Weekend Preview: 8-9 August 2009

Feature Events

IRL IndyCar Series

- Honda Indy 200
- Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
- Lexington, Ohio, USA
- (13/17)
- www.indycar.com

Mid-Ohio is a nice place and I'm sure it is a fantastic place to drive a racing car - it certainly looks it - unfortunately I find the 'racing' to be processional, this is a strategy event. The place is too narrow and too bumpy. There is one passing opportunity, the do-or-die at the end of the long straight, if it works you look a hero but if it fails... into the kitty litter and an almost-certain safety car. There have been some very good moves at that corner but it really is a "send it up the inside and hope it works" type of place, rather than somewhere to set up a move.

I remember it said in my short CART-watching stint 8 or so years ago that it needed widening and nothing has changed. They should widen only some of it though! The back section is a good test of driving skill and is the best feature of the course, keep that as it is. For all it's faults it is really good to see IndyCars away from street racing and on natural terrain courses - it needs more open road courses and fewer streets, IMO.

TV Guide:
UK – TAPE DELAY on Sky Sports Xtra at 10.30pm BST Sunday
USA – LIVE on VERSUS at 1pm ET Sunday

The tape delay is due to live NASCAR at the same time and Sky Sports are showing golf, tennis and cricket on the other three channels (perhaps ironically, the golf is also from Ohio).

Other Events

American Le Mans Series

- Acura Sports Car Challenge
- Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
- Lexington, Ohio, USA
- (6/10)
- www.americanlemans.com

Thankfully the racing in the ALMS at Mid-Ohio can be better than the IRL, and that is because of the traffic of the different classes. Unfortunately I am not able to make this a 'Feature Event' until live coverage returns - and that applies both here in the UK where several races have been aired a week late, but also in the USA where this event is delayed one day. I'm not saying I'd be able to see it but as far as I'm concerned, not offering even a same-day tape is unforgivable.

TV Guide:
The race starts at 3pm EDT Saturday and you can follow it at their website and Radio Le Mans.
UK - TAPE DELAY on MotorsTV at 5pm Sunday 16th
USA - TAPE DELAY on NBC at 2.30pm Sunday 9th

Also at Mid-Ohio:
Indy Lights
Atlantic Championship

NASCAR Sprint Cup

- Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen
- Watkins Glen International, New York, USA
- www.nascar.com

TV Guide:
UK – LIVE on Sky Sports Xtra at 7pm Sunday
US - LIVE on ESPN at 1pm Sunday

NASCAR on the road course will be frenetic. They are on a version of the course which is a bit shorter than the one used by IndyCar a few weeks ago. I think that's all there is to say there, other than the name of this race is genuine, this isn't a parody!

NASCAR Nationwide Series

- Zippo 200
- Watkins Glen International, New York, USA
- www.nascar.com

I didn't realise Nationwide was a support to the main series on the roads..

Grand-Am Rolex Series

- Crown Royal 200 at the Glen
- Watkins Glen International, New York, USA
- www.grandamerican.com

Formula Nippon

- Twin-Ring Motegi
- Motegi, Japan
(with All-Japan F3)

Dutch Supercar Challenge // German F3 Cup

- Assen
- Netherlands

Brazilian V8 Stock Cars

- Salvador
- Salvador, Brazil

Possible support series for the new IndyCar round?

* * * *
Sources:
Live Sport on TV
RadioTimes.com
and several of the series sites mentioned above

For motorbike fans, I don't usually note anything other than MotoGP but FYI the British Superbikes are at Brands Hatch this weekend. Otherwise it seems most European-based series are on a break for this weekend, meaning a very US-dominated schedule for this weekend. Nothing wrong with that - if only we could see it live!

Goodwood FoS: Pt.3 - Trackside

At the end of the last post I had three hours to kill before Jenson Button appeared on the Mercedes stage. I wasn’t all too fussed about that actually, I only wanted to go because you don’t see Formula 1 drivers every day and I actually knew he was going to be there rather than chancing a meeting in the paddock.

It was 12pm and I was starting to get hungry. I headed to the concessions to check out the prices. £5.50 for a basic burger, £7 for a decent one. I take the packet of McCoys crisps from my bag and walk on in search of an event programme.

You need a programme at Goodwood because without it you don’t know when to get trackside, and you don’t have a hope of planning your whereabouts to coincide with drivers arriving/departing the paddock. Relieved of £12, but given a ‘free’ radio (ok I’m paying for it, just tell me I am, yeah?) and another magazine about the people attending, I immediately thumb the programme to figure out what to do next: go to the track, then explore paddock. The programme seller was positioned between gaps in hospitality marquees so I got my first good look at this year’s sculpture.

Audi Sculpture, Goodwood House, from 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed

I cross the bridge and immediately spot celebrity chef and 2008 Mille Miglia entrant James Martin signing autographs. I choose not to do same, or even get a photo, because I don’t care about James Martin.

Cars are starting to run up the hill again now so I take up station by the bridge to watch – this is the sportscar section and I want to see the new Audi, Peugeot and Aston in the flesh! First though, a massive group of Porsches. I’m sure if you were a fan in their era you would have found this section riveting, and they did look and sound great, but really.. there were a LOT of them.

1969 Porsche 917K, from 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed

One of the drawbacks at Goodwood is the need to rub elbows to get anything like a decent view if you are not in a grandstand. The covered grandstands cost a fortune, though there are freely available open grandstands dotted around the place – unfortunately not in this location. This meant trying to peer around the side of the people next to you, who were trying to do the same to the people next to them! When they stay back you can get a really good view.

Finally the new cars arrived! You can see the Pug in the set of four above, it wasn't a good photo unfortunately - you couldn't hear it coming so it was a rush job!
The Aston shot was much better.

2009 Lola Aston Martin LMP1, from 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed

And by this time I'd practised so when the near-silent Audi R15 appeared I was ready.

From 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Little did I know I would have a closer encounter with the Audi later.

2009 Le Mans 24 Hours - Entry List

Last Thursday the ACO released the official entry list for the 2009 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and it confirmed some pre-announced deals, verified some rumours and offered some complete surprises - as it does every year!

I'm writing this quite late so I'm going to just do short notes.

LM P1

1 / Audi Sport Team Joest / Audi R15
3 / Audi Sport Team Joest / Audi R15
2 / Audi Sport North America / Audi R15

Audi are returning with a new car, which will be raced first at Sebring but will probably not contest the full 2009 season.

14 / TME Kolles / Audi R10
15 / TME Kolles / Audi R10

I'm not sure if this is backup plan from Audi, but they've sold or loaned to R10s to Colin Kolles. They'll still need to be adapted to the narrower rear wing regulations.

7 / Team Peugeot Total / Peugeot 908
8 / Team Peugeot Total / Peugeot 908
9 / Peugeot Sport Total / Peugeot 908

Peugeot also return with three cars. An updated car and revised driver line-up should mean they are quietly confident ahead of this year's race - but they said that last year.

17 / Pescarolo Sport / Peugeot 908
16 / Pescarolo Sport / Pescarolo Judd

Count this is as a surprise. A customer Peugeot for Pescarolo. Surely this is in response to Kolles? It seems to be a 2008 car modified to new rules from what I've read, and not the '09 cars of the factory team.

007 / Aston Martin Racing / Lola Aston Martin
009 / Aston Martin Racing / Lola Aston Martin
008 / AMR Eastern Europe / Lola Aston Martin

Three entries also from Aston Martin, who are in a naming dispute with Lola at the moment. First year with these cars so a win surely isn't on the cards, but they'll be looking to show good speed. AMR Eastern Europe is Charouz, in fact they all might be, but this is the only one under the Czech flag.

13 / Speedy Racing Team Sebah / Lola Aston Martin

This entry seems to be being run more at 'arms length' from the factory/Prodrive.

10 / Team ORECA Matmut AIM / Courage-ORECA AIM
11 / Team ORECA Matmut AIM / Courage-ORECA AIM

Can't say I know much about this so I'm assuming it's a continuation from last year.

6 / Team LNT / Ginetta Zytek
23 / Strakka Racing / Ginetta Zytek

Zytek and Ginetta merged toward the end of last year and LNT have stepped up from running a GT2 Panoz (and they entered Petit with this car). Quick chassis, promising for the privateer sub-class.

12 / Signature Plus / Courage Judd

The Formula 3 team makes the switch to endurance racing. 'Tis all I know.

20 / Epsilon Euskadi / Epsilon Euskadi Judd

I'm surprised this only got one entry.

4 Creation Autosportif Creation Judd

Yay, Creation are back. I like them.


LM P2

5 / Navi Team Goh / Porsche RS Spyder
31 / Team Essex / Porsche RS Spyder
49 / Vitaphone Racing Team / Porsche RS Spyder

Team Goh won overall with the Audi R8 a few years back, they've been absent for a while. Team Essex weren't going to enter and changed their minds. Vitaphone are a surprise announcement, they run Saleens in FIA GT and did enter Le Mans last year with an Aston GT1 but a prototype wasn't expected at all.

25 / RML / Lola Mazda Coupe
44 / KSM / Lola Mazda Coupe

RML are always strong. No idea who KSM are. This Lola is fast, I think it's basically the P2 version of what Aston Martin are running.

30 / Racing Box / Lola Judd Coupe
33 / Speedy Racing Team Sebah / Lola Judd Coupe

More Lola coupes for these guys but a choice of Judd engines instead. It'll be an interesting battle between the four Lolas!

24 / Oak Racing / Pescarolo Mazda
35 / Oak Racing / Pescarolo Mazda

Pescarolo with a Mazda engine? Fair enough.. I'm sure I read who Oak Racing are, it's a name change of a team I know about but I can't remember who at the moment.

40 / Quifel-ASM Team / Ginetta Zytek 09S

The P2 version of the P1 car above. ASM had a Lola last year.

41 / Gac Racing Team / Zytek 07S

No idea. Seems like they have the previous version of the car ASM will run.

26 / Bruichladdich Bruneau / Radical AER

I like this team too and the Radical is pretty quick.


LM GT1

63 / Corvette Racing / Corvette C6.R
64 / Corvette Racing / Corvette C6.R

With no works Astons, guess who'll win this class? This is the last appearance of works GT1 Corvettes though, so enjoy it.

72 / Luc Alphand Aventures / Corvette C6.R
73 / Luc Alphand Aventures / Corvette C6.R

Back-up for a fight that never came. They weren't going to enter after a fight with the ACO over the promotion of the LMS, but changed their minds last minute. Not to mention wanting to prove how pacesetters in European GT racing fair at LM.

60 / Gigawave Motorsport Ltd / Aston Martin DBR9
66 / Jetalliance Racing / Aston Martin DBR9

Two quick Astons may just push Corvette hard enough.

55 / IPB Spartak Racing / Lamborghini Murcielago
68 / JLOC Isao Noritake / Lamborghini Murcielago

Is it unkind to say these are field-fillers?

This is probably the last year of GT1 in this spec. I know Ratel's FIA World GT coming next year will run to different rules.


LM GT2

76 / IMSA Performance Matmut / Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
77 / Team Felbermayer-Proton / Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
80 / Flying Lizard Motorsport / Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)

Just three Porsches this year in GT2. I'm amazed, they used to dominate! Shame the Lizards didn't get a second entry.

78 / AF Corse Srl / Ferrari F430 GT
82 / Risi Competizione / Ferrari F430 GT
83 / Risi Competizione / Ferrari F430 GT
84 / Team Modena / Ferrari F430 GT
89 / Hankook - Team Farnbacher / Ferrari F430 GT
92 / JMW Motorsport / Ferrari F430 GT
96 / Virgo Motorsport / Ferrari F430 GT
97 / BMS Scuderia Italia / Ferrari F430 GT
99 / JMB Racing / Ferrari F430 GT

Nine Ferraris!! I think that shows this is the faster car, as everyone gravitates toward it.

87 / Drayson Racing / Aston Martin V8
85 / Snoras Spyker Squadron / Spyker C8 Laviolette

Good to see that Drayson got an entry. You have to say they are aiming to score a finish, but that's what Le Mans is about. Nice to see Spyker still plugging away but only one car this time.


You'll note I'm not tipping winners in any class (except GT1!). Frankly with this field it's much too difficult to go picking winners this early, and with no Test Day it's even harder.

Reserves
There are ten reserves this year as opposed to 8 in previous years. As always they'll enter the race in this order should any of the above withdraw, regardless of class. So if a P1 drops out the first reserve, a GT2 this year, will take that spot.

R1 / GT2 / Team Seattle Advanced Eng / Ferrari F430 GT
R2 / GT2 / Endurance China Team / Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
R3 / GT2 / IMSA Performance Matmut / Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
R4 / LMP2 / Barazi Epsilon / Zytek 07S
R5 / LMP2 / Gerard Welter / Zytek
R6 / LMP1 / Epsilon Euskadi / Epsilon Euskadi Judd
R7 / GT2 / Team Felbermayer-Proton / Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
R8 / GT2 / Snoras Spyker Squadron / Spyker C8 Laviolette
R9 / GT1 / Team Larbre Competition / Saleen S7R
R10 / LMP2 / Racing Box SRL /Lola Judd Coupe

That answers where Epsilon Euskadi and Spyker's second cars are, as well as several Porsches. How did Barazi and Larbre not get entries??? That's nuts.
I don't think we've seen Welter on the list for a while..

More Info

Okay I think I'm done. Unfortunately I don't have time to scout for more information, sorry, but I hope this was enough to work as a little primer.

No doubt the boys at RadioLeMans.com will discuss this in great detail (along with more USF1 news and lots else) in tomorrow's Midweek Motorsport which you can hear live at 8pm GMT / 3pm EST. I think it's repeated at 8pm EST. If that's not helpful, the podcast will follow on a day or so later. You need to count MWM as a 'Must Listen' even if sportscars isn't your thing, 'cos they cover all sorts of stuff.
(I also recommend FastMachines.com for a quick weekly hit and Sidepodcast.com for specialist F1 talk)

And of course there's always the official website of the race.

Launch Season: Peugeot 908

Peugeot 908 HDi FAP

The 2009 edition of the Peugeot 908 was launched yesterday.

The car looks substantially the same as last year, albeit with a rear wing 400mm narrower per the ACO's regulations for this season. Pug's engineers say they've been working on the engine mapping, cooling and traction control systems. Partly this is due to the new rules cutting power by 10% on last year, and partly this is because Peugeot really struggled with overheating last year. It cost them the win at Le Mans because the airflow when it was raining wasn't sufficient to cool the engine. There were other factors as well of course, like their crazy tyre decisions and inexperienced drivers (many were new to sportscars, anyway), but the cooling was a major factor.

Also in 'cooling news', the roof sports a 'reflective chromelike aluminium covering' according to Olivier Quesnel.



A surprise announcement on the driver front, to me at least, was the unveiling of Sebastien Bourdais and David Brabham. Bourdais was rumoured on Thursday night, which was a surprise to me because nobody has dovetailed a full F1 season with an attack on Le Mans for many, many years. The last to try the F1/LM crossover was Franck Montagny (fairly recently too, say 4 years?) but he was just an F1 test driver. at the time.
Brabs wasn't on my radar at all for this, maybe I missed a comment on Midweek Motorsport (I'm still an episode behind) or other sources. I had thought he was still signed to drive the Acura and perhaps he is, which is why he won't appear at Sebring.

The full driver line-up:
S Bourdais, D Brabham, M Gene, C Klien, P Lamy, N Minassian, F Montagny, S Sarrazin, A Wurz.


It's still a fantastic-looking car.


Peugeot confirmed their plans for the first half of 2009: they will take two cars to the 12 Hours of Sebring in March, and three cars to the 1000km of Spa-Francorchamps in May before sending all three to Le Mans. There is no word on what will become of the team after Le Mans. In my opinion they'll see what Audi does, and how they perform against Audi (and Aston!) in the big race.

Drivers confirmed for Sebring:
Car 7: Minassian / Lamy / Bourdais
Car 8: Montagny / Sarrazin / Klien

This leaves Gene, Brabham and Wurz for the 3rd car if the line-ups remain the same. Line-ups for Spa will be confirmed at a later date.

Photo credit: Peugeot Sport

PS - yes, I know I didn't post about the new Acura. They aren't going to Le Mans. Yet..
PPS - I'm begging you here, PLEASE get the name right. "Le Mans". There are TWO WORDS. Writing "LeMans" (or "Lemans" which is worse) really does annoy me! I don't mind it on Twitter because of the character limit. A pet peeve of mine, just like hyphenating 'F1'.