H-7: Toyota still on target for Le Mans glory
The two Michelin-equipped Toyota TS050-Hybrids are running smoothly at the top of the order at Le Mans after 17 hours, with the N°8 car of Alonso/Buemi/Nakaj...
Invited entries for Le Mans 2019
01/03/2019
The ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) has published a list of the 60 entries that have been invited to contest the 2019 Le Mans 24 Hours, final round of the 2018/2019 FIA World Endurance Championship (June 15-16). Michelin is targeting its 28th Le Mans victory.
After releasing an initial list of the 42 guaranteed entries which earned their place on the thanks to the results they achieved in 2018, the ACO has now published the names of the other 18 slots that remained to be filled.
There are no surprises in LMP1, since all eight prototypes had been confirmed previously. Toyota Gazoo Racing will seek to defend its 2019 victory with a pair of Michelin-equipped Toyota TS050 Hybrids in the hands of the same six drivers as 2018. Rebellion Racing and SMP Racing will each run two petrol prototypes, and ByKolles Racing Team and DragonSpeed will have a car each, all of which will race on Michelin tyres.
There are 17 cars on the list in LM GTE Pro, too. Porsche and Michelin will be joining forces again in a bid to repeat their success of 2018 with four Porsche 911 RSRs. Ford will run four cars, as well, while AF Corse, BMW Team MTEK, Corvette Racing and Aston Martin Racing will be represented by two cars. USA-based Risi Competizione returns with a single Ferrari 488 GTE. All the LM GTE Pro cars will run Michelin tyres.
The biggest single class is LM GTE Am with 18 cars, most of which already figured on the earlier list. The three additions include a second Spirit of Race-tended Ferrari/Michelin and a similar Kessel Racing car with an all-lady driver line-up. The total field consequently features nine Ferrari 488 GTEs, six Porsche 911 RSRs, two Aston Martin Vantages and a Ford GT.
Michelin is this year targeting its 28