Club Arnage

Good morning everybody,

the ACO has published the list of the 24 preselected entries, see http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/live/ressources/pdf/selectionnes_24h2007.pdf

cant wait to see those spyders ;D ;D ;D

But surely this is just a list of those teams/cars that have qualified for an entry based upon 2006 results, and not a definitive list of the first accepted entries?

Thats right, unless Penske has a change of heart, if there are any Spyders there, they won't be his.

I am not sure about the RISI Ferraris either.

Yep, this is a list of automatic entries, say, if those teams enter, their entry will be accepted. The privilege belongs to the team, not to a car or manufactorer and the teams can only enter in the class they have qualified for. As to this list:

2 guesses:

- I doubt we'll see 3 Audis on the grid, more likely it will be 2
- It's unlikely that we will see team Penske at Le Mans

The teams have till January the 8th to confirm whether they will be taking up their auto-entries. I am pretty sure you won't see any Penske spyders at Le Mans this year.

poop >:(

4 more entries
http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/live/actu/2006-12-22_GD_1252_gb.html
Vitaphone?  With what?

An auto entry gives the teams the opportunity to change cars, but not class I believe.

So if vitaphone can get there hands on an ACO legal GT1 car and want to compete, then they can.

Hence the wording in this release, methinks.  Eh Fran, maybe they'll resurect that Saleen, eh?  Or chop a bit off the Mazzer.

It vitaphone do get their hands on any piece of legal ACO hardware they certainly are a team that could give the factory vette and astons something to worry about.

I wonder if they can rent GLPK's C6, hmmmmm

Oh and speaking of Saleens since I know at least one member has a bit of a fetish. Racing Box the Italian GT team have apparently bought a new upgraded one from Oreca to race in the LMS. Their Maserati MC12 is now ineligible in Italian GT as they have scrapped GT1 as the top class. They may do some FIA GT with it though.

interesting.

Maserati offered first Le Mans 24-Hour spot.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maserati could compete in the Le Mans 24Hours for the first time after an agreement was reached between the FIA GT and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest to offer entries to four more teams in addition to those already pre-selected for the endurance classic.

Although Maserati have been one of the dominant forces in the GT1 based FIA GT Championship since they arrived in 2004, the Italian team has been unable to compete against Le Mans stalwarts Corvette, Ferrari and Aston Martin in the past due to various issues with regulations, as well as conflicts between the Le Mans Series and FIA GT Championship.

Nonetheless, while Maserati and their MC12 were once again missing from the 24-strong pre-selection group announced last week, a deal has since been struck between SRO Chariman Stephane Ratel and the president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest Mr Jean-Claude Plassar to expand the pre-selection entry for four more teams, those that finished in the top two in the GT1 and GT2 classes.

This means Vitaphone Maserati have received an opportunity to take the fight to their rivals on a worldwide stage for the first time, while BMS Scuderia Italia have also been invited to compete again with their Aston Martin DBR9 after taking part in 2006.

Nothing has changed, the MC12 is still not ACO legal. Where did the above text come from?

crash.net

It's Vitaphone as a team who have been offered the place and they have until 8th January to confirm whether or not they will accept.  If they do, they'll have to sort a car in the class for which they've been invited.

The MC12 is too long & too wide, the length could easily be sorted by chopping the front, perhaps the width could be knobbled as happened in 2003 to allow the Pagani Zonda to comply?  Would certainly be an interesting addition to the field.  

I think the problem is the width of the wind screen. That's too wide.

it must be the windscreen wipers then, they're probably too long  ::)

>:(

Seems Vitaphone aren't taking up their invitation, at least in GT1 anyway.  :(

Possibly applying for a GT2 place with a Ferrari 430  :-\

That's good, at least one less Porsche entry in GT2 (http://forum.drinkingforholland.com/images/smiles/icon_thumbsup.gif)

good point, I like more variety :)