Le Mans News

MGs return to the 24 Heures du Mans race, 36 years since MG last competed at this historic event, impressed on its first outing.

The second-placed Audi of Laurent Aiello lost further ground on its race-leading sister car when it made an emergency stop for a new gearbox in the eleventh hour of the Le Mans marathon.

Audi continues to lead, following demise of the #15 Chrysler, with Kristensen heading Capello nine laps ahead of the field; #8 Bentley promoted back to third by exit of Chrysler, with LMP675 ROC an amazing 4th overall; Ascari plugs on in 5th, but is currently in pits, while GTS leading #63 Corvet

Ben Collins' sterling run in the Ascari has come to a halt on the far side of the Circuit de La Sarthe where the A410 sits motionless.

A long time after Ben Collins climbed out to begin work on the #20 car, Ascari has managed to rejoin the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Martin Brundle has taken the lead for the returning Bentley marque under pace car conditions when Laurent Aiello made a lengthy pit-stop under caution but the race has already ended for Ray Rowan's Pilbeam operation.

Heavy rain less than 15 minutes into the start of the 2001 Le Mans 24 Hours could have decided the fate of at least a dozen contenders after a major pile up through the Porsche curves that claimed amongst others, Stefan Johansson's Gulf Audi.

Biela regains advantage when Brundle pits for fuel in Bentley. MG of Blundell stunning before pit-stop. Champion Audi back up to 4th after off track excursion while Johansson back out in Gulf Audi, albeit four laps behind.

The French Motorsport Federation Viper will has lost its battle to rejoin the Le MAns 24 Hours, after being involved in the early race crash at Porsche Curves.

At 1845 on Saturday night, the Gulf Oil challenge for the 2001 Le Mans 24 Hours ended when the Johansson Racing R8 retired with engine problems.

A total of 23 cars will be riding on Michelin tyres at Le Mans this year, as the French manufacturer fields runners throughout the sportscar classic's field.

Just days before the all-new MG Lola sportscar launched its attack on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, members of the MG Owners Club joined Lola to participate in a procession of historic MGs through the streets of Lola's home town Huntingdon.

Rinaldo Capello repeated his Le Mans trials feat and pipped Audi team-mate Tom Kristensen to pole position for the 69th edition of the Le Mans 24 hours, but it took a last session effort to dislodge the Dane.

Le Mans 24 Hours 2001 - Qualifying times.

Ricardo is helping British team PK Sport to prepare the only UK-based GT3 Porsche 911 RS entry for this year's Le Mans 24 Hour race.

French single-seater convert Xavier Pompidou has replaced compatriot Patrick Lemarie in the second Ascari entry for Le Mans.

As expected, Audis dominated the first two qualifying sessions for this weekend's Le Mans, with only the Johansson example missing out on the party.

Johnny Herbert will be closely monitoring what he eats in between driving his 220mph Audi at Le Mans this weekend, after being deprived of his moment of glory ten years ago.

MG is making an historic return to Le Mans to compete in the world-famous 24-hour endurance race on Saturday and Sunday June 16/17, 2001.

The MG Lola Le Mans sports car - EX257 - was again critically tested by drivers Mark Blundell and Julian Bailey at Snetterton Race Circuit on Tuesday May 22, and by Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes at MIRA on Wednesday May 23, 2001.

The latest addition to the Speedvision '24-Hour crew' is three-time Le Mans participant Allan McNish, who joins a list of racing luminaries in the commentary box.

For almost four years, Steve Saleen and his Speedlab team have been looking toward the future and eyeing their strategic return to the world's greatest sportscar race.

Panoz's preparations for the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans began in the worst possible way on Sunday when a small fire damaged the lead LMP07 slated for David Brabham, Jan Magnussen and Franck Lagorce ending their test day after less than a dozen laps.

Audi confirmed their status as top dogs at Le Mans as Tom Kristensen set fastest time in the factory Audi, ahead of the first customer chassis of Ralf Kelleners in the Champion-prepared R8.