factory backed teams???

[enzo]

Does anybody know yet what factory backed teams will be entered for the 2004 race??
as i thought audi were due to come back or is that 2005   ?

[Mr. Rick]

Audi definitely only supporting customers in 2004 as per press release recieved this morning:

In addition to the works entry in the DTM, the Audi marque will continue to be actively involved in sportscar racing with the successful Audi R8. During the 2004 season, Audi Sport will support customer and importer teams at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and in the new Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES). Audi will make their works drivers available to the teams Champion Racing (USA), Goh (Japan) and Veloqx (UK), first and foremost Le Mans winner Rinaldo Capello and the defending ALMS Champion Marco Werner. A new member of the Audi sports car squad is young German Pierre Kaffer (27).

All sorts of rumours flying around about their proposed 2005 involvement.

Manufacturer support thin on the ground in the LMP categories for 2004 unfortunately.

[Steve Pyro]

Manufacturer support thin on the ground in the LMP categories for 2004 unfortunately.

It looks as though 2004 will be a drinking race rather than a motor race for most of the spectators then  

[Robbo SPS]

Dont forget the Mighty MORGAN factory backed team .

What happened to the Lambo team that were going to do the 1000 kms....

[hgb]

TVR is definately factory backed too !!!

[Ruptured Duck Motorsport]

GO MORGAN!!!

[hgb]

... and Spyker, Lister, ...

[mgmark]

Having the major manufacturers there is good for the profile of the race, but when we only have one there, things get to be a bit of foregone conclusion.   Without them, you have a race.   More than one of them you have a race.   Only one and you have domination a la Audi.   Le Mans is one of the few races left where the smaller factory teams are welcomed and stand as good a chance as a anyone of mixing it.   For all that we accuse the ACO of incompetence at times, at least the approach and the regulations achieve a broad mix on the grid

[Robbo SPS]

True, always good times at le mans , even when it rains .

Shame the Vipers probably wont be running anymore.

[Steve Pyro]

Shame the Vipers probably wont be running anymore.

The face lifted Viper roadster road car is now available in the US.
Anyone know if they're developing a new race car ?

[Fax]

I wouldn't read too much into the fact that there are going to be a limited number of factory entries for LM this year.  Having a bunch of big factory efforts certainly doesn't guarantee a great race, 1970 being the best example of that.  Factory presence means alot of advertising but thats all it promises.  Some of the best races I've ever seen were IMSA GTP races back in the 80's & early 90's when every car on what were huge grids were customer cars.