 Le Mans Series season is the fifth season of ACO's Le Mans Series. It is a series comprised of Le Mans Prototype and Grand Touring style cars broken into 4 classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2. It will run from April 6, 2008, to September 14, 2008, with five rounds.

chedule

The 2008 schedule remains largely unchanged, with Circuit de Catalunya replacing Circuit de Valencia for the Spanish round. A large gap is built into the schedule between May and August to better allow teams to prepare for and recover from the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans. [citeweb | url = http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4440&thold=0 | title = Les Le Mans Series dévoilent leur Calendrier 2008. Barcelona au programme. | publisher = Endurance-Info.com | language = French | date = 8 November 2007 | accessdate = 2007-11-08]

The race was announced at a later date, with a 1000 km event in Shanghai. This event however will not replace the Brazilian Mil Milhas, but will instead be a stand-alone event as a precursor to a new Asian Le Mans Series planned for 2009. Points for the Le Mans Series will not be awarded, but class winners will gain automatic entry to the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans. [citeweb | url = http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4847&thold=0 | title = Officiel : Le Mans débarque en Chine ! | language = French | publisher = Endurance-Info | date = 4 February 2008 | accessdate = 2008-02-04] The race would be held sometime around 2009 instead of late 2008 because of the conflicts with the 2008 Summer Olympics organising. [citeweb | url = http://www.lemans.org/sport/sport/actu/2008-05-29_GD_2903_gb.html | title = Official site of ACO: Shanghai put off until 2009. | publisher = ACO | language = English | date = 29 May 2008 | accessdate = 2008-06-19]

LMP2 standings

Driver Championships

Points were awarded to the top 8 finishers in the order of 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. Drivers who did not drive for at least 45 minutes do not receive points.

LMP1 standings

GT2 standings

Confirmed entries

LMP1

* Oreca purchased Courage Compétition on September 14, 2007. [cite web | url = http://www.planetlemans.com/2007/09/14/oreca-announces-courage-takeover/ | title = Oreca announces Courage takeover | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 2007-09-14 | accessdate = 2007-12-16] Oreca will run two Oreca-Courage LC70s in 2008, with Judd engines replacing AER units. Olivier Panis will be one of the team's drivers. [cite web | url = http://www.planetlemans.com/2007/12/16/olivier-panis-will-drive-for-team-oreca-matmut/ | title = Olivier Panis will drive for Team Oreca-Matmut | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 2007-12-16 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]
* Audi has announced their intentions to run in the LMS in 2008, pending a marketing agreement for the series which Audi finds favorable. The two-car team will be run by Joest Racing. [citeweb | url = http://www.planetlemans.com/2007/11/30/audi-announces-2008-plans-3-cars-at-le-mans-confirmed-alms-and-strong-lms-intentions/ | title = Audi announces 2008 plans: 3 cars at Le Mans, confirmed ALMS and strong LMS intentions | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 30 November 2007 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]
* Epsilon Euskadi plans to enter two EE1 coupes in the 2008 season. [citeweb | url = http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4340&thold=0 | title = Deux Zytek pour Epsilon Sport, et deux Epsilon Euskadi en 2008 ? | publisher = Endurance-Info.com | language = French | date = 16 October 2007 | 2007-12-16]
* Creation Autosportif will switch to new AIM-built engines in 2008, while also running two cars. [citeweb | url = http://www.creationsport.co.uk/news/PR_2006/CASPR_2006_46/pr_2006_46.htm | title = Creation Aim for the future | publisher = Creation Autosportif | date = 4 December 2006 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]
* On January 10, 2008, it was announced that Aston Martin would be moving into the LMP1 category. Using the same engine as the GT1-class DBR9, the prototype will be a Lola B08/60 coupe. Charouz Racing System will run the car with assistance from Prodrive, with drivers Tomáš Enge, Jan Charouz, and Stefan Mücke. [citeweb | url = http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4713&thold=0 | title = Une Lola B08/60 à moteur Aston Martin pour le Charouz Racing ! | publisher = Endurance-Info | date = 10 January 2008 | accessdate = 2008-01-10]
* Swiss Spirit, now under the control of Phoenix Racing, plans a return for their Audi-powered Lola. [citeweb | url = http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4710&thold=0 | title = Le Swiss Spirit récupère sa Lola-Audi et s'allie au team Phoenix pour cette saison ! | language = French | publisher = Endurance-Info | date = 9 January 2008 | accessdate = 2008-01-10]

LMP2

* Caspar Elgaard and John Nielsen will form Team Essex, running a Porsche RS Spyder in 2008. [cite web | url = http://www.planetlemans.com/2007/12/15/team-essex-present-their-porsche-rs-spyder/ | title = Team Essex present their RS Spyder | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 2007-12-15 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]
* Van Merksteijn (VM) Motorsport will also be entering an RS Spyder in the series, [cite web | url = http://www.planetlemans.co.uk/cmsv2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3485&Itemid=2 | title = Van Merksteijn Motorsport: the latest news | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 2007-12-05 | accessdate = 2007-12-16] driven by Dutchmen Jeroen Bleekemolen, Peter van Merksteijn and Jos Verstappen. [cite web | url = http://f1.gpupdate.net/nl/nieuws/2007/12/27/verstappen-stapt-over-op-le-mans-series/ | title = Verstappen stapt over op Le Mans Series | publisher = GPUpdate | date = 2007-12-27 | accessdate = 2007-12-27]
* Swiss Horag Racing will compete with an RS Spyder, with regular drivers Fredy Lienhard and Didier Theys. [citeweb | url = http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=272234 | title = A full circle for Theys, Lienhard | publisher = Motorsport.com | date = 10 October 2007 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]
* Welter Racing will return to the series with an all-new prototype. The WR will be powered by a Zytek V8 for the first time. [cite web | url = http://www.planetlemans.com/2007/12/05/welter-racing-wr-is-back-in-2008/ | title = Welter Racing (WR) is back in 2008 | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 2007-12-06 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]
* On October 23, 2007, Pescarolo Sport merged with Saulnier Sport to form Pescarolo Automobiles. Besides Pescarolo Sport's two-car LMP1 effort, Pescarolo Automobiles will also have an LMP2 team run by Saulnier. [citeweb | url = http://www.planetlemans.com/2007/10/23/henri-pescarolo-and-jacques-nicolet-announce-the-creation-of-pescarolo-automobiles/ | title = Henri Pescarolo and Jacques Nicolet announce the creation of Pescarolo Automobiles | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 27 October 2007 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]
* Embassy Racing will construct their own cars in 2008, known as the "Embassy WF01". [cite web | url = http://www.planetlemans.com/2007/09/14/embassy-will-run-in-2008an-embassy/ | title = Embassy will run in 2008...an Embassy! | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 2007-09-14 | accessdate = 2007-12-16] . The cars will be powered by Zytek engines [cite web | url = http://www.planetlemans.com/2007/09/16/zytek-engine-on-the-new-embassy-prototype/ | title = Zytek engine on the new Embassy prototype | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 2007-09-16 | accessdate = 2007-12-16] , and drivers Warren Hughes, Jonny Kane and Joey Foster will be drivers. [citeweb | url = http://www.planetlemans.co.uk/cmsv2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3471&Itemid=2 | title = Embassy Racing confirms Kane and Foster for 2008 | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 21 November 2007 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]
* Speed Racing Team and Sebah Automotive plan a joint campaign with a new Lola B08/80. [citeweb | url = http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4608&thold=0 | title = Sebah et Speedy Racing s’associent pour engager une Lola B08/80. | publisher = Endurance-Info.com | language = French | date = 14 December 2007 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]
* Racing Box will move to LMP2 with the purchase of a Lucchini-Judd. [citeweb | url = http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4271&thold=0 | title = Une Lucchini-Judd pour Racing Box en 2008. | publisher = Endurance-Info.com | language = French | date = 2 October 2007 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]

GT1

* Larbre Compétition will no longer be a factory-backed Aston Martin squad, instead moving to a pair of Oreca-supported Saleen S7-Rs. [cite web | url = http://www.planetlemans.com/2007/11/27/larbre-to-race-saleens-in-2008/ | title = Larbre to race Saleens in 2008 | publisher = Planetlemans.com | date = 2008-12-27 | accessdate = 2007-12-16]

GT2

* Spyker is building new coupes (Laviolettes) for the GT2 class, both for their own team as well as replacements for the Speedy Racing Team. [citeweb | url = http://www.fembusiness.nl/web/artikelSmal/Spyker-racet-volgend-jaar-met-C8-Laviolette.htm | title = Spyker racet volgend jaar met C8 Laviolette | language = Dutch | publisher = FEM Business | date = 28 December 2007 | accessdate = 2008-01-10]

References

External links

* [http://www.lemans-series.com/en/s01_home/s01p01_home.php Le Mans Series]
* [http://www.mariantic.co.uk/lmp/LMS08.asp Mariantic] - Le Mans Series 2008 News
* [http://www.endurance-info.com Endurance-Info] (French)
* [http://www.planetlemans.com Planetlemans.com]