Le Mans Series, round 1 in Barcelona, Spain
Three Porsche RS Spyders at season-opener in Barcelona

Stuttgart. At the season-opening round of the European Le Mans Series (LMS) on 6 April in Barcelona, three Porsche RS Spyders line up on the grid for the first time. The successful sports prototype from Weissach will be fielded by three teams in the LMS. Driving for the Van Merksteijn Motorsport (Netherlands) team are ex-Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen and team owner Peter van Merksteijn (both Netherlands). The RS Spyder run by the Danish Essex team is manned by 1990 Le Mans winner, John Nielson, and Casper Elgaard (both Denmark). Driving for Horag Racing from Switzerland are Fredy Lienhard (Switzerland), Didier Theys (Belgium) and Jan Lammers (Netherlands), whose racing CVs also include a Le Mans win and Formula 1 experience.

“With this engagement we are continuing our successful customer racing programme at an even higher level,” says Hartmut Kristen, Head of Motorsport at Porsche. “We are pleased that the RS Spyder is racing in front of European fans for the first time. The three international teams are well prepared for the season. For two of the teams, competing with the sports prototype is venturing into new territory. We are very curious to see how the first race goes.”

With a large grid line-up of nearly 50 race vehicles and the classic 1,000 kilometre distance, the Le Mans Series promises fascinating racing. Four different classes are contested. The 476 hp Porsche RS Spyder competes in LMP2. Moreover, six Porsche 911 GT3 RSR cars start in the GT2 class for near-standard vehicles.

The Horag Racing team has already gained experience with the Porsche RS Spyder. The Swiss team successfully contested the Sebring 12 hour race in Florida mid-March. “We are proud that our little team came fifth in the LMP2 class on our very first attempt at this tough race,” says the Swiss driver Fredy Lienhard. “Porsche provided excellent support. Compared to the bone-shaker circuit of Sebring, the season-opening race of the Le Mans Series in Barcelona will be easy for us drivers.” In the LMS, the Horag-RS Spyder flies the Swiss colours of red and white and runs with the starting number 27.

The teams of Van Merksteijn Motorsport and Essex prepared themselves for the season with comprehensive testing in Le Castellet (F) and Magny Cours (F) amongst others. “The tests ran superbly and totally without problems,” said an enthusiastic Jos Verstappen. “The Spyder is a fantastic car and it’s great fun to drive. After taking a two-year break, I can hardly wait to race in Barcelona!” The Van-Merksteijn Spyder, sporting the black-white-purple team colours, has the starting number 34. The Danish squad’s Spyder is painted a luminescent blue with the number 31.

Even before the season begins for the European series, the Porsche race cars celebrated a triumph in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). At the 12 hour race at Sebring, the RS Spyder secured a sensational double victory. In the GT2 class, as well, Porsche occupied positions one and two with the 911 GT3 RSR. “We couldn’t have wished for a better start to the new race season,” reported Hartmut Kristen.

Whilst the RS Sypder celebrates its premiere in the European Le Mans Series, the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has already notched up many successes in the GT2 class. Works driver Marc Lieb secured the drivers’ championships of this class in 2005 and 2006. The German, who won the prestigious Nürburgring 24 hour race in 2007, contests the LMS again this year. Together with Australian Alex Davison, he competes for the Felbermayr-Proton team (number 77). Manning the team’s second 911 is Horst Felbermayr Jr (Austria) and Christian Ried (Germany) with the starting number 88. The Austrian Porsche works driver Richard Lietz joins up with Frenchman Raymond Narac to drive the #76 GT2 Porsche of the IMSA Performance Matmut team from France. The sister car of the team (number 75) is piloted by the all-French trio Richard Balandras, Michel Lecourt and Jean-Philippe Beloc. In the Farnbacher team sits the multiple Supercup champion Richard Westbrook (Great Britain), Allan Simonsen (Australia) and Lars Erik Nielsen from Denmark (starting number 90). The British team, James Watt Automotive, also fields one Porsche GT3 RSR vehicle. Sharing the cockpit of the #93 car are two British drivers Paul Daniels and Tim Sugden as well as Joel Camathias from Switzerland.

The season-opening round of the LMS takes off with a flying start on 6th April at 11.35 hrs on the Circuit de Catalunya and receives the flag after an estimated 215 laps at around 5.35pm. Further information is available on www.lemansseries.com.

Le Mans Series – 2008 calendar

06 April Barcelona/Spain
27 April Monza/Italy
11 May Spa-Francorchamps/Belgium
17 August Nürburgring/Germany
14 September Silverstone/Great Britain

In addition, the teams Van Merksteijn and Essex will contest the Le Mans 24 hour race on 14/15 June in France.

Facts and Figures

This is the Le Mans Series

Contested for the first time in 2004, the Le Mans Series (LMS) offers fans exciting sportscar racing. The regulations are based on the rules of the Le Mans 24 hour race. Five championship rounds will be contested this season on traditional circuits throughout Europe as well as an invitation race in Shanghai/China. The races run over a distance of 1,000 kilometres. The LMS is the European counterpart to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in the USA and Canada.

The starting field consists of two different sports vehicle categories: Sports prototypes and standard sports cars. They are divided into four classes:

LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 750 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms (in the ALMS: 750 hp/925 kilograms). Power to weight ratio: approx. 1.2 kg/hp.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with around 475 hp (with normally-aspirated engine) and an 825 kilogram minimum weight (in the ALMS: 475 hp/800 kg). Power to weight ratio: approx 1.7 kg/hp. The Porsche RS Spyder competes in this class.
GT1 class: Heavily modified standard sportscars with up to 650 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (in the ALMS: 650 hp/1,125 – 1,325 kilograms)
GT2 class: Slightly modified standard sportscars with between 450 hp to 470 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 hp kilograms (in the ALMS: 450 to 470 hp/1,125 – 1,325 kilograms). The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR competes in this class.

All race cars start together but are classified separately according to the class. This system ensures diverse and gripping racing with many overtaking manoeuvres. Points are only allocated for placings in each class. Championship titles are awarded for drivers, manufacturers and teams in all four classes. Porsche works driver Marc Lieb won the driver title in the GT2 class in 2005 and 2006.

For the RS Spyder, 2008 marks the first season in the Le Mans Series.