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A total of 12 LM P1 ‘works prototypes’ will line up to contest outright victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours this year, according to the official list of entries released today.

The major surprise in LM PI is the unexpected arrival of a fourth Peugeot HDi FAP to be entered by privateer team Pescarolo Sport.

Pescarolo Sport is also behind the Epsilon-Euskadi-Judd contesting the LM P1 class, but the team’s surprise Peugeot entry alongside three factory-entered cars underlines the French manufacturer’s commitment to victory with its diesel-powered racers..

However, Audi is still reckoned to be favourite by many pundits, with three new R15s lining up alongside two privateer R10s. But who would dare to rule out a dream win for Aston Martin with a trio of V12 Aston Lolas on the grid. 50 years ago the Aston DBR1 snatched victory from out-and-out favourite Ferrari – will 2009 mark a repeat performance with Audi falling victim to Aston’s campaign? Or perhaps the fourth Lola Aston – the chassis run last year by Charouz Racing and now entered by Speedy Racing – could stage an even bigger upset? At Le Mans, stranger things have happened!

As usual there should be plenty of excitement among the rest of the 55-strong field, with a total of 21 LM P1 cars, 12 LM P2s, and 22 GT1 and GT2 cars hoping to make it to the starting grid.

There are 10 reserves waiting in the wings in case of unexpected withdrawals – including the first reserve Ferrari F430 GT slated to be driven by actor Pactrick Dempsey of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ fame.
If Dempsey (a.k.a. Dr Shepherd) does make the grid, dare we suggest the news could spark a series of Le Mans ‘firsts’ for hardcore PH-ers forced to take wives and girlfriends on the jaunt to Sarthe? You’ll be needing our campsite facilities then…

2009 Le Mans entry list:

LMP1
No Team Car
1 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R15
3 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R15
2 Audi Sport North America Audi R15
14 Kolles Audi R10
15 Kolles Audi R10
7 Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908
8 Team Peugeot Total Peugeot 908
9 Peugeot Sport Total Peugeot 908
17 Pescarolo Sport Peugeot 908
16 Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo Judd
7 Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin
9 Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin
8 AMR Eastern Europe Lola Aston Martin
13 Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola Aston Martin
10 Team ORECA Matmut AIM Courage-ORECA AIM
11 Team ORECA Matmut AIM Courage-ORECA AIM
6 Team LNT Ginetta Zytek
23 Strakka Racing Ginetta Zytek
12 Signature Plus Courage Judd
20 Epsilon Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi Judd
4 Creation Autosportif Creation Judd

LMP2
No Team Car
5 Navi Team Goh Porsche RS Spyder
31 Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder
49 Vitaphone Racing Team Porsche Rs Spyder
25 RML Lola Mazda Coupe
44 KSM Lola Mazda Coupe
30 Racing Box Lola Judd Coupe
33 Speedy Racing Team Sebah Lola Judd Coupe
24 Oak Racing Pescarolo Mazda
35 Oak Racing Pescarolo Mazda
40 Quifel-ASM Team Ginetta Zytek 09S
41 Gac Racing Team Zytek 07S
26 Bruichladdich Bruneau Radical AER

GT1
No Team Car
63 Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R
64 Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R
72 Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R
73 Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R
60 Gigawave Motorsport Ltd Aston Martin DBR9
66 Jetalliance Racing Aston Martin DBR9
55 IPB Spartak Racing Lamborghini Murcielago
68 JLOC Isao Noritake Lamborghini Murcielago

GT2
No Team Car
76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
77 Team Felbermayer-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
80 Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
78 AF Corse Srl Ferrari F430 GT
82 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT
83 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT
84 Team Modena Ferrari F430 GT
89 Hankook - Team Farnbacher Ferrari F430 GT
92 JMW Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT
96 Virgo Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT
97 BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari F430 GT
99 JMB Racing Ferrari F430 GT
87 Drayson Racing Aston Martin V8
85 Snoras Spyker Squadron Spyker C8 Laviolette
Reserves
No Cl Team Car
R1 GT2 Team Seattle Advanced Eng Ferrari F430 GT
R2 GT2 Endurance China Team Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
R3 GT2 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
R4 LMP2 Barazi Epsilon Zytek 07S
R5 LMP2 Gerard Welter Zytek
R6 LMP1 Epsilon Euskadi Epsilon Euskadi Judd
R7 GT2 Team Felbermayer-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997)
R8 GT2 Snoras Spyker Squadron Spyker C8 Laviolette
R9 GT1 Team Larbre Competition Saleen S7R
R10 LMP2 Racing Box SRL Lola Judd Coupe

Looks a brilliant Lineup.

Gonna have to get myself to Le mans at some point, try and experience it from a spectator view, before I try and get a job with one of the teams. 24 hours behind the pit wall will be a completely different kettle of fish