LMS: Silverstone

[Plex]

Autosport magazine backs Le Mans Series' Silverstone finale

The fifth and final round of the Le Mans Series at Silverstone over 12-14 September will be sponsored by Autosport -- the UK's biggest selling weekly motorsport magazine.

Sponsorship from the Haymarket Media Group re-creates the glory days of Silverstone's six-hour sportscar races from the 1980s that were also sponsored by Autosport.

The Autosport 1000km of Silverstone gives sportscar racing fans their first chance to see Audi and Peugeot renewing their epic Le Mans battle in Britain.

It also marks Scotsman Allan McNish's first race on "home" soil since his spectacular victory in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours.

Le Mans Series organizers declared : "We hope we are starting a long-term partnership between Le Mans Series and Autosport."We want the Autosport 1000km to become a regular event on the LMS calendar in the coming years."

Autosport editor Andy van de Burgt added: "It's fitting that the Autosport 1000km should be revived at such a great time for sportscar racing.

"Anyone who followed this year's Le Mans 24 Hours will know just how intense the battle between Peugeot and Audi is."

Feedmesports

[Plex]

Darren Turner Joins Strakka Racing

Locally-based Strakka Racing will make a high-profile return to the 2008 Le Mans Series for the season finale at Silverstone on September 14th. The team's regular pairing of Nick Leventis and Peter Hardman will be calling upon the services of one of the trio of drivers who helped steer Aston Martin to a second successive GT1 victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours this year, Darren Turner.

Strakka Racing's own Aston Martin DBR9 made its debut in the Le Mans Series in May this year, rising to a high of second in class during the Spa 1000 Kilometres before finishing fourth. The team then collaborated with Vitaphone Racing to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, but suffered the disappointment of an early retirement. Peter Hardman is keen to put that result behind them as they look towards Silverstone, and perhaps the 2009 season beyond. "This will be our last race in the Aston this year," he said, "and we would dearly love to make up for not finishing at Le Mans. We completed a very successful test at Snetterton last week, learning a great deal more about the car, and making excellent progress with the Dunlop tyres. We have a follow-up test scheduled for next week, and hope to be in good shape for Silverstone in a fortnight."

Bringing a driver of Darren Turner's experience into the squad certainly increases their chances. "It's great to have him in the car," said Peter. "His experience is huge. He's been part of the Aston Martin DBR9 project since the very beginning, and we hope to be able to learn a great deal through him." Darren co-drove the #009 DBR9 at Le Mans with David Brabham and Antonio Garcia. "Antonio was my team-mate in 2006, when we won the Le Mans Series round at Donington," added Peter. "That's how I know Darren will be very quick, and should do a great job for us at our home race. We particularly want to do the best we possibly can at Silverstone."

Darren, who is also based near Silverstone, races there this weekend in the British Touring Car Championship, where he is a works driver for SEAT Sport UK alongside Jason Plato. "Silverstone is a great circuit to race on," he says, "and it's always a pleasure to get back into the DBR9, so racing there with Strakka makes the perfect combination. It will be my first time co-driving with Peter and Nick, but Peter has an excellent reputation, and Nick has made fast progress as a driver in only four years. I'm hoping we can get a good result. A new team, a new tyre supplier in Dunlop, new co-drivers, and at my home circuit -- yes, I'm really looking forward to it!" Darren finished third in the Spa 24 Hours earlier this month driving a DBR9 with Gigawave Motorsport.

Nick Leventis was unable to take part in last Tuesday's test, having been taken ill with food poisoning, but intends to be fighting fit for next week's follow-up, when Darren is also scheduled to share the running. "I'm thrilled that Darren is joining us for Silverstone," he said. "He brings a wealth of experience about the car, and I feel honoured and privileged to be driving with him. He's won Le Mans twice with Aston Martin and has been with the DBR9 since it was first launched. Having him alongside us is an excellent way to round off the season, but I also feel that it demonstrates how serious we are about next year."

The team unveils a striking new livery for the Strakka Racing DBR9 at Silverstone, with glossy black paintwork contrasting strongly with white lettering and prominent Relentless branding.

Feedmesportscars

[Plex]

RML switch to Lola Coupe for finale

RML will switch to the latest version of the Lola Coupe for the final round of the Le Mans Series at Silverstone next weekend.

The team have run the open-top MG Lola EX265 this season, having been loyal Lola customers for the past five years, but have decided to upgrade to the closed top version used successfully by the Charouz and Speedy Sebah teams

"We have been considering the way forward for several months," said Adam Wiseberg, Director of Motorsport for the team's main backer AD Group.

"It became clear very early in the current season that the latest incarnation of what started life as the EX257, whilst having been tremendously competitive for the last three years in the LMP2 class, has reached the end of its useful life.

"As a consequence we have been examining very carefully all the possible options open to us for the future, and we arrived at the conclusion that upgrading the chassis to a closed-cockpit configuration was the most effective."

Drivers Thomas Erdos and Mike Newton tested the closed-top Lola for the first time at Snetterton today, and Erdos is confident that it represents the best route forward for RML.

"The Lola coupe has everything going for it," he said. "It's already shown that it can be very competitive, it provides us with continuity of components and manufacturer, and it's very attractive. When something looks right, it so very often is.

"The class has moved on, and we've always known that we need to upgrade the package to remain competitive. I'm just proud to be part of a team that's prepared to make this level of investment and clearly wants to go on winning.

"We have six hours at Silverstone to learn as much as we can about the revised car, and then we have the whole of the winter to get it fully sorted for 2009. It will put us in a very strong position going into the next season."

RML will retain the MG XP-21 engine in their new car for Silverstone, but are still considering their 2009 engine plans.

"We are still to make a final choice of engine for next year, but as we have been running with the XP-21 since the start of the season, we elected to complete the year in the same format," Newton explained. "It will give us a good foundation upon which to base our decisions for 2009."

Autosport

[Plex]

Last fight this season between Peugeot and Audi

Peugeot aiming to record a clean sweep

A brace of diesel-engined Peugeot 908 HDi FAP sportscars will start the 1000-kilometre race at Silverstone, aiming to record a 100% winning record in this year's five-race Le Mans Series en route to both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' titles.

Having had its claws clipped by arch rival Audi in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the French Lion's appetite to give its German diesel adversary a thorough mauling in their last European encounter of the year remains undiminished.

A Peugeot 908 HDi FAP has started the previous four LMS races at Barcelona, Monza, Spa and the N�rburgring from pole position, each time winning the race and setting the fastest lap.

Despite the French team's domination, Sussex-based Nicolas Minassian and co-driver Marc Gen� have a mere two-point advantage over Audi's Alexandre Pr�mat and Mike Rockenfeller, who have been second in three of the races and third last time out in Germany.

Minassian, who scored a pole-to-chequered-flag victory at Silverstone last year, remarked: "The title decision goes down to the wire at Silverstone, a circuit I love. Last year it was a fantastic weekend there for us. It turned out to be a trouble-free run to victory for Marc and me and we were able to lift towards the end to control our cushion from in front."

Minassian and Gen� plus Team Peugeot teammates, Pedro Lamy and St�phane Sarrazin, have both won two races apiece this season.
Lamy and Sarrazin lie third in this year's title chase but are now unable to retain the Le Mans Series crown.

Peugeot Team Director Michel Barge added: "The titles will finally be decided at Silverstone. We let our crews fight it out between themselves in Germany. We took our decision out of respect for our drivers, who all put in great performances again."

But Audi Sport Team Joest driver Alexandre Pr�mat is not about to wave the white flag of surrender. Pr�mat, teammate to Lewis Hamilton during the 2006 GP2 season, believes everything is still to play for.

"We still have hopes for the title," he confirmed. "We've only got a two-point gap � we'll do everything we can to clinch the title."

While Peugeot and Audi slug it out for race and ultimate series honours, the Aston Martin-engined Lola of Stefan Mucke and Jan Charouz gets faster, and more reliable, with every race.

In the smaller and lighter LMP2 class, title honours have already gone to Jos "The Boss" Verstappen and Porsche RS Spyder car owner Peter van Merksteijn.

Racing-live

[Plex]

From fire to finish last time out

Virgo hoping to defend its title at Silverstone

Virgo Motorsport are setting a red-hot pace in its attempt to retain the GT2 title. 28-year-old "Geordie" Rob Bell and co-driver Gimmy Bruni start the 1000km of Silverstone with the knowledge that a second-place finish in their class will be good enough for a second consecutive GT2 crown.

Such a scenario is welcome news for the duo when considering that an event on the previous race almost sent their objective up in smoke.

At the N�rburgring in Germany, Bell and Bruni scored their third class win of the season but only after the Virgo team had rebuilt their Ferrari F430 GT following a spectacular fire in practice on the opening day.

"A suspected fuel leak engulfed the rear of the car with flames and I thought my weekend was over, and that the car wouldn't be repairable in time, but the Virgo Motorsport boys did an outstanding job," reflected Bell, who finished on the class podium with Virgo at every 2007 LMS race.


"We started the race from the pitlane having missed qualifying the previous day. Being able to start the race was an achievement in itself. To finish the race was another achievement but to win capped it all," he said. "We overcame adversity and won through which made the victory even more special."

Meanwhile in GT1, Team Modena will be looking to Tomas Enge and Antonio Garcia to steer their Aston Martin DBR9 home to a third LMS win of the season. If the Corvettes of current leaders Luc Alphand Aventures fail to finish, that will allow the British team a series success.

Racing-Live

[Plex]

Audi still looking at LMS title at Silverstone

Audi competes in a second race in Great Britain only 14 days after Timo Scheider�s victory at Brands Hatch in the Audi A4 DTM: The finale of the European based Le Mans Series (LMS) is held on 14 September at Silverstone where Audi Sport Team Joest still has chances of winning the title.

Audi has good memories of the 1000-kilometre race at Silverstone: In 2004, Allan McNish won together with Pierre Kaffer, a year later the Scot triumphed in a memorable battle in the rain with St�phane Ortelli � both times at the wheel of an Audi R8.

The win at Silverstone in 2005 was the 59th of 63 overall victories for the legendary R8 with which Audi dominated the Sports Prototype scene for more than six years. The engine in particular made the R8 unique: It was powered by a TFSI engine from mid 2001. Until then, no one in motorsport had risked the combination of turbo-charging and direct injection, which are now successfully used in Audi road cars (for example the Audi TTS).

The same applies to the Audi R10 TDI: Audi wrote an important chapter in motorsport history with the first � and to date only � diesel sportscar to have won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. The know-how gathered from the Le Mans victories on 2006, 2007 and 2008 pours into the next generation of TDI engines.

�With both the R8 and R10 TDI we really could impressively demonstrate the technology transfer between motorsport and the production line which is important for Audi,� explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. �Today, many Audi customers around the world benefit from the TFSI Technology which we used at Le Mans for the first time in 2001. The further development of TDI Technology is accelerated as a result of the Le Mans programme.�

At Silverstone on 14 September the now three-year old Audi R10 TDI starts for the last time this season at a race in Europe and for the first time in Great Britain. The two Audi youngsters Alexandre Pr�mat (26) and Mike Rockenfeller (24) trail the Peugeot duo Marc Gen�/Nicolas Minassian by only two points in the LM P1 Drivers� Championship. Audi is six points behind Peugeot in the Manufacturers� Championship.

�The leads are not insurmountable,� says Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. �Our competition is very fast, but a great deal can happen during a 1000-kilometre race. Let�s not forget that the weather at Silverstone is often very changeable.�

So as not to leave anything to chance, Audi Sport Team Joest completely rebuilt the car driven by Dindo Capello and Allan McNish for the Silverstone race. The two Le Mans winners complained about the unusual handling of their R10 TDI last time out at the N�rburgring.

The 1000-kilometre race at Silverstone starts on Sunday (14 September) at 11:20 a.m. local time. Last year�s race lasted almost five and three-quarter hours. Eurosport broadcasts the start and opening stages live from 12:15 to 12:45 a.m. and the race highlights between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m.

Facts & figures

The Audi driver line-up at Silverstone
#1 Dindo Capello/Allan McNish
#2 Alexandre Pr�mat/Mike Rockenfeller

Allan McNish about Silverstone: �The Silverstone circuit is very fast, especially the �Becketts� section where you really do see both man and machine on the limit. Because the circuit is built on a former airfield and the countryside is so flat it, is normally very windy which heavily influences the balance of the car.�

Interesting facts

After 2000, 2004 and 2005, Audi competes for the fourth time in a sportscar race at Silverstone � Audi Sport Team Joest raced for the last time in 2000 at Silverstone � Dindo Capello and Allan McNish started together in the year 2000 with the Audi R8R and went on to finish third � Mike Rockenfeller knows the circuit at Silverstone from the FIA GT Championship, Alexandre Pr�mat from the GP2 series � Mike Rockenfeller celebrated victory in the GT2 Class at the FIA GT Championship in 2005 � Only four drivers, Marc Gen�, Nicolas Minassian, Alexandre Pr�mat and Mike Rockenfeller, have a chance of winning the LM P1 title � Between the two LMS races at the N�rburgring and Silverstone, Dindo Capello contested the ALMS race at Mosport where he recorded, with his average speed of 222.276 kph (138.116 mph) in qualifying, the fastest ever lap in the American Le Mans Series � Silverstone is the 36th race for the Audi R10 TDI, nineteen of which ended in victory � due to time constraints there is no warm-up on Sunday.

The schedule at Silverstone

Friday, 12 September
11:15 � 12:15 Free Practice 1
15:45 � 16:45 Free Practice 2

Saturday, 13 September
09:00 � 10:00 Free Practice 3
13:15 � 13:35 Qualifying (GT cars)
13:40 � 14:00 Qualifying (prototypes)

Sunday, 14 September
11:20 � 17:20 Race (195 laps)

Planetlemans

[Plex]

Peugeot targetting LMS title at Silverstone (and also unveiling hybrid demo)

The fifth and final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series takes teams to Great Britain for the 1,000km of Silverstone which will decide the outcome of the Manufacturers�, Drivers� and Teams� title chases. Despite winning the first four races and although it enjoys a six-point cushion at the top of the table, Peugeot is not yet certain to secure the Manufacturers� trophy which is its priority objective. Additionally Peugeot Sport will unveil its hybrid demonstrator on Saturday, 5.30pm

Similarly, Marc Gen� and Nicolas Minassian are just two points clear of their closest rivals in the Drivers� standings with the N�7 908 HDi FAP. The 908 HDi FAP revealed its potential during its debut season by winning every round of the 2007 Le Mans Series and went on to clinch the Manufacturers� crown.

This year, the thorough groundwork the team has put in on the reliability front has once again seen Peugeot Sport enjoy an unbeaten run in the 2008 calendar of 1000km races against opponents who have some 10 years� experience of endurance racing behind them. Only a mechanical problem and diverse race incidents prevented the 908s from notching up one-two finishes in all the Le Mans Series rounds contested to date, otherwise the series could have been wrapped up without going down to the wire. The perfect result finally came on August 17 at the N�rburgring where the 908s qualified in first and second places before going on to seal a one-two finish at the end of the home race of the team�s principal rival, Audi.

Everyone at Peugeot Sport has prepared particularly thoroughly for the year�s ultimate, decisive clash, the 1,000km of Silverstone. Peugeot Sport�s Director Michel Barge: �Our number one objective is to win the Manufacturers� title. That is very important for the brand. The six-point gap over our main rivals means we will have to run an aggressive strategy. The ideal scenario would be a repeat of our result at the N�rburgring, or at least to finish with one car ahead of the Audis. The 908 HDi FAP has again shown this year that it is at home on all types of circuit, but it is especially strong on fast, flowing tracks such as Silverstone. If we succeed in finishing ahead of the Audis with both cars, the Drivers� title will go to the N�7 908 of Marc and Nicolas, because last year�s champions Pedro Lamy and St�phane Sarrazin are no longer in the running in the N�8 car.�

Although French, one of the four 908 HDi FAP drivers feels practically at home when he races at Silverstone, namely Nicolas Minassian who proved as much in 2007 by qualifying on pole position, posting the fastest race lap and taking the chequered flag in first place: �Marc and I have no intention of playing second fiddles. Our objective is to leave Silverstone on Sunday evening with victory and the 2008 Le Mans Series title in our pocket. What a terrific way that would be of rounding off the season. I feel very relaxed and I go into this race intent on winning! And if we succeed, the title will automatically be ours. Last year, we scored a grand slam at Silverstone. Marc and I enjoy this circuit very much. It�s my favourite venue and it tends to be successful for me. I particularly love the sequence through Copse, Becketts and then Stowe which you take at more than 250kph. What a buzz! If we are fortunate enough to clinch the Drivers� and Manufacturers� crowns, it will be my first title in motor racing! I have been named to qualify the N�7 car, and St�phane Sarrazin has been tasked with the same mission in the other 908.�

The 1,000km race (195 laps of the 5.141km circuit) starts on Sunday morning at 11.20am. Television coverage: Eurosport and Motors TV.

Peugeot Sport�S Timetable
Friday September 12
11.15am-12.15pm Free practice 1
3.45pm-4.45pm Free practice 2

Saturday September 13
9.00am-10.00am Free practice 3
1.40pm-2.00pm Qualifying

Sunday September 14
11.20am Race starts

Planetlemans

[Plex]

Minassian: No team orders needed

Le Mans Series championship leader Nicolas Minassian says he and Peugeot co-driver Marc Gene are not expecting assistance from teammates Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy as they seek to wrap up the drivers' title in this weekend's Autosport 1000km finale at Silverstone.

The Frenchman, who finished second in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, says that while he thinks Peugeot could intervene if they need help to win the championship from the sister car, the target is for the team to dominate the race in the same manner they did at the Nurburgring last month.

"It is a short championship so it is very difficult to play any kind of [team game]," he told Autosport's latest podcast. "I mean you can do team orders, if you want to, but they No.8 car could have let me by at the Nurburgring but if my machine had broken down at the next race then it wouldn't have been worth it.

"Peugeot like to play it that whoever is the fastest will win the race, and in the last race maybe if we need a push then we will get one, but at the moment we haven't talked about anything like that.

"The thing we have been talking about is to have a one-two with Peugeot and then we are sure to wrap up both championships anyway."

Minassian and Gene are just two points clear of Audi drivers Alexandre Premat and Mike Rockenfeller. But Minassian is confident that Peugeot will enjoy a similar performance advantage to that it had in Germany where both the French cars lapped the similarly diesel-powered R10 TDIs.

"Marc and I have no intention of playing second fiddle," he said. "Our objective is to leave Silverstone on Sunday evening with victory and the 2008 Le Mans Series title in our pocket.

"What a terrific way that would be of rounding off the season. I feel very relaxed and I go into this race intent on winning! And if we succeed, the title will automatically be ours. Last year, we scored a grand slam at Silverstone."

Autosport

[Plex]

Ryan Lewis joins Creation AIM at Silverstone

Ryan Lewis is back in the UK this week, preparing to compete in the �Autosport 1000km of Silverstone�, the final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series. The British driver who only made his sportscar debut a few weeks ago in the American Le Mans Series has teamed up with Creation AIM for the UK round of the Le Mans Series this weekend.

Ryan will be partnering South African racer, Stephen Simpson, and the duo will be out to show what they can do in a top prototype racing car.

�This is a great opportunity for me,� said Ryan. �I�m having a lot of fun in the States in the Intersport Lola but racing with Creation will add another dimension to my new career in sportscars. Creation is a successful and professional team and I think I will learn a lot from them. I�m also very much looking forward to racing at Silverstone again as it has been a long time. I love it in America but I�m very excited to be racing at home this weekend so I am very grateful to Mike Jankowski for the chance to race one of his cars.�

The Le Mans Series takes to the track this Friday at 1pm for the first of three free practice sessions. The six-hour race gets underway on Sunday lunchtime.

After the Silverstone race Ryan will return to the USA for the next round of the American Le Mans Series: Petit Le Mans on 4 October.

Planetlemans

[Plex]

Silverstone LMS Finale for Team Modena

The final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series season is at Silverstone, Northants, this weekend, and Team Modena head into their home race on a high after success at the Nurburgring last month. Having dominated the LM GT1 class with their Aston Martin DBR9 and winning in Germany by 32-laps, the rapid duo of Tomas Enge and Antonio Garcia will be aiming for their third win in the five race series to close the team�s 2008 LMS campaign in style.

�We are looking forward to Silverstone,� says Team Principal Graham Schultz, �it is always good to be taking part in your home round of the series. The car is running well and with the pace Antonio and Tomas showed in Germany we are hoping for a strong finish.

�We have around 200 guests coming to the race, and will also be visited by the Aston Martin Owner�s Club - so it should be a memorable weekend.�

The full race distance is 195-laps round the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, with a maximum duration of six hours racing. The regular opposition in the LM GT1 class comes from the Chevrolet Corvettes and the Lamborghini Murcielago, and Team Modena still have a chance of taking the teams and drivers titles, but nothing less than a win would do it with rival cars retiring.

�I think our car will be good at Silverstone,� says Antonio. �The Corvette has been quick all season, but we have been quick and competitive and if all goes well like it did in Germany then we will be in a strong position.

�Silverstone is a quick circuit and enjoyable in a GT1 car, the weekend will be good for us and I am confident and relaxed.�

Silverstone was the circuit where the team�s Aston Martin, chassis 101, the first of the customer DBR9s built, made its race debut in August 2005, finishing fourth in class in a rain soaked race. The car was soon up to pace, taking its first win less than a month later at the Nurburgring and going onto taste victory in the FIA GT series and the Mil Mihas race in Brazil as well as further LMS success. The car has completed three Le Mans 24-Hour races, finishing ninth in 2006, never failing to finish the French endurance race.

The 1000km race is scheduled to start at 11.20 on Sunday morning, with a 20-minute qualifying session at 13.15 on Saturday. Prior to that, the teams have three one-hour free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday morning to tune their cars to Silverstone�s mix of quick and technical corners.

Planetlemans

[Plex]

Charouz Racing ready for Silverstone

The Charouz Racing System team is ready to fight for fourth place in the 2008 Le Mans Series standings in the final and decisive race of the season, the Autosport 1000 km of Silverstone. Proven drivers, Jan Charouz and Stefan M�cke, will be looking to build on their fifth place finish in the previous round at the N�rburgring and once again demonstrate the ability of the Aston Martin-powered LMP1 prototype to lead the petrol-engined cars� charge against the more powerful diesels.

The N�rburgring result was the third point-scoring race and second best result of the season so far for the Czech team, which works in close cooperation with Aston Martin Racing. Both drivers and team are currently fifth in the overall standings and have their sights set on the stretching target of finishing the season one place better, in fourth.

Stefan and Jan are looking forward to Silverstone. The Czech driver has been living in London since his high school studies and it is basically a home race for him. The young Berliner has fond memories from last year when he was third in qualifying, a feat he just recently repeated at this year�s N�rburgring round.

Race History/Highlights
The first six-hour race at Silverstone (www.silverstone.co.uk) was held in 1976 and was won by John Fitzpatrick and Tom Walkinshaw in a BMW 3.5 CSL.1980 saw the first race win by a female driver, when South African, Desir� Wilson took victory with Briton, Alain de Cadenet in the De Cadenet Lola-Ford. The six-hour race format was changed to a 1000 km race in 1983, to mark the beginning of what many regard as a golden era of Group C car racing (1983-1988). In subsequent years , sports cars raced for 480 km, 430 km or 500 km.
The current system of a 1000 km race with a six-hour limit returned with the Le Mans Series in 2004. The series has been racing at Silverstone every year since then, with the sole exception of 2006.

Jan Charouz: �We are heading to the last race of the Le Mans Series 2008 season. I am looking forward to it and I want to enjoy it. I have been living in London since my high school studies and I therefore consider the 1000 km of Silverstone as my home race. After all, I live only 100 km from the racetrack. Our aim for the last race is the same as before � be the best petrol powered car in a highly competitive field. Anything more would be an added bonus. The fight for fourth overall is a big challenge and will be a tough fight.�
www.jan-charouz.cz

Stefan M�cke: �Following our good performance and result in the 1000 km N�rburgring race I am looking forward to Silverstone and hope that Jan and I can achieve a similar result there also at. I would also like to repeat my qualifying performance, which put us third on the grid in Germany. However, the whole team knows that the season final will be very difficult. We can get fourth place overall in both driver and team standings, so I hope that we will have also a bit of luck.�
www.stefan-muecke.jgsm.de

George Howard-Chappell, Technical Director Aston Martin Racing: �Obviously with this race only a few miles from our base in Banbury and being the last race of the season, we will have a lot of Prodrive and Aston Martin Racing staff watching, so it will be doubly important to try and do well. Out-qualifying the Audi�s at the last race was a great experience and we will be trying very hard to get among the diesels again here. We will also have to see what the UK weather decides to throw at us! The car is unchanged from the last race and I am optimistic it will work well on this circuit. It has been a great experience competing in the LMP1 class this season and I think we have proved what we are capable of.�
www.astonmartinracing.com

The schedule of Autosport 1000 km of Silverstone in local time
Friday, 12 September
11:15 � 12:15 Free Practice 1
15:45 � 16:45 Free Practice 2
Saturday, 13 September
09:00 � 10:00 Free Practice 3
13:15 � 13:35 Qualifying (GT cars)
13:40 � 14:00 Qualifying (prototypes)
Sunday, 14 September
11:20 � 17:20 Race (195 laps)

Livetiming: www.silverstone.co.uk

Planetlemans

[Plex]

Van Merksteijn Motorsport as champions to Silverstone

This weekend, the British circuit of Silverstone will be hosting the fifth and final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series. During the �Autosport 1000 Kilometres of Silverstone�, as the event is called officially, Jos Verstappen and Peter van Merksteijn will be racing the Porsche RS Spyder entered by Van Merksteijn Motorsport by Equipe Verschuur. The team are coming to Silverstone as champions because in the previous race at the N�rburgring, the teams� and drivers� titles in the LMP2 class could already be secured.

The achievements of the Dutch team also contributed to Porsche winning the manufacturers� title in the LMP2 class. The race at the 5.141 kilometres long Silverstone Grand Prix circuit will start on Sunday at 11.20 am local time (12.20 pm CET). Eurosport will be broadcasting the first hour of the race live and will provide a replay in the evening. Motors TV will be broadcasting live for most of the race and audio reports from qualifying and the race can also be heard live on the internet at www.radiolemans.com.

With victories at Barcelona, Spa-Francorchamps, N�rburgring and a second place after a great recovery at Monza, the season in the Le Mans Series has been running particularly well for Van Merksteijn Motorsport. On top of that, victory in the LMP2 class in the Le Mans 24 Hours for Jeroen Bleekemolen, Peter van Merksteijn and Jos Verstappen with the Porsche RS Spyder was the highlight of the season. Now that the titles in the Le Mans Series have been secured as well, the team are getting ready for a thrilling finale at Silverstone.

�We want to win�, says Jos Verstappen, leaving no doubt whatsoever about his ambitions. �We know that the car can do it and we want to end the season in style.� Verstappen is looking forward to the Silverstone circuit, which he knows very well from his days in Formula 1. �The circuit has some fast sections that really suit me and where I expect our Porsche to do well�, he says. Peter van Merksteijn is also looking forward to the upcoming race. �At the N�rburgring, I wasn�t able to take part because I was competing in a World Championship rally that weekend, but now I am really eager to get back into the Porsche again. Silverstone is a circuit with a great tradition.� The team�s third driver, Jeroen Bleekemolen, will be racing in the final round of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup at Monza this weekend. Last week, he already claimed the title in that series.

On Friday, September 12th, there are two free practice sessions at Silverstone from 11.15 till 12.15 and from 15.45 till 16.45 h. On Saturday, September 13th, there is one more free practice session from 9.00 till 10.00 h, followed by qualifying for the LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes from 13.40 till 14.00 h. The race of 195 laps (1002.495 km) will start on Sunday, September 14th, at 11.20 h and will have a maximum duration of six hours (all times local, CET is one hour later).

Planetlemans

[Plex]

Sarrazin tops Autosport 1000km practice

Peugeot made the perfect start to the Autosport 1000km weekend by dominating the top of the time sheets in the first free practice session for the Le Mans Series finale at Silverstone.

Stephane Sarrazin waited until just before the end of his stint to displace teammate and championship contender Nicolas Minassian at the top of the times with a lap time of 1:31.510s, just four hundredths faster than the Frenchman.

Mike Rockenfeller, who along with co-driver Alexandre Premat can still take the drivers' title away from Minassian and Marc Gene, was third fastest in the No.2 Audi R10 TDI.

Le Mans winner Rinaldo Capello, who shares the No.1 with autosport.com columnist Allan McNish was fourth fastest.

There was a change in the established order behind the diesels however, with the Charouz Racing Lola Aston Martin for once not dominating the petrol-powered ranks. That honour went to Adrian Valles in the impressive Epsilon Euskadi.

Harald Primat was sixth for Oreca ahead of Stefan Mucke in the Lola-Aston.

Jos Verstappen, as usual, set the pace in LMP2 for Van Merskteijn Racing with the Porsche RS Spyder, but Michael Vergers - who knows a thing or two about UK race tracks - kept him honest with second for the Barazi squad.

Jonny Kane was third fastest for the British Embassy Zytek team.

Patrice Goueslard put the Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette top in the GT1 class, outpacing Tomas Enge in the Team Modena Aston Martin by 0.4s.

In GT2, Rob Bell got his quest to secure the championship title off to a great start by going quickest for Virgo Motorsport ahead of Alex Davison in the Felbermayr Porsche.

Meet the Team Modena Aston Martin drivers at the Autosport stand at Silverstone this weekend.


Pos Driver Car Time
LMP
1. Lamy/Sarrazin Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 1:31.510
2. Gene/Minassian Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 1:31.551
3. Premat/Rockenfeller Audi R10 TDI 1:33.744
4. Capello/McNish Audi R10 TDI 1:33.754
5. Nakano/Valles Epsilon Euskadi Judd 1:33.779
6. Primat/Tinseau Pescarolo Judd 1:35.009
7. Mucke/Charouz Lola Aston Martin 1:35.022
8. Ortelli/Ayari Courage-Oreca Judd 1:35.305
9. Panis/Lapierre Courage-Oreca Judd 1:35.515
10. Dumas/Boullion Pescarolo Judd 1:35.696
11. Burgueno/De Castro Epsilon Euskadi Judd 1:35.989
12. Barbosa/Ickx/Short Pescarolo Judd 1:37.557
13. Campbell-Walter/Hall Creation CA07 - Aim 1:37.922
14. Simpson/Halliday Creation CA07 - Aim 1:39.107
15. Nicolet/Hein Pescarolo Judd 1:42.203


LMP2
1. Bleekemolen/Verstappen Porsche RS Spyder 1:36.114
2. Barazi/Vergers/Rees Zytek 07S Zytek 1:36.927
3. Kane/Hughes WF01 Zytek 1:37.130
4. Belicchi/Pompidou/Zacchia Lola B08/80 Coupe Judd 1:37.218
5. Elgaard/Nielsen Porsche RS Spyder 1:37.852
6. Amaral/Pla Lola B05/40 AER 1:37.857
7. Manning/Foster WF01 Zytek 1:38.305
8. Lienhard/Theys/Lammers Porsche RS Spyder 1:39.046
9. Ojjeh/Gosselin Zytek 07S Zytek 1:41.089
10. Rostan/Peterson/Lueders Radical SR9 AER 1:41.228
11. Ragues/Lahaye Pescarolo Judd 1:41.487
12. de Pourtales/Noda Lola B05/40 Mazda 1:42.236
13. Salini/Salini/Roussel WR Zytek 1:42.532
14. Erdos/Newton Lola B08/80 Coupe MG no time

GT1
1. Moreau/Gouselard Corvette C6.R 1:45.324
2. Garcia/Enge/Turner Aston Martin DBR9 1:45.709
3. Rusinov/Kox Lamborghini Murcielago 1:46.449
4. Hardman/Leventis Aston Martin DBR9 1:47.171

GT2
1. Bell/Melo Ferrari F430 GT 1:50.698
2. Lieb/Davison Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:51.019
3. Narac/Lietz Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:51.670
4. Ehret/Kaffer/Beltoise Ferrari F430 GT 1:52.457
5. Nielsen/Westbrook/Simonsen Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:52.563
6. Aucott/Daoudi Ferrari F430 GT 1:53.189
7. Chiesa/Leuenberger Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R 1:53.258
8. Coronel/Kelleners/Vasiliev Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R 1:53.634
9. Ried/Felbyrmayr/Felbyrmayr Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:54.578
10. Balandras/Lecourt Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:54.623
11. Daniels/Bamford/Griffin Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:54.816
12. Van der Merwe/Sugden/Outzen Aston Martin Vantage V8 1:56.069
13. Kutemann/Basso/Gilbert Ferrari F430 GT 1:58.927

Autosport

[Plex]

McNish flies in the wet at Silverstone

Allan McNish proved that if bad weather is a factor in this weekend's Autosport 1000km then Audi are far from out of the hunt in the final round of the Le Mans Series at Silverstone this weekend.

The Scot, who won the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, along with his Audi teammates, has been subjected to a performance disadvantage to the diesel Peugeots throughout the LMS season. But on his final lap in wet conditions during a stop-start session, McNish lapped more than 3.5s faster than the field with a time of 1:51.785.

Circumstances played their part of course, and Peugeot's championship-chaser Marc Gene had previously reduced the fastest time to 1:55.310 already, but the Spaniard backed off on his final lap.

Pedro Lamy in the No.8 Peugeot was third fastest having spent most of the session top with a 1:57.107, while wet weather ace Mike Rockenfeller put the No.2 Audi fourth fastest.

The Team Essex LMP2 Porsche was an impressive fifth with team boss Jon Nielsen at the wheel, while Jamie Campbell-Walter did an equally good job to put the Creation-Aim sixth overall.

Once again Michael Vergers was second in the LMP2 class, but the championship-winning car - the Van Merksteijn Racing Porsche - was in the wars after it clouted the wall heavily on the hanger straight, bringing out the first of two red flags during the hour.

Peter Kox gave the IPB Spartak team a boost by putting the Lamborghini Murcielago top in the GT1 class, while Marc Lieb was quickest in GT2 after Jaime Melo crashed the Virgo Motorsport Ferrari when he hit a puddle on the straight.

Meet the Aston Martin drivers at the Autosport stand at Silverstone this weekend.

Pos Driver Car Time
LMP
1. Capello/McNish Audi R10 TDI 1:51.785
2. Gene/Minassian Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 1:55.310
3. Lamy/Sarrazin Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 1:57.107
4. Premat/Rockenfeller Audi R10 TDI 1:59.437
5. Campbell-Walter/Hall Creation CA07 - Aim 2:01.691
6. Ortelli/Ayari Courage-Oreca Judd 2:02.383
7. Dumas/Boullion Pescarolo Judd 2:03.540
8. Simpson/Halliday Creation CA07 - Aim 2:05.270
9. Mucke/Charouz Lola Aston Martin 2:11.803
10. Nakano/Valles Epsilon Euskadi Judd 2:19.723
11. Nicolet/Hein Pescarolo Judd 2:20.362
12. Panis/Lapierre Courage-Oreca Judd 2:24.362
13. Primat/Tinseau Pescarolo Judd no time
14. Burgueno/De Castro Epsilon Euskadi Judd no time
15. Barbosa/Ickx/Short Pescarolo Judd no time


LMP2
1. Elgaard/Nielsen Porsche RS Spyder 2:01.423
2. Barazi/Vergers/Rees Zytek 07S Zytek 2:05.098
3. Amaral/Pla Lola B05/40 AER 2:09.284
4. Ojjeh/Gosselin Zytek 07S Zytek 2:14.831
5. de Pourtales/Noda Lola B05/40 Mazda 2:18.967
6. Rostan/Peterson/Lueders Radical SR9 AER 2:20.364
7. Salini/Salini/Roussel WR Zytek 2:23.858
8. Belicchi/Pompidou/Zacchia Lola B08/80 Coupe Judd 2:36.455
9. Ragues/Lahaye Pescarolo Judd no time
10. Lienhard/Theys/Lammers Porsche RS Spyder no time
11. Van Merksteijn/Verstappen Porsche RS Spyder no time
12. Erdos/Newton Lola B08/80 Coupe MG no time
13. Kane/Hughes WF01 Zytek no time
14. Manning/Foster WF01 Zytek no time

GT1
1. Rusinov/Kox Lamborghini Murcielago 2:10.989
2. Moreau/Gouselard Corvette C6.R 2:13.129
3. Hardman/Leventis/Turner Aston Martin DBR9 2:43.650
4. Garcia/Enge Aston Martin DBR9 5:31.703

GT2
1. Lieb/Davison Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 2:13.053
2. Nielsen/Westbrook/Simonsen Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 2:14.273
3. Narac/Lietz Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 2:14.535
4. Ehret/Kaffer/Beltoise Ferrari F430 GT 2:14.576
5. Chiesa/Leuenberger Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R 2:14.589
6. Coronel/Kelleners/Vasiliev Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R 2:16.574
7. Van der Merwe/Sugden/Outzen Aston Martin Vantage V8 2:18.447
8. Aucott/Daoudi Ferrari F430 GT 2:20.904
9. Bell/Melo Ferrari F430 GT 2:21.831
10. Kutemann/Basso/Gilbert Ferrari F430 GT 2:22.850
11. Daniels/Bamford/Griffin Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 2:24.793
12. Ried/Felbyrmayr/Felbyrmayr Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 2:26.549
13. Balandras/Lecourt Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 2:33.268

Autosport

[Plex]

Sarrazin secures Silverstone pole

Peugeot's Stephane Sarrazin came out on top after a cracking battle for pole position for the Autosport 1000km at Silverstone with his championship-chasing teammate Nicolas Minassian.

Sarrazin only secured the top spot in the dying moments of the 20-minute session, having watched Minassian better his time with five minutes to go.

Minassian's session was frantic. Having collided with the LMP2 Speedy Lola at Vale early on, the Frenchman who leads the championship with co-driver Marc Gene was forced to pit before coming out late for another stab at pole.

Allan McNish took a brilliant third for Audi. The Scot was just 0.6 seconds behind the French diesels in his R10 TDI - much closer than the German machines have been all through the Le Mans Series season in terms of pace.

For much of the session the Le Mans 24 Hours-winning No.1 diesel-powered machine was on pole, but could not quite live with the Peugeots in the final reckoning.

Alexandre Premat was fourth fastest in the No.2 Audi. The Frenchman, along with co-driver Mike Rockenfeller, is only two points behind Minassian and Gene in the drivers' championship, and though logic would suggest that the 908 HDi FAP will be too fast for the Audis in the dry on Sunday, rain could easily change all that.

The Charouz Racing Aston Martin-powered Lola was the fastest petrol-powered LMP1 with Stefan Mucke at the wheel.

Nicolas Lapierre was sixth for Oreca, while the Epsilon Euskadi team continued its impressive form with Adrian Valles lining up seventh in the Spanish coupe.

Jos Verstappen made up for his damaging spin yesterday by putting the Van Merksteijn Porsche on the LMP2 pole.

The Dutchman, on his first visit to Silverstone since he competed for Minardi in Formula One in 2003, set a lap of 1:34.212 - more than 1.2 seconds faster than the next man in class, Barazi's Michael Vergers.

Despite the collision early in the session with the Peugeot, Xavier Pompidou put the Speedy Lola coupe third in class.

Peter Kox gave the Spartak Lamborghini team their first pole position in the GT1 category having lapped the Murcielago half a second faster than Tomas Enge in the Team Modena Aston Martin.

"We have worked hard with our tyre partner Michelin, and this has been coming for a while," said Kox. "The car has had the potential for a while. I just hope we can continue in the same way tomorrow."

Guillaume Moreau was third quickest in the Luc Alphand Corvette, while Darren Turner, who has been drafted in to the Strakka Aston Martin team, was fourth.

Rob Bell, in search of a second successive GT2 championship title, took pole position in the category with the Virgo Motorsport Ferrari.

Richard Lietz was second fastest in the IMSA Performamce Porsche with Dirk Werner third in the Farnbacher Racing 997 GT3 RSR.

Pos Driver Car Time
LMP1
1. Lamy/Sarrazin Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 1:30.359
2. Gene/Minassian Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 1:30.370
3. Capello/Mcnish Audi R10 TDI 1:31.020
4. Premat/Rockenfeller Audi R10 TDI 1:32.122
5. Mucke/Charouz Lola Aston Martin 1:33.229
6. Panis/Lapierre Courage-Oreca Judd 1:33.324
7. Nakano/Valles Epsilon Euskadi Judd 1:34.173
8. Dumas/Boullion Pescarolo Judd 1:34.878
9. Simpson/Lewis Creation Aim 1:35.103
10. Ortelli/Ayari Courage-Oreca Judd 1:35.266
11. Campbell-Walter/Hall Creation Aim 1:36.032
12. Primat/Tinseau Pescarolo Judd 1:36.822
13. Barbosa/Ickx/Hollings Pescarolo Judd 1:37.443
14. Nicolet/Hein Pescarolo Judd 1:39.939

LMP2
1. Van Merksteijn/Verstappen Porsche RS Spyder 1:34.212
2. Barazi/Vergers/Rees Zytek 07S 1:35.378
3. Belicchi/Pompidou/Zacchia Lola Judd 1:35.907
4. Amaral/Pla Lola AER 1:35.998
5. Elgaard/Nielsen Porsche RS Spyder 1:36.282
6. Lienhard/Theys/Lammers Porsche RS Spyder 1:36.338
7. Manning/Foster WF01 Zytek 1:36.768
8. Hughes/Kane WF01 Zytek 1:36.920
9. Ojjeh/Gosselin/Sharpe Zytek 07S 1:37.277
10. Erdos/Newton Lola MG 1:37.753
11. Ragues/Lahaye Pescarolo Judd 1:38.282
12. De Pourtales/Noda Lola Mazda 1:38.487
13. Salini/Salini/Gommendy WR Zytek 1:40.737
14. Rostan/Petersen/Lueders Radical AER 1:41.073

GT1
1. Rusinov/Kox Lamborghini 1:45.327
2. Garcia/Enge Aston Martin DBR9 1:45.899
3. Goueslard/Moreau Corvette C6.R 1:45.987
4. Hardman/Leventis/Turner Aston Martin DBR9 1:46.041

GT2
1. Bell/Melo Ferrari F430 GT 1:48.960
2. Narac/Lietz Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:49.852
3. Nielsen/Werner Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:50.493
4. Lieb/Davison Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:50.837
5. Aucott/Daoudi Ferrari F430 GT 1:51.603
6. Coronel/Kelleners/Vasiliev Spyker C8 Laviolette 1:51.686
7. Daniels/Bamford/Griffin Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:52.364
8. Balandras/Lecourt Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:52.436
9. Ehret/Kaffer/Beltoise Ferrari F430 GT 1:53.094
10. Chiesa/Leuenberger Spyker C8 Laviolette 1:53.142
11. Ried/Felbermayr/Felbermayr Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:53.562
12. Kutemann/Basso/Gilbert Ferrari F430 GT 1:53.931
13. Van Der Merwe/Sugden/Outzen Aston Martin Vantage 1:56.550

Autosport