The Wirehttp://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/2010-06-23T12:12:03ZSquarespacehttp://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/five-ford-focus-le-mans-liveries-announced.htmlEditor2010-06-23T12:04:46Z2010-06-23T12:04:46Z

Ecurie Ford France, one of the partners of the popular Le Mans Classic event, has prepared a collection of just five Focus RS cars in unique colour schemes, each paying tribute to the Ford cars which made ‘blue oval’ history at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Each of the five Focus RS Le Mans Classic vehicles will be finished in the colours of one of the Ford cars which made 24 Hours history for Ford. During the event itself, they will even carry the race number of the cars to which they’re paying tribute:

Black with silver stripes: a reference to the Ford Mk II, which was victorious in 1966.

Red with white stripes: recalling the Mk IV which won in 1967.

White with a thin blue centre stripe surrounded by a red border: echoing the decoration of the beautiful Ford Mk IIB, entered by Ford France in the 1967 Le Mans 24-hours.

Two-tone sky blue and orange: A modern take on the GT40s which dominated Le Mans in 1968 and 1969.

Two-tone white and blue: representing the livery of the Capri RS 2600 which took the Touring category in 1972. ]]>

http://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/audi-achieves-record-victory-at-le-mans-with-new-technology.htmlEditor2010-06-17T18:00:21Z2010-06-17T18:00:21Z

Ingolstadt/Le Mans, June 13, 2010 - For the ninth time Audi has won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans and thus equalized Ferrari’s position in the roll of honor in the French endurance classic. Only Porsche’s track record reflects more victories.

At the 78th edition of the race, efficiency and reliability were the decisive factors yet again - both are special fortes of the Audi brand which has a reputation of developing highly efficient automobiles. The three Audi R15 TDI cars of Audi Sport Team Joest ran without the slightest technical problems over the entire distance and occupied the top three places after the fastest Le Mans race of all time. After 2000, 2002 and 2004, Audi thus managed to achieve a one-two-three triumph at Le Mans for the fourth time.

“Everyone at Audi can be proud of this historic exploit. Reliability, efficiency and sustainability are particularly important topics for car manufacturers today. And these are exactly the areas in which we have demonstrated our expertise this weekend,” commented Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler, who witnessed the captivating race live on location. “It was one of the most thrilling races in Le Mans history, a do-or-die battle. This one-two-three victory is the fourth 1-2-3 for Audi at Le Mans and no doubt the most valuable victory claimed after the fiercest battle in our company’s history. I express my thanks and great respect to the entire squad. They have performed an incredible and flawless feat of energy. Peugeot was a formidable rival who required us to give everything. We express our respect to the French squad for this.” ]]>

http://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/we-lost-the-return-match-today.htmlEditor2010-06-17T17:59:22Z2010-06-17T17:59:22Z

In 2009 Peugeot  took the `double’ at the 24 Heures du Mans. In 2010 Peugeot was up against a redoubtable adversary. The decider will be played next year, promised Olivier Quesnel, Director of Peugeot Sport.

Buoyed up by their four consecutive `doubles’ and the work undertaken over the last year, Team Peugeot Total arrived serene, fit and determined to take up the challenge of the 201024 Heures du Mans. During qualifying the performance of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP carried them to their fourth pole position in a row. In total Peugeot took the first four places on the starting grid (three works cars and an Oreca Peugeot).

Saturday at 3 o’clock the four cars, headed by the No 3, led for the first three hours. A broken monocoque suspension mounting point eliminated the car of Sebastien Bourdais, Pedro Lamy and Simon Pagenaud at 17h28. ]]>

http://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/strakka-racing-win-makes-lmp2-history-at-le-mans.htmlEditor2010-06-17T17:58:09Z2010-06-17T17:58:09Z

Photo Credit: Rick DoleThe final hours of the 78th Le Mans 24 Hours ran every gamut of emotion, from the abject despair of Peugeot, to the euphoric delight of those who won their classes. Strakka Racing is proud not only to have won LMP2 at the team’s first attempt, but to have done so in dominant style; leading from pole to finish; setting a new class lap record; completing the greatest distance ever covered by an LMP2 car; crossing the line in the highest position yet achieved in LMP2 (5th overall), and winning the Michelin Green X Challenge award for Le Mans 2010. ]]>

http://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/five-porsche-factory-drivers-top-podium-at-78th-le-mans.htmlEditor2010-06-17T17:57:02Z2010-06-17T17:57:02Z

Photo Credit: Rick Dole RELIABILITY AGAIN TRIUMPHS OVER SPEED; 911 GT3 STREET-BASED RACER SCORES NINTH WIN IN GT2

Stuttgart/Atlanta - June 13 — The success story of the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR race continues at the 78 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as factory drivers Marc Lieb (Germany), Richard Lietz (Austria) and Wolf Henzler (Germany) piloted their German Felbermayr-Proton Porsche to a two-lap GT2 win over the second-place Ferrari earlier today. ]]>

http://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/a-ferrari-on-the-podium-at-the-le-mans-24-hours.htmlEditor2010-06-17T17:55:43Z2010-06-17T17:55:43Z

Photo Credit: Rick DoleFisichella: “A really unique experience”

Le Mans, 13 June — A Ferrari F30GTC, maybe the least expected one, made it to the podium in the LMGT2 category in the Le Mans 24 Hours. The Hankook Farnbacher car numer 89, crewed by Simonsen-Farnbacher-Keen, finished second behind the Porsche of Lieb-Lietz-Henzler.

The cars from Maranello did not have much luck in this race. First, the two Risi Competizione cars dropped out, then the AF Corse one, driven by Fisichella-Alesi-Vilander went off the track, requiring a long pit stop which meant any chance of fighting for the win had gone. ]]>

http://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/sixth-for-team-bmw-motorsport-in-le-mans-24-hours.htmlEditor2010-06-17T17:55:08Z2010-06-17T17:55:08Z

Le Mans, 13th June 2010. Team BMW Motorsport experienced a turbulent return to the Le Mans 24 Hours. Lady luck did not necessarily smile on the two BMW M3 GT2s. Car number 78, with Jorg Muller (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR) and Uwe Alzen (DE) alternating at the wheel, completed 320 laps to finish sixth in the LM GT2 class in front of 240,000 spectators.
]]>

http://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/aston-martin-claims-sixth-place-at-2010-le-mans-24-hours.htmlEditor2010-06-17T17:53:58Z2010-06-17T17:53:58Z

Le Mans, 13 June 2010. Despite proving to be the fastest petrol-powered car at the Le Mans 24 Hours this year, Aston Martin’s hopes of claiming the accolade of top petrol competitor were cruelly dashed by scenes of barely believable drama in the closing hour.

Nonetheless, the Aston Martin Racing team salvaged sixth place overall in the world’s toughest endurance race thanks to the 007 line-up of Adrian Fernandez (MEX), Stefan Mucke (D) and Harold Primat (CH). ]]>

http://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/highcroft-heartache-takes-us-champs-out-of-contention.htmlEditor2010-06-17T17:52:49Z2010-06-17T17:52:49Z

Photo Credit: Rick DoleLe Mans LE MANS, FRANCE, Sunday, June 13, 2010: Highcroft Racing completed its goal of finishing the toughest endurance sportscar race in the world today at the 24 Hours of Le Mans - but the reigning American Le Mans Series LMP1 champions discovered why the classic event is the ultimate test of man and machine.

Marino Franchitti completed two laps at the end of the 24 event, completing a stint which actually began six hours earlier after David Brabham handed over the reigns shortly after 9.00am. ]]>

http://www.sportscarinsider.com/the-wire/spirit-of-le-mans-shines-through-drayson-racing-perseverance.htmlEditor2010-06-17T17:51:58Z2010-06-17T17:51:58Z

LE MANS, FRANCE - To those who know Le Mans, they know the intangible “Spirit of Le Mans” that permeates the event. A special drive to succeed, to overcome any obstacle in pursuit of finishing the 24 hours. Drayson Racing personified “The Spirit of Le Mans” at this weekend’s 24 Heures du Mans. Despite a myriad of obstacles put in front of them, the team behind the No. 11 Drayson Racing Lola Coupé with Judd Power never wavered in its commitment to see the chequered flag at the conclusion of the 12-13 June classic. It was a determination rewarded by finishing as the sixth highest Le Mans Prototype One (LM P1) with the trio of drivers: Paul Drayson (London and Gloucestershire, UK), Jonny Cocker (Guisborough, Yorks, UK) and Emanuele Pirro (Rome). ]]>