Congo

Petit Le Mans powered by the Totally New MAZDA6

11 in LMP1, 10 in LMP2, 3 in GT1, 16 in GT2: 40 total which is the most for an ALMS race since the 2004 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring which had 44 racecars.

Now has 38 racecars after Bell Motorsports withdrew their GT1 Aston Martin DBR9 and ECO Racing withdrew their LMP1 Radical SR10 AER.

Speed's coverage:

On tv: Petit Le Mans special with history and preview of 11th endurance race - 7 p.m. ET Thursday, October 2

On speedtv.com: live qualifying 3:25 p.m. ET, October 3 by http://www.americanlemans.com/ and http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/lemans-alms/

Race: October 4th, Live on Speed Channel - 11am-1pm EST, 1pm-6:30pm streamed live on americanlemans.com, and back live on TV from 6:30pm-9pm EST

XM also will air the race from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET on October 4 and again from 8 p.m. to the end of the race on XM Channel 166.

http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/features/alms_2008.xmc

Coverage information:

http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?ID=4797

Live race timing, information, radio:

http://www.americanlemans.com/emedia/racehub.htm

Highlighting the Peugeot driving lineup will be Nic Minassian, and former Formula One shoes Christian Klien and Stephane Sarrazin; both competed at Le Mans this past June. Among the other drivers competing in Petit Le Mans this year will be open-wheel stars Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe, Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon, Marco Andretti and Dario Franchitti, along with Series regulars such as Marco Werner, Lucas Luhr, Gil de Ferran, David Brabham, Johnny O'Connell and many others.

LMP1 team Intersport Racing has purchased a Lola B07/10 with a Judd 5.5 liter V-10 from Charouz Racing System (Czech Republic). John Faulkner had a bad crash in the # 30 Lola B06/10 AER at Mosport and he has opted to not race in this endurance race. Luke Hines from the British GT Championship will replace him and will be joined by Georges Forgeois.

# 37 Intersport Racing Lola B06/10 AER with Dunlop tires and drivers Jon Field, Clint Field, and Richard Berry

# 30 Intersport Racing Lola B07/10 Judd with Kumho tires and drivers Ryan Lewis, Luke Hines, and Georges Forgeois

Both Lolas with Cellulosic E85 ethanol

http://www.ryanlewisracing.co.uk/rac.../flag/2/id/244

Picture of the Charouz Lola from March, 2007 testing:

http://www.endurance-info.com/2007_LMS/00_HTTT/23.jpg

LMP1 Lola Judd - 2007

DrJupeman

Peugeot vs. Audi, Acura vs. Porsche, Ferrari vs. Porsche. It should be good!!

srf506

Its always good! The world's top manufacturers battling it out on one of the best road courses in the world for 10 hours or 1,000 miles. Next to LeSarthe and Sebring, probably only Spa and the Nurburing can match it. I try to never miss it. live and in person. We're leaving Tuesday. I'll try and post some pics on Sunday PM after we get back.

fjpdds

I'll be there, at Porscheplatz. Love the sounds from that race and the pre-race open pits. Should be another epic battle. All the IRL guys in it is very cool as well.

Seth Thomas

For any of you guys that are going to be there on Friday be sure to stop by the BimmerWorld trailer to say hello. I will be there driving the #38 BMW in the Speed Touring Car race and this should be a good show as it is my home track. We might even have some GearWrench promotional tools to give away there

Cory M

Is BMW bringing out their new GT2 car?

MiniDHinkle

My favorite weekend of the year! Leaving on Thursday.

Thanks for the information, Congo.

Kurt R

I'll be there Wed - Fri, but I'm flying home Saturday so I'll miss the main race.

JimmiLew

I think the new M3 debuts at PLM. Cant wait to see the new platform in action!

Blondurant

I'll be there! Will stop by. Look forward to it!

SeaCay

It's not listed on the official entry list as of 9/23/08.

SeaCay

I'll be there Thur-Sat.

Seth: Freebies? I'll be there!

Kurt: What team are you with again?

This event has numerous potential historical ramifications, primarily the first ever third Penske entry. The number of RS Spyders on track will be equal to a series best 5 set earlier this season at Sebring (with the additional LMS Horag entry), and the first time (last too?) that 5 ALMS based RS Spyders will be run.

Rumor has been circulated (in the Detroit paddock) that the direct injection engines have greater potential but have been artificially limited in RPM max due to limited development time. IF true, it would be a good time to unleash the beast as Acura has caught, and dare I say, passed up the boys in yellow. Don't know if anyone else has noticed but the exhaust exits of the RS Spyders show increased blackening with the new engines which may (or may not be) related to the rumors about limiting their output (by richening the fuel mixture).

If there are any engine gurus that can expound upon this, I'm sure it would be of interest.

MiniDHinkle

Could you post the link to the entry list?

SeaCay

Here ya go: http://www.americanlemans.com/Events...2008/Entry.pdf

Lot's of other info here: http://www.americanlemans.com/home/ALMSHome.aspx

NaroEscape

I'm going....

Driving to Carolina Motorsports Park for our DE on Friday night to drop off the car for my wife to drive on Saturday. Leaving early Saturday AM to Petit, watch the race, head back to CMP late Saturday, drive CMP Sunday. Get to watch a wonderful race, then spend the next day driving....