16.11.09
We have always loved sportscar racing, but with no Ferrari representation in "sports-prototypes" since the demise of our beloved 333SP and no current race-winning GT due to the decision to re-badge the Enzo as a Maserati MC12, we haven't given it much coverage. However there are dozens of 430s racing and the F430GT is still doing well, so we thought it was time to take a look.
The first thing was to find out what goes on. This is not easy as there is no World Championship and not all of the world's classic sportscar races are run to the same regulations. In fact the whole thing is very confusing, though it seems pretty well to be divided into "Le Mans" based series' and FIA GT, though there are oddballs like those greenhouse-looking things that run in the Daytona 24 hours.
Le Mans 24 Hours and Associated Spin-Offs
These are the only only place you can see sports-prototypes racing. In addition to the legendary 24 hour race there is the Le Mans Series (LMS) in Europe and American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in North America. In addition the (one race) Asia Le Mans series has just taken place. These are run to the Automobile Club de L'Oest's rules and there are five classes: LMP1, pure racing cars, closed like the Peugeot 908 and Lola Aston Martin, or open like the Audi R15, Oreca AIM and Acura. LMP2, similar cars but lighter and less powerful like the Lola Judd and Ginetta Zytek. There are two classes for cars based on production cars LMGT1 for cars like the Corvette, and LMGT2, which is similar to LMGT1, but less modified and less powerful; this is where you'll find the Ferrari F430GT. Finally, there is Formula Le Mans which is a one-make series with cars made by Oreca and powered by 6.2 litre Chevy engines. Previously they had their own series and ran in the 24 hour race, but in 2010 the class will be run in LMS and ALMS events as well as the 24 hrs.
Le Mans 24 hours
Starting with the big one first. Peugeot won at last with their diesel, though the win was not without controversy.
Peugeot protested various flaps and appendages on the Audi R15, claiming that their sole purpose was to generate downforce, which is not allowed.
The ACO dismissed the protest as follows: "The ACO has the discretionary power to deem whether or not the sole function of an element of bodywork is to generate downforce. It is based on this discretionary power of appreciation, compounded by the exclusive power it has to interpret the technical regulations as laid out in Article 18, that the ACO homologates the cars which take part in the events covered by its regulations." In other words, "Don't bother about facts, it's our race, what we say goes."
The ACO has always had an "interesting" approach to rules and regulations. This is continuing as for 2011 changes to the regulations are proposed which would make coupes uncompetitive. At the moment they are allowed bigger air restrictors than open cars to make up for their power-sapping compulsory air-conditioning.
Despite the ACO's approach to rule-making it's significant that at the height of the FIA/FOTA war, Le Mans was presented as the only possible alternative to F1, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo even acting as official starter some 60 years after Ferrari's first win and 44 years after its last. Sadly, we knew Luca was only being a pit tease. In 2009 Peugeot came home first and second with Audi third.
LMP2 was won by Ferrari's old enemy Porsche, LMGT1 by a Corvette, but LMGT2 by the American Risi Competizione F430 GT of Jaime Melo, Pierre Kaffer and Mika Salo ahead of a BMS Scuderia Italia 430.
The 24 hour race is not part of either of its spin-off series'. LMS took place over five rounds including the Spa, Nürburgring and Silverstone 1000km races. LMP1 was won by the Lola Aston Martin of the works (Prodrive) team. Thanks to having seven teams racing the 430, Ferrari won the LMGT2 manufacturer's prize, but not the teams'. UK based team JMW Motorsport were best Ferrari team in second place.
In the ten round ALMS the Highcoft Acura team won LMP1. Ferrari were beaten to the LMGT2 class win by Porsche, though Risi Competizione did win the most prestigious Sebring 12 hours and Petit Le Mans events.
Teams could race in both LMS and ALMS although not many did. Peugeot and Audi both raced at Sebring and Petit Le Mans, Audi winning the former and Peugeot the latter. Peugeot appeared in the Spa 1000kms and won. The global recession has hit ALMS hard and next year at all races except Sebring and Petit Le Mans there will be one P class and one GT class in addition to the grid-filling Porsche GT3 "Challenge" class. Next year there will be the Formula Le Mans cars next year running as the LMP Challenge.
FIA GT Championship
This was an eight round championship for GT cars, though running to different regulations to the ACO sanctioned events! This will change in 2010 when a new GT1 category will be eligible for both. The new GT1 cars will be less modified with the aim of making them cheaper to run. "Production" engines must over 5.5 litres in capacity with a spec. ECU. Cars must be based on a model of which 300 a year is produced. Entries will be limited to six manufacturers with the Nissan GT-R, Ford GT and Lamborghini Murcielago already accepted. Aston Martin and Corvette have asked for technical waivers to convert their 2009 cars to the new regs., as have Maserati and Saleen; the last two would need an additional waiver as neither meet the production requirements. This means four manufacturers are after three places. This will be decided by the FIA (or maybe global economics).
The big news is that
in 2010 GT1 will become an FIA World Championship and the same cars will be able to run in the Le Mans 24hrs. In 2009 the Maserati MC12 won the championship again in the hands of Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini of the Vitaphone Racing Team.
In GT2 there were five teams racing the F430 GT and Ferrari easily won the Manufacturers' prize from Porsche. Ferrari team AF Corse won the GT2 Teams' title with UK team CRS third. Porsche driver Richard Westbrook won the Drivers' title with AF Corse's Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni were second. 430s won five rounds to the German manufacturer's three.
There is also the GT3 Championship for less modified cars, basically tweaked-up "Challenge" type cars and supports some of the FIA GT rounds. Historically the 430 hasn't done too well, but the "works" Kessel Racing car of Stefano Gattuso & Lorenzo Bontempelli won the final round at Zolder.
Finally, there are various national championships and the Ferrari "Challenge" series, more of which later.
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