LARGE FIELDS SEE ALMS PITSTOP CHANGE

Big fields at this weekend's American Le Mans Series round at the famous Mosport circuit in Canada have forced series organisers to make changes to pit stop procedures. The large grid of 30 cars will mean a realigned pitlane operation for the race. During yellow-flag caution periods the pit entrance will be closed immediately, as is standard practice. Once the Safety Car has the overall leader and field in tow, IMSA officials will open the pits with LMP and LMPC cars only allowed to pit on the first lap. On the next lap, all GT and GTC cars may pit. For subsequent laps, any car may come in to pit lane.

SARRAZIN JOINS ORECA-MATMUT FOR PAUL RICARD

Experienced works Peugeot driver Stephane Sarrazin will join Team ORECA-Matmut for the 8 hour race at Le Castellet next weekend. Sarrazin brings plenty of experience to the team having driven the 908 HDI FAP since 2007. Sarrazin joins Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre on the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit while Loïc Duval, the third driver in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, will take part in private testing. Duval will also contest the Spa-Francorchamps 1000kms in May. Sarrazin  has scored three consecutive pole positions in the Le Mans 24 Hours at the wheel of the Peugeot, and has finished second on two occasions at Le Sarthe. “This decision was taken after a discussion with Olivier Quesnel,” explains Hugues de Chaunac of Team ORECA-Matmut.

TOYOTA BACK TO LE MANS ?

The rumours became whispers now the whispers are becoming a quiet roar, Toyota is heading back to Le Mans. The stories have been around for years but with the limitations of Formula One and the high profile of the Le Mans series in both Europe and the important USA market, the chances of a return by Toyota are growing. Speaking on the Australian television show “In Pit Lane” Toyota's Australian motorsport manager Todd Connolly said the while there was nothing official the company would like to be back at Le Sarthe. “At this stage there is nothing we can say in that reagard but obviously there's a lot of benfits in running a hybrid in  a race like Le Mans. he said. Connolly was speaking from in front of the Toyota stand at the recent Syd.. sorry Australian International Motorshow which featured a heavy motorsport presence including the Tokachi 24 hour winning Supra Hybrid.

SPEED TV PETIT LE MANS WRAP

ACO & ALMS WORKING TOGETHER ON LE MANS’ ASIAN PUSH

Le Mans organisers the Automobile Club de l'Ouest ACO and IMSA the organisers of the American Le Mans series will work together to expand the sport into Asia. Speaking on Radio Le Mans during the Petit Le Mans, ALMS founder Dr Don Panoz said that the dream of expanding the series in to the Asian region that began with the Race of a Thousand years in Adelaide was now fully back on the agenda and that his IMSA group would work with series owners the ACO to make the series a success. “We were already to go with a race in Malaysia back in 2001 but of course that was right after 9/11” said Dr Panoz. “nobody could fly anywhere and the race was cancelled.”