The race finished with an Audi 1-2-3, a result that few would have predicted half way through the race. Leading 1-2-3 throughout most of the race were the Peugeot 908s but due to engine failures, the victory was handed to Audi, whose R15 TDIs lacked the speed of the Peugeots but were ultimately, more reliable.

The #9 Audi driven by Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard and Mike Rockenfeller took victory, followed by the sister cars of #8 and #7 in third, driven by Allan McNish. The Scot took the accolade as the highest finishing Brit. Andy Meyrick drove the Oreca Matmut Peugeot to 4th place, a result that pleased the 24yr old Welshman.

5th overall and 1st in the LMP2 class was Strakka Racing with an excellent performance and will hope to continue their good form in the next round of the LMES at the Portimao Circuit in the Algarve. Strakka outpaced rivals Highcroft for most of the race, and experienced better reliability than the US based outfit. RML finished 8th overall and 3rd in the LMP2 class.

Beechdean Mansell and Drayson Racing had an eventful weekend. Nigel Mansell crashed his team’s Ginetta on lap 4 and the car retired from the race. The former F1 champion was taken to hospital as a precaution. The Lola of Drayson Racing suffered a number of faults but completed just enough laps to be classified as a race finisher, a result that pleased an emotional Lord Drayson. Aston Martin Racing had an indifferent weekend, the #007 car finished 6th overall but the #009 car failed to finish and retired on lap 368. Team Bruichladdich did well and put in a strong performance to finish in 10th.

WTCC driver Andy Priaulx experienced a disappointing Le Mans debut in his BMW M3 ‘art car’. The team encountered suspension and steering issues and retired on lap 53. A better experience was had by Richard Westbrook who finished 3rd in the GT2 class and 14th overall, after starting 44th.

The teams:

Beechdean Mansell [LMP1], car #5 – Started 18th, retired on lap 4

Drayson Racing [LMP1], car #11 – Started 14th, finished 28th

Aston Martin Racing [LMP1], cars #007 Started 8th, finished 6th and #009 Started 9th, retired on lap 368

RML [LMP2], car #25 – Started 20th, finished 8th / 3rd in LMP2

Team Bruichladdich [LMP2], car #41 – Started 25th, finished 10th

Strakka Racing [LMP2], car #42 – Started 15th (best qualifier in the LMP2 class), finished 5th / LMP2 class winner

JMW Motorsport [GT2], car #92 – Started 51st, retired on lap 71

The drivers:

LMP1

Nigel Mansell, Leo Mansell, Greg Mansell [Beechdean Mansell] – Started 18th, retired on lap 4

Anthony Davidson [Team Peugeot Total] – Started 2nd, retired on lap 360

Andy Meyrick [AIM Team Oreca Matmut] – Started 10th, finished 4th

Paul Drayson, Jonny Cocker [Drayson Racing] – Started 14th, finished 28th

Guy Smith [Rebellion Racing] – Started 19th,  retired lap 143

Oliver Jarvis [Kolles] – Started 13th, retired lap 331

Darren Turner, Sam Hancock [Aston Martin Racing #009] – Started 9th, retired lap 368

LMP2

Mike Newton, Andy Wallace [RML] – Started 20th, finished 8th / 3rd in LMP2

Jonathan Kennard [KSM] – Started 26th, finished 26th

Marino Franchitti [Highcroft Racing] – Started 17th, finished 25th

Warren Hughes [Quifel ASM] – Started 21st, finished 20th

Tim Greaves [Team Bruichladdich] – Started 25th, finished 10th

Nick Leventis, Danny Watts, Jonny Kane [Strakka Racing] – Started 15th, finished 5th / LMP2 class winner

GT2

Oliver Gavin [Corvette Racing] – Started 37th, retired lap 255

Andy Priaulx [BMW] – Started 48th,  retired lap 53

Ryan Dalziel [Jaguar RSR] – Started 55th,  retired lap 4

Peter Dumbreck [Spyker Squadron] – Started 50th, finished 27th

Rob Bell, Tim Sugden [JMW Motorsport] – Started 51st, retired lap 71

Richard Westbrook [BMS Scuderia] – Started 44th, finished 14th /  3rd in GT2

[Photo credit to 'phunkshon' -  http://www.flickr.com/photos/phunkshon]

After qualifying finished on Thursday night, following sessions on both Wednesday and Thursday, the #3 Peugeot 908 driven by Sebastian Bourdais / Pedro Lamy / Simon Pagenaud qualified on pole for this weekend’s LeMans 24hr race. It was former Champcar and F1 driver Sebastian Bourdais who set the best time of 3m19.711.s.  The front two rows of the grid are all Peugeot 908s.

The highest starting Brit is LeMans debutant Anthony Davidson, who starts 2nd. It was a disappointing qualifying result by Audi who start in 5th, 6th and 7th. The R15 TDI of Allan McNish starts in 6th.

The highest starting British team at LeMans this year is the Aston Martin Racing team in LMP1. They captured 8th and 9th spots on the grid, with Englishman Darren Turner starting 9th in the #009 car.

Credit to Strakka Racing who had an intense battle with Highcroft Racing for the best qualifier in the LMP2 class. Strakka came up with the goods and start in 15th place. Highcroft Racing start 17th on their LeMans debut.

Qualifying for the Brits involved, starting positions in bold:

The teams:

Beechdean Mansell [LMP1], car #5 – 18th
Drayson Racing [LMP1], car #11 – 14th
Aston Martin Racing [LMP1], cars #007 8th and #009 9th
RML [LMP2], car #25 – 20th
Team Bruichladdich [LMP2], car #41 – 25th
Strakka Racing [LMP2], car #42 – 15th (best qualifier in the LMP2 class)
JMW Motorsport [GT2], car #92 – 51st

The drivers:

LMP1

Nigel Mansell, Leo Mansell, Greg Mansell [Beechdean Mansell] – 18th
Anthony Davidson [Team Peugeot Total] – 2nd
Andy Meyrick [AIM Team Oreca Matmut] – 10th
Paul Drayson, Jonny Cocker [Drayson Racing] – 14th
Guy Smith [Rebellion Racing] – 19th
Oliver Jarvis [Kolles] – 13th
Darren Turner, Sam Hancock [Aston Martin Racing #009] – 9th

LMP2

Mike Newton, Andy Wallace [RML] – 20th
Jonathan Kennard [KSM] – 26th
Marino Franchitti [Highcroft Racing] – 17th
Warren Hughes [Quifel ASM] – 21st
Tim Greaves [Team Bruichladdich] – 25th
Nick Leventis, Danny Watts, Jonny Kane [Strakka Racing] – 15th

GT2

Oliver Gavin [Corvette Racing] – 37th
Andy Priaulx [BMW] – 48th
Ryan Dalziel [Jaguar RSR] – 55th
Peter Dumbreck [Spyker Squadron] – 50th
Rob Bell, Tim Sugden [JMW Motorsport] – 51st
Richard Westbrook [BMS Scuderia] – 44th

The UK Motorsports Association is running a campaign to encourage young people to try motorsport. As part of its GoMotorsport initiative, the MSA is giving youngsters aged 8-16 the chance to drive a kart for £5. As part of the deal, all safety equipment and driving gear is provided and young drivers will receive a full safety briefing. A qualified trainer will run through the basic skills needed to drive a kart. The participants are then allowed on track to drive a kart.

Twenty venues around the UK are taking part, including Buckmore Park, PF International and Rye House. For more information and a list of all the venues, a PDF is available for download here.

This weekend sees the running of the 78th LeMans 24 hour race and in this article we will be highlighting the British drivers and teams taking part.

Last year, Peugeot won the race with its driver combination of David Brabham, Marc Gene and Alexander Wurz. This year, David Brabham’s seat has been taken by ex-F1 driver Anthony Davidson. Peugeot’s closest rivals Audi, will be wanting to regain their winning streak (victories in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), and once again have Scot Allan McNish in their driver lineup. While it is expected that a factory team (Peugeot or Audi) will win, an outside bet would be  Team Oreca Matmut or Aston Martin Racing. Former BTCC driver and current FIA GT1 driver Darren Turner will be driving for Aston Martin Racing in the 009 car.

The LMP1 class sees a debut for the Beechdean Mansell team. The British team will be using a Ginetta Zytek for the race, and it’s driver lineup is a family affair. 1992 F1 champion Nigel Mansell and his two sons Greg and Leo will be looking to gain experience of the race and develop their car which has only raced once this year, at the Paul Ricard circuit in the LMES series.

The third British LMP1 team (after Aston Martin Racing and Beechdean), is Drayson Racing. Owned by Lord Drayson, Drayson Racing ran in the GT2 class last year and this year will be its first at LeMans in the LMP1 group. The team will be running a Lola Judd Coupe. Drayson Racing’s driver lineup is a blend of youth and experience, with Paul Drayson, Jonny Cocker and former LeMans winner Emmanuel Pirro driving the #11.

In the LMP2 class, Northamptonshire based team RML is a potential class winner with its Lola HPD Coupe. An experienced lineup includes Mike Newton and past winner Andy Wallace.  Two other British teams will be competing in LMP2; Team Bruichladdich and Strakka Racing. Bruichladdich will be using the Ginetta Zytek 09s while Strakka is using a HPD ARX 01. Scotsman Marino Franchitti will be driving for the pre-race LMP2 class favourites, Highcroft Racing.

In the GT2 class, Oliver Gavin is in the successful Corvette Racing team and is one of the favourites alongside Andy Priaulx who is driving for BMw in the M3. This year BMW are running one of their special ‘art car’ liveries.

The sole British team in the GT class is GT2 outfit JMW Motorsport. JMW finished 4th in the GT2 class last year and will be looking to repeat their strong performance.  The team will be using an Aston Martin Vantage.

Full list of British teams:

Beechdean Mansell [LMP1], car #5
Drayson Racing [LMP1], car #11
Aston Martin Racing [LMP1], cars #007 and #009
RML [LMP2], car #25
Team Bruichladdich [LMP2], car #41
Strakka Racing [LMP2], car #42
JMW Motorsport [GT2], car #92

Full list of British drivers:

LMP1

Nigel Mansell, Leo Mansell, Greg Mansell [Beechdean Mansell]
Anthony Davidson [Team Peugeot Total]
Andy Meyrick [AIM Team Oreca Matmut]
Paul Drayson, Jonny Cocker [Drayson Racing]
Guy Smith [Rebellion Racing]
Oliver Jarvis [Kolles]
Darren Turner, Sam Hancock [Aston Martin Racing #009]

LMP2

Mike Newton, Andy Wallace [RML]
Jonathan Kennard [KSM]
Marino Franchitti [Highcroft Racing]
Warren Hughes [Quifel ASM]
Tim Greaves [Team Bruichladdich]
Nick Leventis, Danny Watts, Jonny Kane [Strakka Racing]

GT2

Oliver Gavin [Corvette Racing]
Andy Priaulx [BMW]
Ryan Dalziel [Jaguar RSR]
Peter Dumbreck [Spyker Squadron]
Rob Bell, Tim Sugden [JMW Motorsport]
Richard Westbrook [BMS Scuderia]