2008 Le Mans Series

The 2008 Le Mans Series was the fifth season of ACO's Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototype and Grand Touring style cars broken into 4 classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2. It ran from 6 April to 14 September 2008 with five rounds taking place.

2008 Le Mans Series
Previous: 2007 Next: 2009

Schedule

The 2008 schedule remained largely unchanged from that of 2007, except for Circuit de Catalunya replacing Circuit de Valencia for the Spanish round. A large gap was built into the schedule between May and August to better allow teams to prepare for and recover from the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans.[1]

An additional race was announced at a later date, with a 1000 km event in Shanghai. This event however would not replace the Mil Milhas Brasil round, but was instead to be a stand-alone event as a precursor to a new Asian Le Mans Series planned for 2009. Points for the Le Mans Series would not be awarded but class winners would gain automatic entry to the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans.[2] The race was cancelled and was later rescheduled be held on 8 November 2009, because of conflicts with the 2008 Summer Olympics schedule.[3]

Rnd Race Circuit Date
- LMS Official Test Paul Ricard HTTT 2 March
3 March
1 1000 km of Catalunya Circuit de Catalunya 6 April
2 1000 km of Monza Autodromo Nazionale di Monza 27 April
3 1000 km of Spa Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 11 May
4 1000 km of Nürburgring Nürburgring 17 August
5 1000 km of Silverstone Silverstone Circuit 14 September

Season results

Rnd Circuit LMP1 Winning Team LMP2 Winning Team GT1 Winning Team GT2 Winning Team Results
LMP1 Winning Drivers LMP2 Winning Drivers GT1 Winning Drivers GT2 Winning Drivers
1 Catalunya #7 Team Peugeot Total #34 VM Motorsport #72 Luc Alphand Aventures #96 Virgo Motorsport Results
Nicolas Minassian
Marc Gené
Jos Verstappen
Peter van Merksteijn
Luc Alphand
Guillaume Moreau
Patrice Goueslard
Rob Bell
Gianmaria Bruni
2 Monza #8 Team Peugeot Total #31 Team Essex #59 Team Modena #91 Farnbacher Racing Results
Stéphane Sarrazin
Pedro Lamy
John Nielsen
Casper Elgaard
Antonio García
Tomáš Enge
Lars-Erik Nielsen
Allan Simonsen
Richard Westbrook
3 Spa #7 Team Peugeot Total #34 VM Motorsport #72 Luc Alphand Aventures #96 Virgo Motorsport Results
Nicolas Minassian
Marc Gené
Jacques Villeneuve
Jos Verstappen
Peter van Merksteijn
Olivier Beretta
Guillaume Moreau
Patrice Goueslard
Rob Bell
Gianmaria Bruni
4 Nürburgring #8 Team Peugeot Total #34 VM Motorsport #59 Team Modena #96 Virgo Motorsport Results
Stéphane Sarrazin
Pedro Lamy
Jos Verstappen
Jeroen Bleekemolen
Antonio García
Tomáš Enge
Rob Bell
Gianmaria Bruni
5 Silverstone #1 Audi Team Joest #34 VM Motorsport #59 Team Modena #96 Virgo Motorsport Results
Allan McNish
Rinaldo Capello
Jos Verstappen
Peter van Merksteijn
Antonio García
Tomáš Enge
Rob Bell
Jaime Melo

Teams Championships

Points were awarded to the top eight finishers in the order of 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. Unlike the American Le Mans Series, where teams with multiple entries scored the points of their highest finishing entry in each race, teams with multiple entries did not have their cars combined and each entry number was scored separately in the championship. Cars which failed to complete 70% of the winner's distance were not awarded points.

The top two finishers in each team championship earned automatic entry to the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans.

LMP1 Standings

Pos No Team Chassis Engine Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Total
1 #2 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI Audi 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel) 8 8 8 6 5 35
2 #7 Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Peugeot 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel) 10 4 10 8 0 32
3 #1 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI Audi 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel) 4 3 5 5 10 27
4 #8 Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Peugeot 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel) 1 10 0 10 0 21
5 #10 Charouz Racing System Lola B08/60 Aston Martin 6.0 L V12 6 1 0 4 8 19
6 #16 Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo 01 Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10 5 0 4 0 6 15
7 #15 Creation AIM Creation CA07 AIM (Judd) YS5.5 5.5 L V10 - 5 3 2 4 14
8 #17 Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo 01 Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10 3 6 0 1 3 13
9 #6 Team Oreca-Matmut Courage-Oreca LC70 Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10 0 0 6 0 0 6
10= #5 Team Oreca-Matmut Courage-Oreca LC70 Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10 0 0 - 3 2 5
10= #18 Rollcentre Racing Pescarolo 01 Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10 2 2 0 0 1 5
12 #20 Epsilon Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi ee1 Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10 0 0 2 0 0 2
13 #4 Saulnier Racing Pescarolo 01 Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10 0 0 1 0 0 1
- #14 Creation AIM Creation CA07 AIM (Judd) YS5.5 5.5 L V10 0 0 - 0 0 0
- #3 Scuderia Lavaggi Lavaggi LS1 AER P32C 4.0 L Turbo V8 0 - 0 0 - 0
- #21 Epsilon Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi ee1 Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 L V10 - - - 0 0 0
- #19 Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport Lola B06/10 AER P32C 4.0 L Turbo V8 0 - - - - 0

LMP2 Standings

Pos No Team Chassis Engine Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Total
1 #34 Van Merksteijn Motorsport Porsche RS Spyder Evo Porsche MR6 3.4 L V8 10 8 10 10 10 48
2 #31 Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder Evo Porsche MR6 3.4 L V8 6 10 6 6 4 32
3 #27 Horag Racing Porsche RS Spyder Evo Porsche MR6 3.4 L V8 3 6 8 0 8 25
4= #35 Saulnier Racing Pescarolo 01 Judd DB 3.4 L V8 4 4 5 8 0 21
4= #25 Ray Mallock Ltd. MG-Lola EX265
MG-Lola EX265C
MG (AER) XP21 2.0 L Turbo I4 5
 
5
 
3
 
3
 
 
5
21
6 #40 Quifel ASM Team Lola B05/40 AER P07 2.0 L Turbo I4 0 2 0 4 6 12
7 #33 Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola B08/80 Judd DB 3.4 L V8 8 0 0 0 0 8
8 #41 Trading Performance Zytek 07S/2 Zytek ZG348 3.4 L V8 1 0 4 0 2 7
9 #45 Embassy Racing Embassy WF01 Zytek ZG348 3.4 L V8 0 1 0 2 3 6
10 #46 Embassy Racing Embassy WF01 Zytek ZG348 3.4 L V8 0 0 0 5 0 5
11= #44 Kruse Schiller Motorsport Lola B05/40 Mazda MZR-R 2.0 L Turbo I4 0 3 0 0 1 4
11= #26 Team Bruichladdich Radical Radical SR9 AER P07 2.0 L Turbo I4 2 0 2 0 0 4
13 #32 Barazi-Epsilon Zytek 07S/2 Zytek ZG348 3.4 L V8 0 0 0 1 0 1
- #37 WR Salini WR LMP2008 Zytek ZG348 3.4 L V8 0 0 0 0 0 0
- #30 Racing Box Lucchini LMP2008 Judd XV675 3.4 L V8 0 0 - - - 0

GT1 Standings

Pos No Team Chassis Engine Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Total
1 #72 Luc Alphand Aventures Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet LS7-R 7.0 L V8 10 8 10 8 6 42
2 #59 Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9 Aston Martin 6.0 L V12 0 10 6 10 10 36
3 #55 IPB Spartak Racing Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT Lamborghini 6.0 L V12 6 5 8 0 8 27
4 #61 Strakka Racing Aston Martin DBR9 Aston Martin 6.0 L V12 - - 5 - 5 10
5 #50 Larbre Compétition Saleen S7-R Ford 7.0 L V8 8 - - - - 8
6 #73 Luc Alphand Aventures Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Chevrolet LS7-R 7.0 L V8 0 6 0 0 - 6

GT2 Standings

Pos No Team Chassis Engine Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Total
1 #96 Virgo Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT2 Ferrari 4.0 L V8 10 0 10 10 10 40
2 #77 Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 8 3 8 8 8 35
3 #90 Farnbacher Racing Ferrari F430 GT2 Ferrari 4.0 L V8 5 8 0 0 6 19
4 #99 JMB Racing Ferrari F430 GT2 Ferrari 4.0 L V8 3 6 4 5 0 18
5 #76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 6 0 3 6 0 15
6 #85 Snoras Spyker Squadron Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R Audi 4.0 L V8 4 0 0 4 5 13
7= #94 Speedy Racing Team Sebah Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R Audi 4.0 L V8 0 5 5 0 1 11
7= #98 JMB Racing Ferrari F430 GT2 Ferrari 4.0 L V8 0 4 2 2 3 11
9= #91 Farnbacher Racing Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 0 10 0 0 0 10
9= #88 Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 0 0 6 0 4 10
11= #75 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 2 0 0 3 0 5
11= #95 James Watt Automotive Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche 3.8 L Flat-6 1 2 1 1 0 5
13 #93 James Watt Automotive Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 0 - - - 2 2

Drivers Championships

Points were awarded to the top 8 finishers in the order of 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. Drivers who did not drive for at least 45 minutes do not receive points.

LMP1 Standings

Alexandre Prémat and Mike Rockenfeller won the LMP1 title, despite not winning a race.
Pos Driver Team Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Total
1= Alexandre Prémat Audi Sport Team Joest 8 8 8 6 5 35
1= Mike Rockenfeller Audi Sport Team Joest 8 8 8 6 5 35
3= Nicolas Minassian Team Peugeot Total 10 4 10 8 32
3= Marc Gené Team Peugeot Total 10 4 10 8 32
5= Allan McNish Audi Sport Team Joest 4 3 5 5 10 27
5= Rinaldo Capello Audi Sport Team Joest 4 3 5 5 10 27
7= Stéphane Sarrazin Team Peugeot Total 1 10 10 21
7= Pedro Lamy Team Peugeot Total 1 10 10 21
9= Jan Charouz Charouz Racing System 6 1 4 8 19
9= Stefan Mücke Charouz Racing System 6 1 4 8 19
11 Jean-Christophe Boullion Pescarolo Sport 5 4 6 15
12 Stuart Hall Creation AIM 5 3 2 4 14
13= Harold Primat Pescarolo Sport 3 6 1 3 13
13= Christophe Tinseau Pescarolo Sport 3 6 1 3 13
15 Jacques Villeneuve Team Peugeot Total 10 10
16 Emmanuel Collard Pescarolo Sport 5 4 9
17 Robbie Kerr Creation AIM 5 3 8
18= Olivier Panis Team Oreca-Matmut 6 6
18= Nicolas Lapierre Team Oreca-Matmut 6 6
18= Romain Dumas Pescarolo Sport 6 6
18= Jamie Campbell-Walter Creation AIM 2 4 6
22= Bruce Jouanny Creation AIM 5 5
22= Soheil Ayari Team Oreca-Matmut 3 2 5
22= Stéphane Ortelli Team Oreca-Matmut 3 2 5
22= Vanina Ickx Rollcentre Racing 2 2 1 5
26 Martin Short Rollcentre Racing 2 2 4
27= Loïc Duval Team Oreca-Matmut 3 3
27= João Barbosa Rollcentre Racing 2 1 3
29= Duncan Tappy Rollcentre Racing 2 2
29= Ángel Burgueño Epsilon Euskadi 2 2
29= Miguel Ángel de Castro Epsilon Euskadi 2 2
32= Jacques Nicolet Saulnier Racing 1 1
32= Marc Faggionato Saulnier Racing 1 1
32= Richard Hein Saulnier Racing 1 1
32= Charlie Hollings Rollcentre Racing 1 1

LMP2 Standings

Jos Verstappen won the LMP2 title as part of Van Merksteijn Motorsport.
Pos Driver Team Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Total
1 Jos Verstappen Van Merksteijn Motorsport 10 8 10 10 10 48
2 Peter van Merksteijn Van Merksteijn Motorsport 10 8 10 10 38
3= John Nielsen Team Essex 6 10 6 6 4 32
3= Casper Elgaard Team Essex 6 10 6 6 4 32
5= Fredy Lienhard Horag Racing 3 6 8 8 25
5= Didier Theys Horag Racing 3 6 8 8 25
5= Jan Lammers Horag Racing 3 6 8 8 25
8= Pierre Ragues Saulnier Racing 4 4 5 8 21
8= Matthieu Lahaye Saulnier Racing 4 4 5 8 21
8= Mike Newton Ray Mallock Ltd. 5 5 3 3 5 21
8= Thomas Erdos Ray Mallock Ltd. 5 5 3 3 5 21
12= Olivier Pla Quifel ASM Team 2 4 6 12
12= Miguel Amaral Quifel ASM Team 2 4 6 12
14 Jeroen Bleekemolen Van Merksteijn Motorsport 10 10
15= Andrea Belicchi Speedy Racing Team Sebah 8 8
15= Xavier Pompidou Speedy Racing Team Sebah 8 8
15= Steve Zacchia Speedy Racing Team Sebah 8 8
18= Karim Ojjeh Trading Performance 1 4 2 7
18= Claude-Yves Gosselin Trading Performance 1 4 2 7
20 Warren Hughes Embassy Racing 1 2 3 6
21= Darren Manning Embassy Racing 5 5
21= Joey Foster Embassy Racing 5 5
21= Julien Schroyen Trading Performance 1 4 5
21= Jonny Kane Embassy Racing 2 3 5
25= Jean de Pourtalès Kruse Schiller Motorsport 3 1 4
25= Hideki Noda Kruse Schiller Motorsport 3 1 4
25= Jens Petersen Team Bruichladdich Radical 2 2 4
25= Jan-Dirk Leuders Team Bruichladdich Radical 2 2 4
25= Marc Rostan Team Bruichladdich Radical 2 2 4
30 Adam Sharpe Trading Performance 2 2
31= Mario Haberfeld Embassy Racing 1 1
31= Juan Barazi Barazi-Epsilon 1 1
31= Michael Vergers Barazi-Epsilon 1 1
31= Fernando Rees Barazi-Epsilon 1 1

GT1 Standings

Guillaume Moreau and Patrice Goueslard won the GT1 title for Luc Alphand Aventures.
Pos Driver Team Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Total
1= Guillaume Moreau Luc Alphand Aventures 10 8 10 8 6 42
1= Patrice Goueslard Luc Alphand Aventures 10 8 10 8 6 42
3= Antonio García Team Modena 10 6 10 10 36
3= Tomáš Enge Team Modena 10 6 10 10 36
5= Peter Kox IPB Spartak Racing 6 5 8 8 27
5= Roman Rusinov IPB Spartak Racing 6 5 8 8 27
7= Olivier Beretta Luc Alphand Aventures 8 10 18
7= Luc Alphand Luc Alphand Aventures 10 8 18
9= Peter Hardman Strakka Racing 5 5 10
9= Nick Leventis Strakka Racing 5 5 10
11= Christophe Bouchut Larbre Compétition 8 8
11= Frédéric Makowiecki Larbre Compétition 8 8
11= Patrick Bornhauser Larbre Compétition 8 8
14= Sébastien Dumez Luc Alphand Aventures 6 6
14= Jean-Luc Blanchemain Luc Alphand Aventures 6 6
14= Roland Bervillé Luc Alphand Aventures 6 6
17 Darren Turner Strakka Racing 5 5

GT2 Standings

Rob Bell won the GT2 title for Virgo Motorsport.
Pos Driver Team Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Total
1 Rob Bell Virgo Motorsport 10 10 10 10 40
2= Marc Lieb Team Felbermayr-Proton 8 3 8 8 8 35
2= Alex Davison Team Felbermayr-Proton 8 3 8 8 8 35
4 Gianmaria Bruni Virgo Motorsport 10 10 10 30
5= Pierre Kaffer Farnbacher Racing 5 8 6 19
5= Pierre Ehret Farnbacher Racing 5 8 6 19
7 Ben Aucott JMB Racing 3 6 4 5 18
8 Stéphane Daoudi JMB Racing 3 6 2 5 16
9= Raymond Narac IMSA Performance Matmut 6 3 6 15
9= Richard Lietz IMSA Performance Matmut 6 3 6 15
11= Ralf Kelleners Snoras Spyker Squadron 4 4 5 13
11= Alexey Vasilyev Snoras Spyker Squadron 4 4 5 13
13= Anthony Beltoise Farnbacher Racing 5 6 11
13= Andrea Chiesa Speedy Racing Team Sebah 5 5 1 11
13= Benjamin Leuenberger Speedy Racing Team Sebah 5 5 1 11
11= Peter Kutemann JMB Racing 4 2 2 3 11
17= Lars-Erik Nielsen Farnbacher Racing 10 10
17= Allan Simonsen Farnbacher Racing 10 10
17= Richard Westbrook Farnbacher Racing 10 10
17= Jaime Melo Virgo Motorsport 10 10
17= Horst Felbermayr, Sr. Team Felbermayr-Proton 6 4 10
17= Horst Felbermayr, Jr. Team Felbermayr-Proton 6 4 10
17= Christian Ried Team Felbermayr-Proton 6 4 10
24 Maurice Basso JMB Racing 4 2 3 9
25 Peter Dumbreck Snoras Spyker Squadron 4 4 8
26 Tim Sugden James Watt Automotive 2 1 1 2 6
27= Iradj Alexander Speedy Racing Team Sebah 5 5
27= Tom Coronel Snoras Spyker Squadron 5 5
27= Richard Balandras IMSA Performance Matmut 2 3 5
27= Michel Lecourt IMSA Performance Matmut 2 3 5
27= Jean-Philippe Belloc IMSA Performance Matmut 2 3 5
27= Markus Palttala James Watt Automotive 1 2 1 1 5
27= Paul Daniels James Watt Automotive 1 2 1 1 5
34= Mauro Casadei JMB Racing 4 4
34= Alain Ferté JMB Racing 4 4
36 Julien Gilbert JMB Racing 3 3
37= Johan-Boris Scheier JMB Racing 2 2
37= Alan van der Merwe James Watt Automotive 2 2
37= Michael Outzen James Watt Automotive 2 2
40 Mikael Forsten James Watt Automotive 1 1

Confirmed entries

LMP1

LMP2

GT1

GT2

  • Spyker built new coupes (Laviolettes) for the GT2 class, both for their own team as well as replacements for the Speedy Racing Team.[23]

References

  1. "Les Le Mans Series dévoilent leur Calendrier 2008. Barcelona au programme" (in French). Endurance-Info.com. 8 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-12-22. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  2. "Officiel : Le Mans débarque en Chine !" (in French). Endurance-Info. 4 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  3. "Official site of ACO: Shanghai put off until 2009". ACO. 29 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  4. "Oreca announces Courage takeover". Planetlemans.com. 2007-09-14. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  5. "Olivier Panis will drive for Team Oreca-Matmut". Planetlemans.com. 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  6. "Audi announces 2008 plans: 3 cars at Le Mans, confirmed ALMS and strong LMS intentions". Planetlemans.com. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  7. "Deux Zytek pour Epsilon Sport, et deux Epsilon Euskadi en 2008 ?" (in French). Endurance-Info.com. 16 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
  8. "Creation Aim for the future". Creation Autosportif. 4 December 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  9. "Une Lola B08/60 à moteur Aston Martin pour le Charouz Racing !". Endurance-Info. 10 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  10. "Le Swiss Spirit récupère sa Lola-Audi et s'allie au team Phoenix pour cette saison !" (in French). Endurance-Info. 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-02-20. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  11. "Team Essex present their RS Spyder". Planetlemans.com. 2007-12-15. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  12. "Van Merksteijn Motorsport: the latest news". Planetlemans.com. 2007-12-05. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  13. "Verstappen stapt over op Le Mans Series" (in Dutch). GPUpdate.net. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  14. "A full circle for Theys, Lienhard". Motorsport.com. 10 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  15. "Welter Racing (WR) is back in 2008". Planetlemans.com. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  16. "Henri Pescarolo and Jacques Nicolet announce the creation of Pescarolo Automobiles". Planetlemans.com. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  17. "Embassy will run in 2008...an Embassy!". Planetlemans.com. 2007-09-14. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  18. "Zytek engine on the new Embassy prototype". Planetlemans.com. 2007-09-16. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  19. "Embassy Racing confirms Kane and Foster for 2008". Planetlemans.com. 21 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  20. "Sebah et Speedy Racing s'associent pour engager une Lola B08/80" (in French). Endurance-Info.com. 14 December 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-12-19. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  21. "Une Lucchini-Judd pour Racing Box en 2008" (in French). Endurance-Info.com. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  22. "Larbre to race Saleens in 2008". Planetlemans.com. 2008-12-27. Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  23. "Spyker racet volgend jaar met C8 Laviolette" (in Dutch). FEM Business. 28 December 2007. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
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