An early entry list has been released for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race to be held later this year and on the list is the ALMS defending champions Highcroft in the LMP2 class.
Highcroft will be entering the event for the first time ever and have stated the mission objective is victory in the LMP2 category. The team won the LMP1 championship in the ALMS season last year, however the team will be running an LMP2 Acura this year as the technical regulations change here in the states. Given the combination of the prototype classes, Acura and Highcroft opted for the LMP2 chassis due to the engineering liberty the rules allow the cars. Team boss Duncan Dayton made no secret that an LMP1 effort is just not realistic. I agree to say the least. While a rookie last year, the LMP1 showed no promise of ever being able to compete at Le Mans.
The driver lineup is impressive for the team as they will have David Brabham, Marino Franchitti, and maybe even Simon Pagenaud who is signed with the team. The lineup is impressive and is exactly who I would want in the car if making my maiden charge for victory. There are currently nine entries in the LMP2 category with one other Acura ARX-01C under the Strakka banner. Below is the complete entry list so far for the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. List via Autosport.com:
2010 Le Mans 24 Hours entries
# Team Car Drivers
LMP1
#1 Peugeot Peugeot 908 HDi Wurz, TBA, TBA
#2 Peugeot Peugeot 908 HDi Minassian, TBA, TBA
#3 Peugeot Peugeot 908 HDi Bourdais, TBA, TBA
#4 ORECA Peugeot 908 HDi Panis, Lapierre, TBA
#5 Beechdean-Mansell Ginetta-Zytek Z09R Mansell, Mansell, Mansell
#6 ORECA ORECA 01-AIM Ayari, TBA, TBA
#7 Audi Audi R15 TDi Kristensen, McNish, Capello
#8 Audi Audi R15 TDi Lotterer, Fassler, Treluyer
#9 Audi Audi R15 TDi Rockenfeller, Bernhard, Dumas
#10 Dome Dome S102-Judd Philippe, TBA, TBA
#11 Drayson Lola B09/60-Judd Drayson, Cocker, TBA
#12 Rebellion Lola B10/60-Rebellion Belicchi, Boullion, TBA
#13 Rebellion Lola B10/60–Rebellion Prost, Jani, TBA
#14 Kolles Audi R10 TDi Albers, TBA, TBA
#15 Kolles Audi R10 TDi Bakkerud, TBA, TBA
#17 Pescarolo Pescarolo 01-Judd Tung, TBA, TBA
#18 Sora Pescarolo 01-Judd Tinseau, TBA, TBA
#19 Autocon Lola B06/10-AER Lewis, TBA, TBA
#007 Aston Martin Lola-Aston Martin Primat, TBA, TBA
#008 Signature-Plus Lola-Aston Martin Ragues, Mailleux, TBA
#009 Aston Martin Lola-Aston Martin Turner, TBA, TBA
LMP2
#24 Oak Pescarolo 01-Judd Nicolet, TBA, TBA
#25 RML Lola B08/80-HPD Newton, Erdos, TBA
#26 Highcroft Acura ARX-01c-HPD Brabham, Franchitti, TBA
#29 Racing Box Lola B08/80-Judd Pirri, TBA, TBA
#35 Oak Pescarolo 01-Judd Hein, TBA, TBA
#37 Welter/Salini WR-Zytek Salini, TBA, TBA
#40 Quifel-ASM Ginetta-Zytek 09S Amaral, Pla, TBA
#41 Bruichladdich Ginetta-Zytek 07S Ojjeh, Greaves, TBA
#42 Strakka Acura ARX-01c Watts, Leventis, TBA
GT1
#50 Larbre Saleen S7R Berville, Bornhauser, TBA
#52 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin DBR9 Nygaard, Enge, TBA
#53 Peka Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Kumpen, TBA, TBA
#61 Matech Ford GT Gachnang, Allemann, TBA
#69 JLOC Lamborghini Murcielago Yogo, TBA, TBA
#70 Marc VDS Ford GT de Doncker, TBA, TBA
#72 Alphand Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Alphand, TBA, TBA
#73 Alphand Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Gregoire, TBA, TBA
GT2
#63 Corvette Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Magnussen, O’Connell, Garcia
#64 Corvette Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Gavin, Beretta, TBA
#75 Prospeed Porsche 997 GT3 RSR van Splunteren, TBA, TBA
#76 IMSA Porsche 997 GT3 RSR Narac, TBA, TBA
#78 BMW BMW E92 M3 Muller, TBA, TBA
#79 BMW BMW E92 M3 Priaulx, TBA, TBA
#80 Flying Lizard Porsche 997 GT3 RSR Neiman, TBA, TBA
#81 Jaguar RSR Jaguar XKR GT2 Pruett, Goossens, Gentilozzi
#82 Risi Ferrari F430 GT2 Jonsson, Krohn, TBA
#83 Risi Ferrari F430 GT2 Melo, TBA, TBA
#84 Modena Ferrari F430 GT2 Rusinov, TBA, TBA
#85 Spyker Spyker C8 Laviolette Coronel, TBA, TBA
#89 Farnbacher Ferrari F430 GT2 Farnbacher, Simonsen, TBA
#92 JMW Aston Martin Vantage Bell, TBA, TBA
#96 AF Corse Ferrari F430 GT2 Perez-Companc, Russo, TBA
#97 BMS Ferrari F430 GT2 Malucelli, TBA, TBA