[LM24] Le Mans 2017 Entry List and Driver Updates

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

Vilander at Risi is interesting, real shakeup at AF Corse it seems.

Toni was driving for Risi last year too at Le Mans. Somewhat of a resurgence for him since the move I think.

[airbusA346]

Looks a bit like Ferrari Challenge in GTE-Am.

[rdjones]

I have been watching via Twitter and I have to say there are no great surprises.

LMP1 (6 Entries)
1 – Porsche Team – Porsche 919 Hybrid –
2 – Porsche Team – Porsche 919 Hybrid –
4 – Team ByKolles – CLM P1/01 NISMO –
7 – Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota TS050 Hybrid –
8 – Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota TS050 Hybrid –
9 – Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota TS050 Hybrid –

LMP2 (25 Entries)
13 – Vallante Rebellion – Oreca 07 –
24 – CEPC Manor TRS Racing – Oreca 07
25 – CEPC Manor TRS Racing – Oreca 07
26 – G-Drive Racing – Oreca 07
28 – TDS Racing – Oreca 07
31 – Vallante Rebellion – Oreca 07
35 – Signatech Alpine Matmut – Alpine A470
36 – Signatech Alpine Matmut – Alpine A470
37 – Jackie Chan DC Racing – Oreca 07
38 – Jackie Chan DC Racing – Oreca 07
17 – IDEC Sport Racing – Ligier JS P217
21 – DragonSpeed 10 Star – Oreca 07
22 – G-Drive Racing – Oreca 07
23 – Panis Barthez Competition – Ligier JS P217
27 – SMP Racing – Dallara P217
29 – Racing Team Netherland – Dallara P217
32 – United Autosports – Ligier JS P217
33 – Eurasia Motorsport – Ligier JS P217
34 – Tockwith Motorsport – Ligier JS P217
39 – Graff Racing – Oreca 07
40 – Graff Racing – Oreca 07
43 – Keating Motorsports – Riley Mk. 30
45 – Algarve Pro Racing – Ligier JS P217
47 – Villobra Corse – Dallara P217
49 – ARC Bratislava – Oreca 07

GTE-Pro (13 Entries)

51 – AF Corse – Ferrari 488 GTE –
63 – Corvette Racing – GM – Corvette C7.R –
64 – Corvette Racing – GM – Corvette C7.R –
66 – Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team UK – Ford GT –
67 – Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team UK – Ford GT –
68 – Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team USA – Ford GT –
69 – Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team USA – Ford GT –
71 – AF Corse – Ferrari 488 GTE –
82 – Risi Competizione – Ferrari 488 GTE –
91 – Porsche GT Team – Porsche 911 RSR –
92 – Porsche GT Team – Porsche 911 RSR –
95 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin Vantage –
97 – Aston Martin Racing – Aston Martin Vantage –



GTE-Am (16 Entries)
54 – Spirit of Race –Ferrari 488 GTE –
61 – Clearwater Racing –Ferrari 488 GTE –
77 – Dempsey Proton Racing –Porsche 911 RSR –
86 – Gulf Racing UK –Porsche 911 RSR –
98 – Aston Martin Racing –Aston Martin Vantage GTE –
50 – Larbre Competition – Corvette C7.R –
55 – Spirit of Race – Ferrari 488 GTE –
60 – Clearwater Racing – Ferrari 488 GTE –
62 – Scuderia Corsa – Ferrari 488 GTE –
65 – Scuderia Corsa – Ferrari 488 GTE –
83 – DH Racing – Ferrari 488 GTE –
84 – JMW Motorsport – Ferrari 488 GTE –
88 – Proton Racing – Porsche 911 RSR –
90 – TF Racing –
93 – Proton Racing – Porsche 911 RSR –
99 – Beechdean AMSR – Aston Martin Vantage GTE –

[Giba]

Originally Posted by airbusA346

Looks a bit like Ferrari Challenge in GTE-Am.

With the speed advantage it had over Porsche last year, not surprising sadly. Wish Ford would supply customer cars soon

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Where's the reserve list???

[GT6]

Only 60 entries and no reserves, looks like we may have a few gaps on the grid

[bentley speed 8]

Are JMW going to use a 488 or their older 458?

[antonylight]

There seem to be only 2:

#46 P2 RLR Ligier
#94 Am Mentos-Proton 991

[Victor_RO]

TF Racing have an Aston, and JMW Motorsport will have an old Ferrari 458 instead of the 488.

[MaskedRacer]

I fear for Corvette this year once more. I hope they are competitive. A normally aspirated V8 might not be able to match the turbos at Le Mans. I hope they can improve from a poor 2016 race.

[Hedley Verity]

Only 2 cars from AF Corse (or badged as AF Corse anyway), that's a bit of a change from recent years.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Hedley Verity

Only 2 cars from AF Corse (or badged as AF Corse anyway), that's a bit of a change from recent years.

I think it's in name only. The Spirit of Race stuff and Clearwater are defacto AF Corse entries.


Sad we didn't get the WEC Pro Vette

[Mike E]

The brave new world of LMP2 - 40% Oreca.

I am looking forward to seeing (and hearing) these new cars though.

Quite surprised, but very pleased, to see Kubica in the CLM after he was less than complimentary about it in the Bahrain test. I hope they can outpace LMP2. I wonder what power they can get out of that Nissan. Also interesting that it is badged NISMO not Nissan. 'We are happy for you to use our engine, but don't tell anyone'.

Go Riley!

[Irie]

Has anyone an idea why the car is called "Enso CLM" this year?

[jee]

Originally Posted by Mike E

The brave new world of LMP2 - 40% Oreca.

Considering the Alpines are just rebadged Orecas makes it actually 60%

[bentley speed 8]

Originally Posted by Irie

Has anyone an idea why the car is called "Enso CLM" this year?

Do we even know what CLM stands for? Colin Le Mans?
Methinks Enso is a new major sponsor.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by bentley speed 8

Do we even know what CLM stands for? Colin Le Mans?

Now there's a question! I'd always assumed the 'C' was for Chosse, but I've never seen or heard what CLM actually stands for.

[Bentley03]

I'm truly staggered by the size (and quality) of the P2 entry. Gone are the days when it was necessary to grandfather cars to make up numbers in a transition year.

[Irie]

Originally Posted by bentley speed 8

Do we even know what CLM stands for? Colin Le Mans?
Methinks Enso is a new major sponsor.

Could be. A quick Google search lead to a
energy supplier in Saxony called ENSO.
http://www.enso.de/enso/home.nsf/mobile.html?ReadForm

[old man]

Only 2 reserves, does that show applications were down this year?

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

I'm truly staggered by the size (and quality) of the P2 entry. Gone are the days when it was necessary to grandfather cars to make up numbers in a transition year.

Agreed James. We were close last year to P2 being the most watchable element of Le Mans. Although I'm firmly rooting for a Toyota 1-2-3 this year, I suspect that most of my interest will actually be centred on the P2 class....

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

I'm truly staggered by the size (and quality) of the P2 entry. Gone are the days when it was necessary to grandfather cars to make up numbers in a transition year.

Huge amount of P2 machinery certainly. Seems to me the makeup of the class is skewed more towards the Am side this year. Obviously we'll have to see how the different cars fill out. That's the part I always enjoy following. I'm sure those ELMS teams will have a lot of different drivers at Le Mans compared to their regular season crews.

Looks to me about 9 cars capable of winning - and that's probably being generous still. And that's certainly down on what was a smaller P2 field last year. Already more Bronze guys announced than there were in the entire P2 grid last year. And we barely know a third of the drivers.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Mike E

The brave new world of LMP2 - 40% Oreca.

Reminds of the 956/962 for years and years, no?

Good times, nonetheless.

[Mike E]

I wonder if Ligier have stepped back from marketing their LMP2 while they have had their hands full building 50 LMP3s.

[Truckosaurus]

How likely is the LMP2 leader to end up on the overall podium?

I suspect that have a third Toyota makes in unlikely.

Also, when was the last time a podium place was occupied by something from outside the top class? (perhaps either '97 if we consider that GT1 was meant to be the top or '99 when the the boundaries between GT1 and LMP eras was a bit blurred).