LM24 Entry List Notebook

***The Selection Committee had to make some tough decisions. Of the 66 teams announced, ten are alternates. Larbre Competition makes its LMP2 debut with a Morgan in ELMS, but the Jack Leconte-led squad has to wait to see if they’ll get a LM24 race entry. The same is the case for the second Alpine and entries from Boutsen Ginon Racing, Pegasus Racing and Caterham Racing, which are all entered for the ELMS as well. (En Français)

***At the end of the press conference, ACO President Pierre Fillon confirmed that a working group has been established to build at least one additional garage for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Therefore, we should see at least 57 confirmed entries for the race next year.

***The name of the new LMP2 designed by OnRoak Automotive has been revealed as a Ligier JS P2. The “JS” stands as a tribute to Guy Ligier’s close friend Jo Schlesser, who died in the 1968 French Grand Prix. Both OAK Racing Team TOTAL and TDS by Thiriet Racing will run the closed-top car in the race.

***While coming as no surprise, Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard will be in separate Porsche 919 Hybrids, Nos. 14 and 20, respectively. Brendon Hartley, Neel Jani, Mark Webber and Marc Lieb complete the lineup, but with the pairings having not yet been announced. “There was a clear  need to separate these two drivers due to their experience at Le Mans,” said Porsche team principal Andreas Seidl.

***It’s now official. Lotus will compete with an AER-powered T129 in LMP1 after only one season in the FIA WEC with two T128 LMP2 cars. Only Christijan Albers is confirmed thus far for the Kodewa-run effort, which joins Rebellion Racing as the only two LMP1-L teams in the WEC and at Le Mans.

***We expected two Strakka Dome S103s for the FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans but there will only be one one car on track, which will be powered by a Nissan engine and equipped with Michelin tires.

***It will take some getting used to but the team running the 919 Hybrid in LMP1 will be known as “Porsche Team” and the team running the two 911 RSRs in GTE-Pro now being called “Porsche Team Manthey.”

***Proton Competition will shelve its Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs for the all-new 911 RSR, with the 2013-spec 991-based models present for both Proton and Dempsey Racing Proton in GTE-Am.

***With two class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, IMSA Performance Matmut had counted on getting both of its Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs in the field, but only one has been given a guaranteed starting position. This comes after winning last year’s race in GTE-Am.

***Known for his commitment to Japanese motorsport, including the Asian Le Mans Series, the Ricky Chiba-led Team Taisan Advan squad currently sits on the GTE reserve list with its Ferrari F458 Italia for nominated driver Matteo Malucelli.

***Shell has signed an agreement with the ACO to become the official fuel supplier for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship.

***RTL has become the official radio broadcaster for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.