24h Le Mans
The 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Prologue, which took place March 27th and 28th at the circuit in Le Castellet, provided first indications concerning the various competitors expected at the 83rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Photo : VISION SPORT AGENCY
Two-thirds of the exceptional group invited this year to Le Mans by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest was on the track in the south of France this past weekend and demonstrated a remarkable performance level in each of the four classes.
LM P1: Porsche on top - In the wake of its victory at the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, final round of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), Porsche did not come up short at its first 2015 event, finishing at the top of the timesheet at the Prologue. After a year getting to know prototypes (again), the German manufacturer is ready to shake up the hierarchy of the Audi-Toyota duel. But, for the three adversaries of this 2015 endurance season, performance level is not the only goal: each has good reason to want to win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where experience and reliability are key.
LM P2: successful baptism for the Oreca 05 - The FIA WEC Prologue confirmed the impression given by French team Thiriet by TDS Racing at the official tests for the European Le Mans Series. The new Oreca 05 chassis entrusted to Chinese team KCMG was immediately competitive. The most represented class with a third of the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans grid, LM P2 saw a good variety of chassis rise to the top: Oreca of course, but also Ligier, Morgan and the Strakka Racing team's house chassis.
LM GTE Pro & LM GTE: a battle of four to be watched - Three of the four manufacturers involved in the class took turns achieving the best performance. In LM GTE Pro, Ferrari is looking like a formidable candidate for its own succession, both at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the world championship. Reigning over the LM GTE Am class, Aston Martin will once again be looking for the win and the title in LM GTE Pro...but the Porsche 911 also held the lead of the two classes, with its indefatiguable 911. But there is an unknown: though present in French team Larbre Compétition's pit, the Corvette C7.R (LM GTE Am) did not take the track, and could very well shake up the hierarchy.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: LE CASTELLET (VAR, FRANCE), CIRCUIT PAUL RICARD, FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP PROLOGUE, FRIDAY MARCH 27 2015. 24 Hours of Le Mans title-holder, Audi will prepare throughout the season for a triangular confrontation with Porsche and Toyota.
